Incentive to File Prior to IP Australia Increasing Many Official Fees

IP Australia has now confirmed wide ranging official fee changes that will take effect from 1st October 2024, following its earlier consultation on its draft Cost Recovery Implementation Statement (CRIS).

Most of the standard prosecution fees increase by around 10% - 20%, although design application fees reduce. Patent hearing fees are doubled, and trade mark hearing fees are restructured. Costs awarded following proceedings will significantly increase.

The following is a summary of notable changes.

Patents
Fee Type                                                                Currently       From 01/10/2024
Application Fee: (provisional)                                 $110                $100
Optionally Requesting International-type Search   $950             $1,100
     of Provisional Application  
Application Fee: (standard or national phase)        $370               $400
Requesting Examination – Standard (if PCT          $300               $350
     IPER done by IP Australia) 
Requesting Examination – Standard (otherwise)   $490                $550
Asking Commissioner to Direct Applicant to           $100               $150
     Request Examination 
Acceptance Fee                                                     $250                $300
Application for Extension of Term                        $2,000             $2,500
     (Pharmaceutical Patent)

The fees for excess claims will remain unchanged. However, where examination is requested on or after 1st October 2024, IP Australia will charge for excess claims based on the number of claims in the application at the time of the first examination report (instead of at acceptance). Applicants will be notified approximately 6-months prior to examination occurring, giving them the opportunity to amend the number of claims prior to the first examination report. Following IP Australia’s determination of the excess claim fees due applicants will have 1-month to pay. If payment is not timely made the application will lapse and the examiner will not consider any responses filed to the examination report. Such lapsed applications can be revived if the excess claim fees are paid prior to the final date for acceptance. The number of excess claims will then be reassessed at the point of acceptance to capture any increase in the number of claims filed through the examination process.

The 6th year renewal fee will increase by $10 with every subsequent renewal fee increasing by a further $10, i.e., the 7th year fee by $20 and the 8th year fee by $30 and so on, until the 15th year where the annual increases are $15 each year until and including the 19th year.

All patent hearing fees are doubled.

Trade Marks
IP Australia will introduce a new fee structure for filing a Statement of Grounds and Particulars (SGP) in opposition to the registration of a trade mark/extension of protection for an international registration designating Australia. The first three grounds that are nominated will not attract a fee. However, a fee of $250 per ground above the threshold will be levied against each of the subsequent grounds nominated. Where section 44 is nominated it will count as one ground when the opponent nominates up to 10 of their trade marks. However, a fee of $250 will be charged for each extra trade mark nominated. Subsequent amendments to the SGP that increase the grounds or nominated trade marks within these thresholds will incur a fee of $250 per ground or extra nominated mark.

Requesting removal for non-use increases from $250 to $350.

Trade Mark hearing fees will change as follows:
• by written submissions only increases from $400 to $500
• oral hearing (remote) increases from $600 to $700 per day or part-day
• oral hearing (in person) decreases from $800 to $700 per day or part-day

Designs
Fee Type                                                                Currently       From 01/10/2024
Application Fee: (1st Design)                                 $250             $200
Application Fee: (Subsequent Co-Filed Designs)  $200             $150
Excess Designs Fee                                              $250             $200
Owner Requests Examination                               $420             $500
Direction to Request Examination                         $210              $250
     (Third Party Component)
Direction to Request Examination                         $210              $250
     (Owner Component)

Plant Breeder’s Rights
Fee Type                                                                Currently      From 01/10/2024
Application Fee:                                                     $345             $400
Examination Fee (at a centralised testing              $920            $1,400
     centre (CTC)) 
Examination Fee (per variety if multiple varieties  $1,380          $1,600
     at same time and place – not in a CTC)
Examination Fee (Otherwise or based solely        $1,610          $2,000
     on overseas test data)
Application for Declaration of Essential Derivation $800             $850
Granting Fee                                                           $345             $500
Renewal                                                                  $400             $600

Other
All fees to renew the registration as a patent and/or trade mark attorney will increase by $50.

Authors: Quinn Miller and Jim Piper

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