July 18, 2005
#05-36

Press Release, 05-36

USPTO REDUCES FEES FOR TRADEMARK ELECTRONIC APPLICATION FILING

PRESS RELEASE

The Department of Commerce’s United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) announced today that beginning July 18, 2005, the agency will offer applicants for trademark registrations a new Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS) known as TEAS Plus that will add up to considerable savings for many filers.

The fee for filing a trademark application will be reduced by $50 per class for those using TEAS Plus. Most filers seek trademark protection for more than one class of goods and services in their application. In return for paying the lower filing fee, applicants who file using TEAS Plus agree to submit complete applications electronically, and to communicate electronically only with the USPTO about the application.

"This change reflects the mandate of the President's Management Agenda for citizen-centered, results-oriented government," noted Under Secretary of Commerce of Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO Jon Dudas. "Specifically, TEAS Plus offers applicants an opportunity to save money by filing and managing their applications electronically. We hope the TEAS Plus option will make our already popular system even more useful to the public."

Nearly 82 percent of all trademark applications filed so far this year were transmitted electronically. That represents an increase of nearly 20 percent over last year.

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