"[...] The European Commission has decided to lower the fees payable to the Community agency responsible for granting EU-wide trademark rights, OHIM (Office for the Harmonization in the Internal Market, located in Alicante, Spain). This measure - unprecedented in the EU and endorsed by Member States - will make intellectual property protection cheaper for businesses operating in the EU single market, saving them between 37 and 40 million a year.
Internal Market and Services Commissioner Charlie McCreevy said: I welcome this reduction in fees. Its great news for businesses, who will now be able to get EU-wide trademark protection at very attractive rates, especially if they do it online. It will also stimulate economic activity in this sector. OHIM is showing that, like the businesses it serves, it is keenly aware of the need to run its affairs efficiently and offer value for money.
The reductions include:
* a lowering of the Community trade mark (CTM) application fee from 975 to 900; * a lowering of the CTM registration fee from 1100 to 850; * a lowering of the fee for renewing the registration of a CTM from 2500 to 1500.
Even greater reductions (special discount of 150) are available to those who file their applications or renewal requests via the Internet using OHIMs state-of-the-art e-filing technology.[...]"
News from the EU Commission: