The Trade Marks and Service Marks (Fees) Rules 1990

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Rules)

These Rules revoke and replace the Trade Marks and Service Marks (Fees) Rules 1989 (the 1989 Rules) and prescribe, in respect of all applications to register a trade mark or service mark filed on or after the date of the coming into force of these Rules (1st October 1990), a composite fee of £160 for an application to register a mark and for the registration of the mark (whether or not accepted for registration). Under the 1989 Rules an application to register a mark was subject to an initial fee of £68, with a further fee of £95 on its acceptance for registration; the latter fee will continue to apply to applications to register made before 1st October 1990. All other fees remain unchanged.

Although the composite fee for registration prescribed under these Rules will result in a marginal reduction in the total fee (£163) payable under the 1989 Rules for an application to register a mark which proceeds to registration, it is estimated that its effect will be to generate additional revenue sufficient to cover the unit cost of the combined service; in the event that there is no change in demand trade mark revenue per annum would increase by 25.8%.