European Trademark Office Lowers Fees for European Community Trademark Registrations, Creates Brief Window for Additional Savings
The cost of registering a trademark in the European Community has been reduced significantly. On May 1, 2009, the European trademark office (OHIM) will eliminate the registration fee that has been charged upon grant of a registration, thus reducing the total government fees that will be required to obtain a European Community trademark registration by €700 (approximately $1000).
That savings comes despite an increase in the application fee due on filing, because there will no longer be an additional registration fee. The application fee will be raised from €750 to €900 (from approximately $1000 to $1200). However, the new single fee will be a substantial savings with the phase-out of the €850 registration fee.
Importantly, applications filed between now and May 1, 2009 will receive an additional savings, as they can be filed for the present lower application fee, and will receive the benefit of the elimination of the registration fee. This means that a single class application filed before May 1, 2009 will cost only €750 (approximately $1000) in fees, an additional savings of €150. This savings applies whether the application is filed directly as a Community Trademark or is filed as part of a Madrid Protocol designation.
For clients who are considering registering their trademarks as Community Trade Marks (covering the EU and several Eastern European countries), we recommend taking advantage of this brief opportunity. Please contact any member of our trademark practice group for more information or to request an application.
Marshall, Gerstein & Borun LLP's Trademark team includes: