This article was originally published on the Blake Morgan (Southampton, England) website.
A positive change that will be brought into effect by the new regulations is the reduction in renewal fees for Community Trade Marks. This means that all Community Trade Marks that expire on or after 23 March 2016 will be subject to the new reduced renewal fees as set out below:
Description
Current Fee
Fee for marks expiring after 23 March 2016
Individual mark
Basic fee for renewal
€1,500
€1,000
E-renewal fee
€1,350
€850
Fee for the renewal of the second class of goods and services
Included in basic fee
€50
Fee for the renewal of third class of goods and services
Included in basic fee
€150
Fee for the renewal of each class of goods and services exceeding three
€400
€150
Collective mark or Certification mark
Basic fee for renewal
€3,000
€1,800
E-renewal fee
n/a
€1,500
Fee for the renewal of the second class of goods and services
Included in basic fee
€50
Fee for the renewal of third class of goods and services
Included in basic fee
€150
Fee for the renewal of each class of goods and services exceeding three
€800
€150
Other fees
Fee for the late payment of the renewal fee or late submission of request for renewal
25% of the belated renewal fee, subject to a maximum of €1,500
No change to the fee.
Although the reduced fee only comes into effect on 23 March 2016, there is no need to delay in renewing a mark until after this date. OHIM have recently confirmed that as long as the trade mark expiry date is on or after 23 March 2016 the reduced fee will apply to the renewal of that mark. Any excess renewal fees paid due to renewing before 23 March 2014 will be refunded to the person that made the excess payment.
