*The information below is not legal advice.
If you are a business owner looking to protect your trademark in 2025, then look no further. We’re covering any USPTO (United States Patent and Trademark Office) changes and updates that have the potential to affect you and your business the most.
First, the USPTO is implementing fee changes in an effort to battle operational costs and the need for modernization. Most of the changes are an increase in fees and we’ve listed the main fees below. For a full breakdown of the new fees, you can review the USPTO’s official 2025 Trademark Fee Changes or look at the USPTO’s complete and updated Fee Schedule.
Changes for New Trademark Applicants
- Base Application Fee
The most critical change will be the new base application fee. Previously, the TEAS Standard application cost $350, whereas the TEAS Plus application only cost $250. The USPTO no longer provides two types of applications. Instead, there will only be one base application with a fee of $350.
- WIPO Application Fee
For business owners looking to expand beyond the U.S. or for those who have businesses outside of the country, the trademark application with WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization) is now $600 (a hundred dollar increase from the previous fee).
- Free Form Identification of Goods and Services Fee
If you opt to use the free-form text box to identify the goods and services (instead of using the Trademark ID Manual), then there will be an additional fee of $200.
First time DIYer’s might find it easier to use the Trademark ID Manual to identify and describe their goods and services. Applicants seeking more specific descriptions may want to use the free-form box for identifications instead. However, each 1,000 characters above the 1,000 character limit in the free-form box will cost an extra fee of $200 per class. Using the free-form box in any way, even if you copy-paste a description from the Trademark ID Manual will incur this free-form box fee.
- Incomplete Application Fee
The USPTO also added a new fee for incomplete applications. So, if an applicant does not provide sufficient information under each class they file for, then the USPTO can request a fee of $100 per class.
Information the USPTO requires in the application includes things like the applicant’s domicile address and the applicant’s legal entity. A full list of base application requirements can be found here.
Changes for Owners of Registered Marks
- Section 8 Renewal Fee
To renew a registration, you must file a declaration under Section 8 stating that you are still using your mark in commerce. This must be filed between the fifth and sixth year after your mark was registered. The fee for this renewal increased to $350 per class (previously it was $225).
- Section 9 Registration Renewal Fee
Every 10 years, you must also file a renewal application under Section 9 to renew your registration. This fee is now $350 per class.
On the tenth year anniversary of your mark’s registration, you are required to renew under a combined Section 8 and Section 9 filing. The new fee for this combined filing will be $700 (calculated by adding the new fees for a Section 8 and Section 9 filing).
Updates to Protect Your Mark with USPTO’s TTAB Proceedings
Second, the USPTO introduced a new beta system for the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) Center to help trademark owners continue protecting their marks. If you find that someone is trying to register a mark you own or a mark that is too similar to yours, you can file an “opposition” with the new TTAB Center. The official launch of the new TTAB Center is expected to be released in spring 2025. Here is the link to the TTAB Center open beta.
Conclusion
Whether you’re looking to file an application or protect your trademark, these 2025 USPTO updates are likely going to affect your budget. If you need insight on how to achieve the most cost-effective registration and/or protection, we recommend consulting a trademark attorney like Andrea Sager. We’ll also make sure to keep you updated on any trademark news that affects your business.
