Alert – Trademark Fee Increase 2025

Alert: 2025 USPTO Trademark Fee Changes

If you’re applying for or maintaining a trademark, it’s essential to be aware of upcoming changes to trademark fees. Starting January 18, 2025, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”) will implement a new fee structure that will affect trademark applications, maintenance filings, and other related services. These adjustments are designed to improve the efficiency, accuracy, and reliability of the trademark registration process. Below, we will outline the key adjustments, their purpose, and what they mean for trademark applicants and owners.

Key Changes to Trademark Fees

The elimination of TEAS Plus and TEAS Standard: Going forward, there will be only one type of base application for a fee of $350. There will be a $200 fee per class for free-form identification (descriptions outside the Trademark ID Manual) and a $200 fee for each additional group of 1,000 characters beyond the first 1,000 characters (including spaces and punctuation) in the free-form text field.
Increase in Filing Fees for Intent-to-Use Applications: Fees for these filings, required for intent-to-use applications, will rise by 50%.
Surcharge for Insufficient Information: A new $100 surcharge will apply when there is insufficient information provided with an application.
Increase in Maintenance Filing Fees: Fees for 5-6 year (Section 8) maintenance filings will increase by $75 per class, while the combined cost for 10-year Section 8 and Section 9 renewals will rise by a combined $125 per class.

How to Prepare for the Fee Changes

Whether you’re planning to file a new trademark application or maintain an existing one, it’s important to plan for the upcoming fee increases. Here are some practical steps to help you navigate the changes:

For New Applicants: If you’re considering filing a trademark application, submit it before January 18, 2025, to lock in current fees. This could result in significant savings, especially if you’re filing multiple applications.
For Trademark Owners: Review your portfolio and identify any upcoming maintenance deadlines, such as Section 8 or Section 9 filings. Filing before the fee changes take effect could help you avoid the higher costs.
Adjust Your Budget: Businesses with large trademark portfolios should factor the new, higher fees into their trademark management budgets.
Ask Us!: If you’re uncertain about how these changes will affect your filings or portfolio, please contact our office. We can offer personalized advice to help you minimize unnecessary expenses and avoid delays.

By preparing ahead of time, you can ensure that your trademark filings remain cost-effective and compliant with the updated fee structure.

Summary of 2025 Trademark Fee Changes

The final rule sets or adjusts 28 trademark fees. We provide a breakdown of some of these changes below; however, for a complete list, including increased fees for paper submissions, see the final rule.

Application Fees

Fee description	Current fee	New fee
TEAS Standard application	$350	Discontinued
TEAS Plus application	$250	Discontinued
Base application (sections 1 and 44), per class	n/a	$350
Application fee filed with WIPO (section 66(a)), per class	$500	$600
Subsequent designation fee filed with WIPO (section 66(a)), per class	$500	$600

Surcharge description	Current fee	New fee
Insufficient information (sections 1 and 44), per class	n/a	$100
Using the free-form text box instead of the Trademark ID Manual within Trademark Center to identify goods and services (sections 1 and 44), per class	n/a	$200
Each additional group of 1,000 characters in the free-form text box beyond the first 1,000 (sections 1 and 44), per class	n/a	$200

Post-Registration Maintenance Fees

Fee description	Current fee	New fee
Section 9 registration renewal application, per class	$300	$325
Section 8 declaration, per class	$225	$325
Section 15 declaration, per class	$200	$250
Section 71 declaration, per class	$225	$325
Renewal fee filed at WIPO	$300	$325

Petitions and Letters of Protest Fees

Fee description	Current fee	New fee
Petition to the Director	$250	$400
Petition to revive an application	$150	$250
Letter of protest	$50	$150

Intent-to-Use Fees

Fee description	Current fee	New fee
Amendment to allege use (AAU), per class	$100	$150
Statement of use (SOU), per class	$100	$150

Alert – Trademark Fee Increase 2025

Alert: 2025 USPTO Trademark Fee Changes

Increase in Filing Fees for Intent-to-Use Applications: Fees for these filings, required for intent-to-use applications, will rise by 50%.

Surcharge for Insufficient Information: A new $100 surcharge will apply when there is insufficient information provided with an application.

Increase in Maintenance Filing Fees: Fees for 5-6 year (Section 8) maintenance filings will increase by $75 per class, while the combined cost for 10-year Section 8 and Section 9 renewals will rise by a combined $125 per class.

For New Applicants: If you’re considering filing a trademark application, submit it before January 18, 2025, to lock in current fees. This could result in significant savings, especially if you’re filing multiple applications.

For Trademark Owners: Review your portfolio and identify any upcoming maintenance deadlines, such as Section 8 or Section 9 filings. Filing before the fee changes take effect could help you avoid the higher costs.

Adjust Your Budget: Businesses with large trademark portfolios should factor the new, higher fees into their trademark management budgets.

Ask Us!: If you’re uncertain about how these changes will affect your filings or portfolio, please contact our office. We can offer personalized advice to help you minimize unnecessary expenses and avoid delays.