Patents Get Paperwork Tune-Up: Yawn-Worthy Fed Notice
Published Date: 10/23/2025
Notice
Summary
The Patent and Trademark Office is asking for your thoughts on updating how they collect info after patents are allowed or reissued. This affects inventors and businesses who deal with patents, and the changes aim to keep things clear and efficient. You’ve got until December 22, 2025, to share your comments—no fees or big money changes right now, just smoother paperwork!
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 4 costs, 0 mixed.
Pay issue fee within three months
If the USPTO allows your patent application, you must pay the required issue fee within three months of the notice of allowance or the application is abandoned. The legal basis cited includes 35 U.S.C. 131 and 151 and the rules at 37 CFR 1.18, 1.311, and 1.314.
Large annual private‑sector burden estimate
The USPTO estimates 473,710 annual responses costing the private sector about 392,186 total burden hours and $175,307,142 in hourly cost burden. The notice also estimates total annual non‑hourly costs of $477,303,798 (including filing fees and postage).
Many filing fees and specific fee amounts
There are 13 filing fees associated with this collection. Examples shown include the utility issue fee at $1,290 (undiscounted), $516 (small entity), $258 (micro entity); the design issue fee at $1,300 (undiscounted), $520 (small), $260 (micro); and a reissue examination fee at $2,550 (undiscounted), $1,020 (small), $510 (micro). A certificate of correction filing fee is shown as $172.
Reissue requires sworn error statement
To apply for reissue of an original patent, the patentee or current owner must file a reissue application that includes an oath or declaration identifying at least one error relied on for reissue and stating why the original patent is wholly or partly inoperative or invalid (see 35 U.S.C. 251 and 37 CFR 1.171–1.173 and 1.175–1.178).
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
Related Federal Register Documents
2026-19613, Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) Actions
The USPTO is asking for public feedback on its paperwork rules for the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB). This helps make sure the forms are easy to use and don’t waste anyone’s time. If you’re involved in trademarks, now’s your chance to comment before October 26, 2026, with no new fees or big changes planned.
2026-19576, Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Generic Clearance for Information Pertaining to Events, Registrations, and Programs
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2026-17525, Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Substantive Submissions Made During the Prosecution of the Trademark Application
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (hereafter "USPTO" or "Agency"), as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, invites comments on the extension and revision of an existing information collection: 0651-0054 (Substantive Submissions Made During the Prosecution of the Trademark Application). The purpose of this notice is to allow 60 days for public comments preceding submission of the information collection to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
2026-17524, Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) Appeals
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (hereafter "USPTO" or "Agency") will submit the following information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and clearance in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, on or after the date of publication of this notice. The USPTO invites comments on the information collection renewal of 0651-0063, which helps the USPTO assess the impact of its information collection requirements and minimize the reporting burden to the public. Public comments were previously requested via the Federal Register on April 20, 2026, during a 60-day comment period (91 FR 20986). This notice allows for an additional 30 days for public comments.
2026-16744, Request for Comments on Community Outreach Office Locations in the Southwest States
The USPTO wants your ideas on where to open new community outreach offices in the Southwest states like Arizona and Texas. These offices will help inventors, small businesses, and students get better support with patents. Share your thoughts by September 16, 2026, so the USPTO can pick the best spots and keep innovation booming without extra costs to you!
2026-16315, Administrative Updates to the General Requirements Bulletin for Admission to the Examination for Registration To Practice in Patent Cases Before the United States Patent and Trademark Office
Starting August 11, 2026, the USPTO is upgrading Biomedical Science degrees from Category B to Category A for patent bar eligibility. This means more people with this degree can now take the patent exam and become patent practitioners. No extra fees or delays—just a smoother path for those with the right science background to join the patent world!
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