2025 Trademark Fee Changes
As we move into 2025, significant changes are coming to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) fee structure. These adjustments aim to ensure the agency can continue providing the resources necessary to administer trademarks effectively. If you’re planning to register or maintain a trademark in 2025, it’s essential to understand how the new trademark fees may affect you.
Why Are the Trademark Fees Changing in 2025?
The USPTO reviews its fees every two years to ensure it can cover the costs of operating the trademark system. Following their latest review, they determined adjustments were necessary.
The revised fees focus on several key objectives:
- Supporting Innovation: Ensuring resources are available to encourage trademark protection, which fosters economic growth.
- Reflecting True Costs: Aligning fees with the actual expenses of delivering trademark services.
- Efficient Administration: Creating a system that promotes smooth and effective trademark processes.
- Offering Flexibility: Providing options for applicants to tailor their filing processes.
In total, the USPTO’s final rule adjusts 28 fees, effective January 18, 2025.
Major Changes to Trademark Application Fees
One of the most notable changes is the replacement of the TEAS Plus and TEAS Standard application types with a single base application fee.
The new base fee simplifies the process and ensures consistency in pricing.
Fee Description | Current Fee | New Fee |
TEAS Standard application | $350 | N/A |
TEAS Plus application | $250 | N/A |
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 |
New Surcharges to Encourage Accurate Applications
Another change involves surcharges for incomplete applications or those that include custom descriptions of goods and services.
These surcharges aim to encourage applicants to use the Trademark ID Manual, a USPTO tool that provides standardized terms for identifying goods and services. Using this tool improves efficiency during the examination process and helps reduce wait times.
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 the Trademark Center, per class | N/A | $200 |
Each additional group of 1,000 characters in the free-form text box beyond the first 1,000, per affected class | N/A | $200 |
Post-Registration Maintenance Fee Increases
Trademark owners should also prepare for increased costs related to maintaining their registrations.
The fees for post-registration maintenance filings are being increased to:
- Help cover the costs of base applications.
- Account for the higher expenses involved in processing these filings.
- Adjust the fee structure to match changes in filing patterns and demand.
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 |
Higher Fees for Petitions and Letters of Protest
The USPTO is also raising fees for petitions and letters of protest, which are often filed to address specific issues or objections during the trademark process. These increases are designed to recover more of the costs involved in processing such requests.
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: Adjustments to AAU and SOU Filings
The fees for Amendments to Allege Use (AAU) and Statements of Use (SOU) are increasing for the first time in over 20 years.
These filings are critical for trademarks filed under an intent-to-use basis, where specimens (proof of use) are required to complete registration.
Fee Description | Current Fee | New Fee |
Amendment to allege use (AAU), per class | $100 | $150 |
Statement of use (SOU), per class | $100 | $150 |
Preparing for the 2025 Trademark Fee Changes
Whether you’re filing a new trademark application or maintaining an existing registration, understanding the new trademark fees for 2025 is essential. These changes reflect the USPTO’s efforts to balance costs, improve efficiency, and ensure the long-term sustainability of the U.S. trademark system.
If you have questions or need assistance navigating the 2025 trademark fees, TradeMark Express is here to help. Contact us today to ensure your trademark strategy is ready for the year ahead!
Fee Description | Current Fee | New Fee |
Base application (Sections 1 and 44), per class | N/A | $350 |
Insufficient information (Sections 1 and 44), per class | N/A | $100 |
Using the free-form text box instead of the Trademark ID Manual within the Trademark Center, per class | N/A | $200 |
Each additional group of 1,000 characters in the free-form text box beyond the first 1,000, per affected class | N/A | $200 |
Section 9 registration renewal application, per class | $300 | $325 |
Section 8 declaration, per class | $225 | $325 |
Section 15 declaration, per class | $200 | $250 |
Amendment to allege use (AAU), per class | $100 | $150 |
Statement of use (SOU), per class | $100 | $150 |