Global Dossier has now been released (November 2015). USPTO Collected over $3 billion in user fees in FY2015. That figure was below budget. Spending limit is around $3.5 billion, but is limited by revenue. As a benchmark, in FY2010 USPTO collected $2.1 billion in revenue. USPTO is proposing increase in fees Ex parte prosecution: filing fee up $120 (filing+search+exam) to $1,720; Independent claims (more than three) up $40 to $460; RCE up $300 to $1,500 or $2,000 for 2nd+ RCE; late IDS – $300 after First Action; $600 after Notice of Allowance; Notice of Appeal – up $200 to $1,000; Appeal – up $500 to $2,500; However, no proposed increase in maintenance fees or extension-of-time fees. Post Grant: Inter partes review up $7,500 to $30,500 (request + institution fee); Decrease in fee – reduced fee for reexaminations with <45 pages. Median first action pendency is now 17-months. Design patent filings continue to steadily…
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