USPTO: Notice of upcoming DOCX filing fee date of January 17, 2024

The USPTO recently announced its intention to move forward with the implementation of the $400 USD fee for filing specifications and claims in non-DOCX format on January 17, 2024. While it may be possible that the USPTO will extend the deadline again, it appears more likely than not that the USPTO will not extend this deadline any further.

This filing fee applies to all non-provisional applications and continuing applications, but it is important to note that this fee does not apply to drawings, national stage applications, design applications, and provisional applications, which can still be filed in PDF format without incurring the surcharge.

If your organization has not made a decision about whether or not to transition to filing in the DOCX format, we encourage you to make a decision soon in order to prepare for the implementation of the non-DOCX filing fee.

If you have any questions or require more information, please do not hesitate to contact our office.