IP Australia has confirmed fee changes to take effect from 10 October 2016 and 28 October 2016 as summarised below.

Trade Marks

For trade mark applications filed on or after 10 October 2016, no registration fee will be payable. Filing fees will increase by $130 per class and renewal fees will increase by $100 per class to partially offset the removal of the $300 registration fee.

Trade Mark Applications

Hence, for standard applications for trademark registration using the approved picklist of goods/services, the fee payable to IP Australia at the time of filing will be $250 per class (reduced from $420 per class). If the specification of goods/services contains non-approved items, then the fee will be $330 per class (reduced from $500 per class).

Trade Mark Renewals

For renewals filed after the renewal due date and within the six (6) month grace period, the extension fee will be $100 per trade mark (not per class) for each month, or part of a month, from the renewal due date; so this will be a cost saving for late renewal of multi-class trade mark registrations.

# The Madrid import application and renewal fees relate to overseas owners using the International Registration system to designate Australia and will apply from 28 October 2016. These changes will mean that national and international customers will be charged the same amount.

Trade Mark Oppositions

There will no longer be a fee for opposing a non-use removal application, or for filing written submissions when not attending an opposition hearing.

Trade Mark Sale of Documents

Fees for obtaining certain documents supplied by IP Australia will also be abolished, but replaced with some new fees which will be standardised across all forms of IP rights.