The USPTO seeks public comment on the possibility of adjusting trademark application fees so as to lower the fees for all applicants willing to file and communicate electronically with the USPTO . The efficiencies achieved by trademark electronic filing and communications have put the USPTO in a position to potentially reduce the overall collection of trademark application fees, and the Office wishes to adjust the fees in a way that further promotes efficiency both for users and the USPTO. Comments are also being sought on the possibility of increasing fees on applications based on paper, currently only 1% of trademark applications, given that these applications are more costly and burdensome for the USPTO to process. A Notice of Inquiry has been published in the Federal Register, www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2012-08-16/pdf/2012-20127.pdf. Responses are due b y October 15, 2012.
