"Application Fees and Services
Proposal 1
To introduce an “Early Assist” application service package for trade marks. This would have the following features:
(i) Help available over the telephone to assist applicants complete the application form;
(ii) E-filed trade mark applications (only) paying 50% of the standard application and class fees at the time of filing would be examined for registrability (including a search for earlier marks) and an examination report issued, thus allowing the applicant a choice as to whether to proceed to publication or to contest the examiner’s assessment (after paying the balance of the standard application fees) or to let the application lapse;
(iii) If there are any objections or problems with the application, the applicant would have an opportunity to informally discuss these with an examiner before making a decision as to whether to proceed with the application ...
Proposal 2a
To offer a reduction in the application fees for e-filed trade mark applications where all the application fees are paid at the time of filing ....
Proposal 3
To abolish applications for series of trade marks altogether; alternatively, to introduce a fee supplement of £50 for each mark in a series beyond the first two.
[Class 46 comment: interesting are particularly Q7/Q8/Q9 below. This German member of Class 46 is quite intrigued by series marks and personally wonders whether this uniquely British and Irish quirk is not worth maintaining]
Q.7: Is there a continued need for the registration of series marks?
Q.8: Would you be willing to pay more to be able to apply for registration of a series of trade marks?
Q.9: As it costs us more to examine an application to register a series of trade marks than an application for a single mark, should we charge a supplement for the examination of a series?
Proposal 4
To withdraw the trade marks fast-track examination service altogether or, alternatively, to permit its suspension in particular circumstances. ...
[Class 46 wonders whether the fast-track examination service was not that successful. Do any of our readers how many fast-track application have so far been filed?]
Trade mark tribunal fees
Proposals 5, 6, 7 & 8
To reduce the opposition fee from £200 to £100, to increase the fee for extensions of time requests made on Form TM9 from £50 to £100, and to extend the same fee to a) extensions of the nine month cooling-off period, and b) requests to stay proceedings made outside of the cooling-off procedure ..."
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