Revision of Patent Fees for Fiscal Year 2005

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The United States Patent and Trademark Office (referred to as "we", "us", or "our" in this notice) is proposing to adjust certain patent fee amounts to reflect fluctuations in the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Also, we are proposing to adjust, by a corresponding amount, a few patent fees that track the affected fees. The Director is authorized to adjust these fees annually by the CPI to recover the higher costs associated with doing business. Legislation has been proposed and passed by the House of Representatives that would alter our fee amounts and procedures. The United States Patent and Trademark Fee Modernization Act of 2004 (H.R. 1561) passed the House of Representatives on March 3, 2004. Similar legislation is pending in the Senate as S. 1760. If enacted, this legislation would supersede certain patent fee amounts identified in this proposed rule.