New Patent and Trademark Office fee structure effective TODAY

Today, President Bush signed into law H.R. 4818, the Consolidated Appropriations Act for 2005.  With his signature, the new fee structure [.pdf] of the Patent and Trademark Office is effective as of 12:01 AM TODAY, December 8, 2004.

All PTO fees paid on or after today should be made in conformity with the new fee schedule, including patent maintenance fees.

Questions on the new fee structure and its effective date?  See the Q&A posted by the PTO.  Still have questions?  Call the USPTO hotline at (703) 308-4357 or (800) 786-9199.