IP Australia has recently announced changes to the official fees payable for various trade mark matters to encourage use of IP Australia’s “approved means” for filing of applications and payment of official fees.
Lower official fees will apply to transactions which utilise IP Australia’s “approved means”, being electronic filing in certain cases and for use of IP Australia’s approved list of goods and services (“pick list”).
Most of the changes will commence on 1 July 2012, with the exception of changes to the filing fees for new applications which will commence on 1 October 2012.
From 1 July 2012 Spruson & Ferguson will, where appropriate, pay official fees using the “approved means” in order to reduce costs. We will not be increasing our corresponding professional fees.
The relevant fee changes include:
Filing Fees
Changes to official fees for filing new (standard) trade mark applications will commence on 1 October 2012.
| Action | Current Fee (Per Class) |
New Fee from 1 October 2012 (per class) |
|---|---|---|
| Non-electronic (paper) Application | $180 | $220 |
| Electronic Application – no pick list | $160 | $200 |
| Electronic Application – using pick list | $120 | $120 |
Further information on how to file electronically using the pick list of goods and services will be sent out shortly.
Registration Fees
Changes to official registration fees will commence on 1 July 2012.
| Current Fee (Per Class) |
New Fee from 1 July 2012 (per class) |
|---|---|
| $250 | $300 |
Renewal Fees
Changes to official registration fees will commence on 1 July 2012.
| Current Fee (Per Class) |
New Fee from 1 July 2012 (per class) Approved Means |
New Fee from 1 July 2012 (per class) By Another Means |
|---|---|---|
| $300 | $300 | $350 |
Hearing Fees
From 1 July 2012, there will also be increases in the official fees for requesting a Hearing, as well as the introduction of a new fee for filing written submissions (in lieu of requesting a hearing).
| Action | Current Fee | New Fee from 1 July 2012 |
| Requesting a Hearing – Ex Parte | $300 | $400 |
| Requesting a Hearing – Inter-Partes | $500 | $600 |
| New Written Submission Fee | n/a | $100 |