Trademark Fee Plan Stirs Unease Over Application, Protest Costs

A proposal to raise trademark fees—including a steep hike in costs for registration applications and letters of protest—has practitioners concerned about the burden on small businesses.

The US Patent and Trademark Office announced plans earlier this month to raise 22 trademark fees. They include a $100 increase per class of goods and services for a basic electronic application, which would make the minimum filing fee $350. The agency also wants to introduce 13 new fees, many of them penalties for application deficiencies. A public hearing on the proposal is scheduled in June.

Adding the weight of higher fees and new ...