Office of Patent Legal Administration << Pre-OG Notices << << Notice of No Increase in Patent Fees on October 1, 2002

There will be no increase in the patent fees on October 1, 2002 based on the increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) over the preceding twelve months as authorized by 35 U.S.C. § 41(f). A Notice of Proposed Rulemaking proposing a CPI fee increase on October 1, 2002 was published. See Revision of Patent and Trademark Fees for Fiscal Year 2003, 67 Fed. Reg. 30634 (proposed May 7, 2002), 1259 OG 20 (June 4, 2002). A final rulemaking notice to implement the CPI fee increase on October 1, 2002, however, has not been published.

As part of the USPTO's 21st Century Strategic Plan, the Administration has proposed separate fee legislation, and the final rulemaking to implement the CPI fee increase has been held in abeyance pending resolution of the fee legislation. There will be no fee increase (CPI or otherwise) until fee legislation is enacted and/or a final rulemaking notice adjusting fees is published.

It is highly recommended that applicants and practitioners regularly check the USPTO website for the current fees, and for any changes in the fees. A current fee schedule is available at: http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/ac/qs/ope/fees.htm.

Questions concerning this notice should be directed to Darnell Jayne, Legal Advisor,
Office of Patent Legal Administration at (703) 308-6906 or darnell.jayne@uspto.gov.