Online application filing fees reduced again

The Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property has announced new fee reductions for trademark applications. From May 1 2007 trademark applications filed electronically will cost Sfr350 instead of the current Sfr450. The fee was already cut on January 1 2007 from Sfr600 to Sfr450 (see Trademark fees slashed to make IP protection more attractive).

The Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property has announced new fee reductions for trademark applications. From May 1 2007 trademark applications filed electronically will cost Sfr350 instead of the current Sfr450. The fee was already cut on January 1 2007 from Sfr600 to Sfr450 (see Trademark fees slashed to make IP protection more attractive).

This latest reduction is valid for electronically filed trademark applications only, which are now lower than those of the German Patent and Trademarks Office. However, fees for paper filings in Switzerland will remain at Sfr550. The application fees covers the application proceeding, publication and a registration period of 10 years, and offers protection for up to three classes. Every additional class is charged at Sfr100 for paper filings and will be charged Sfr60 from May 1 for online filings. The subsequent fee for renewal of the trademark remains unchanged at the relatively high cost of Sfr700.

Meanwhile, it is still unclear how the newly enacted Federal Administrative Procedures Act will affect the costs of appeals in trademark matters, which are now handled by the new Administrative Court (see Board of Appeal for Intellectual Property set to be replaced). The court's fees are determined not only by the amount in dispute, the complexity of the case and the conduct of the proceedings, but also by the financial situation of the parties. Therefore, mark owners and their representatives will have to wait for the first few decisions of the court to get an idea of costs in that forum.

Marco Bundi, Meisser & Partners, Klosters