Trademark fees slashed to make IP protection more attractive

The Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property has announced that it will cut downs its fees for trademark registration by over 20% from January 1 2007.

The Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property has announced that it will cut downs its fees for trademark registration by over 20% from January 1 2007.

The fees for the registration of a trademark will be lowered from Sfr700 ($553) to Sfr550. A trademark filed electronically will still benefit from a discount of Sfr100 on paper filing but it will also be reduced to Sfr450 from the present Sfr600.

The fee for designating Switzerland under the Madrid Protocol will be reduced from Sfr600 to Sfr450. Up to three classes, instead of two classes, will be included in the fees. The renewal and opposition fees will remain unchanged at Sfr700 and Sfr800 respectively.

In total, around 70 fees relating to trademarks, patents, designs and topographies will be removed. Most of the fees charged for making changes to the register or excerpts from the register, such as the registration fees for a full or partial assignment or licence, for changes of representative or for correction of an entry, will no longer be payable. However, the fee for a partial deletion of a trademark entry or restriction of the list of goods and services of Sfr100 will be maintained.

The institute's intention in overhauling its fees is to make IP protection more attractive, particularly to small and medium-sized businesses. These measures shall also be an important contribution to the economic growth in Switzerland as trademark owners are expected to save around Sfr8 million a year.

This fee reduction is the sixth since 1996, the year the institute's status changed.

Marco Bundi, Meisser & Partners, Klosters