美國專利及商標局("USPTO")所涉的專利規費將於2018年1月16日起上調。其中引起最多的關注,是針對多方專利複審(Inter Partes Review "IPR")的請求費將上漲72%。站於相關利益人士的角度,USPTO的相關價格調整將對他們的預算產生很大的影響。
|
Fee description |
Current fees |
Final rule fees |
Dollar change |
Percent change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Large (Small) [Micro] Entity |
Large (Small) [Micro] Entity |
Large (Small) [Micro] Entity |
Large (Small) [Micro] Entity |
|
|
Inter Partes Review Request Fee - Up to 20 Claims. |
9,000 |
15,500 |
+6,500 |
+72% |
|
Inter Partes Review Post-Institution Fee - Up to 15 Claims. |
14,000 |
15,000 |
+1,000 |
+7% |
|
Inter Partes Review Request of Each Claim in Excess of 20. |
200 |
300 |
+100 |
+50% |
|
Inter Partes Post-Institution Request of Each Claim in Excess of 15. |
400 |
600 |
+200 |
+50% |
|
Post-Grant or Covered Business Method Review Request Fee - Up to 20 Claims. |
12,000 |
16,000 |
+4,000 |
+33% |
|
Post-Grant or Covered Business Method Review Post-Institution Fee - Up to 15 Claims. |
18,000 |
22,000 |
+4,000 |
+22% |
|
Post-Grant or Covered Business Method Review Request of Each Claim in Excess of 20. |
250 |
375 |
+125 |
+50% |
|
Post-Grant or Covered Business Method Review Post-Institution Request of Each Claim in Excess of 15. |
550 |
825 |
+275 |
+50% |
專利申請相關規費僅小幅度增加,低於10%但不低於20美元。以大型機構為例,專利申請費將僅上漲20美元,審查費增幅約6%,即上漲40美元,額外的專利請求項的規費,每額外的獨立項增幅約9%,即上漲40美元,每額外的從屬項上漲20美元,以及發證費用增幅約4%,將上漲40美元。
|
CFR section |
Fee code |
Description |
Current fees (dollars) |
Final rule fees (dollars) |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Large |
Small |
Micro |
Large |
Small |
Micro |
|||
|
1.16(a) |
1011/2011/3011 |
Basic Filing Fee - Utility (paper filing also requires non-electronic filing fee under 1.16(t)) |
280 |
140 |
70 |
300 |
150 |
75 |
|
1.16(a) |
4011 |
Basic Filing Fee - Utility (electronic filing for small entities) |
n/a |
70 |
n/a |
n/a |
75 |
n/a |
|
1.16(b) |
1012/2012/3012 |
Basic Filing Fee - Design |
180 |
90 |
45 |
200 |
100 |
50 |
|
1.16(b) |
1017/2017/3017 |
Basic Filing Fee - Design (CPA) |
180 |
90 |
45 |
200 |
100 |
50 |
|
1.16(c) |
1013/2013/3013 |
Basic Filing Fee - Plant |
180 |
90 |
45 |
200 |
100 |
50 |
|
1.16(d) |
1005/2005/3005 |
Provisional Application Filing Fee |
260 |
130 |
65 |
280 |
140 |
70 |
|
1.16(e) |
1014/2014/3014 |
Basic Filing Fee - Reissue |
280 |
140 |
70 |
300 |
150 |
75 |
|
1.16(e) |
1019/2019/3019 |
Basic Filing Fee - Reissue (CPA) |
280 |
140 |
70 |
300 |
150 |
75 |
|
1.16(f) |
1051/2051/3051 |
Surcharge - Late Filing Fee, Search Fee, Examination Fee, Inventor's Oath or Declaration, or Application Filed Without at Least One Claim or by Reference |
140 |
70 |
35 |
160 |
80 |
40 |
|
1.16(h) |
1201/2201/3201 |
Independent Claims in Excess of Three |
420 |
210 |
105 |
460 |
230 |
115 |
|
1.16(h) |
1204/2204/3204 |
Reissue Independent Claims in Excess of Three |
420 |
210 |
105 |
460 |
230 |
115 |
|
1.16(i) |
1202/2202/3202 |
Claims in Excess of 20 |
80 |
40 |
20 |
100 |
50 |
25 |
|
1.16(i) |
1205/2205/3205 |
Reissue Claims in Excess of 20 |
80 |
40 |
20 |
100 |
50 |
25 |
|
1.16(j) |
1203/2203/3203 |
Multiple Dependent Claim |
780 |
390 |
195 |
820 |
410 |
205 |
|
1.16(k) |
1111/2111/3111 |
Utility Search Fee |
600 |
300 |
150 |
660 |
330 |
165 |
|
1.16(l) |
1112/2112/3112 |
Design Search Fee |
120 |
60 |
30 |
160 |
80 |
40 |
|
1.16(m) |
1113/2113/3113 |
Plant Search Fee |
380 |
190 |
95 |
420 |
210 |
105 |
|
1.16(n) |
1114/2114/3114 |
Reissue Search Fee |
600 |
300 |
150 |
660 |
330 |
165 |
|
1.16(o) |
1311/2311/3311 |
Utility Examination Fee |
720 |
360 |
180 |
760 |
380 |
190 |
|
1.16(p) |
1312/2312/3312 |
Design Examination Fee |
460 |
230 |
115 |
600 |
300 |
150 |
|
1.16(q) |
1313/2313/3313 |
Plant Examination Fee |
580 |
290 |
145 |
620 |
310 |
155 |
|
1.16(r) |
1314/2314/3314 |
Reissue Examination Fee |
2,160 |
1,080 |
540 |
2,200 |
1,100 |
550 |
|
1.18(a)(1) |
1501/2501/3501 |
Utility Issue Fee |
960 |
480 |
240 |
1,000 |
500 |
250 |
|
1.18(a)(1) |
1511/2511/3511 |
Reissue Issue Fee |
960 |
480 |
240 |
1,000 |
500 |
250 |
|
1.18(b)(1) |
1502/2502/3502 |
Design Issue Fee |
560 |
280 |
140 |
700 |
350 |
175 |
|
1.18(c)(1) |
1503/2503/3503 |
Plant Issue Fee |
760 |
380 |
190 |
800 |
400 |
200 |
而就請求繼續審查方面的相關規費,其加幅則比較大,介於8-12%之間。
|
Fee description |
Current fees |
Final rule fees |
Dollar change |
Percent change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Large (Small) [Micro] Entity |
Large (Small) [Micro] Entity |
Large (Small) [Micro] Entity |
Large (Small) [Micro] Entity |
|
|
Request for Continued Examination (RCE)—1st Request (see 37 CFR 1.114) |
1,200 |
1,300 |
+100 |
+8 |
|
Request for Continued Examination (RCE)—2nd and Subsequent Request (see 37 CFR 1.114) |
1,700 |
1,900 |
+200 |
+12 |
關於專利相關的上訴費方面,擔心到增加上訴費將大大減少上訴的意願,而且,專利審判和上訴委員會("PTAB")的撤銷率數據表明大量的上訴是為了糾正無效拒絕(invalid rejections)。
最後,USPTO決定不大幅上調上訴費(the notice of appeal fee),由原來提出的2,500美元減少到2,240美元,增幅為12%。但是根據資料顯示,目前的上訴費僅可以支付USPTO關於上訴的開支的58%,而上調後的費用預計也僅可以支付開支的63%。鑑於上訴程序費用高昂,上訴費的調整對於意圖大幅減少USPTO關於上訴的開支的額外補貼還是有差距的。
|
Fee description |
Current fees |
Final rule fees |
Dollar change |
Percent change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Large (Small) [Micro] Entity |
Large (Small) [Micro] Entity |
Large (Small) [Micro] Entity |
Large (Small) [Micro] Entity |
|
|
Forwarding an Appeal in an Application or Ex parte Reexamination Proceeding to the Board. |
2,000 |
2,240 |
+240 |
+12% |
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