HC Deb 29 October 1975 vol 898 cc546-8W
Mr. Kenneth Clarke

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what increases have been made in the statutory fees charged by the Patent Office during the last 10 years; and what percentage increase was involved on each occasion.

PATENTS
Cost of securing a patent and keeping it in force for the full term of 16 years
Effective Date Statutory Instrument No. Cost £ Percentage increase over previous cost
7th October 1967 … … … 1967 No. 1171 234 1.7
21st June 1969 … … … 1969 No. 482 241 3.0
9th December 1969 … … … 1969 No. 1706 256 6.2
1st June 1971 … … … 1971 No. 263 331 29.3
19th May 1974 … … … 1974 No. 87 370 11.8
24th May 1975 … … … 1975 No. 371 696 88.1
1st November 1975 … … … 1975 No. 1262 905 30.0
TRADE MARKS
Cost of registering a trade mark for 7 years and of renewal for each subsequent 14 year period
Effective Date Statutory Instrument No. Registration Renewal
Cost £ Percentage increase over previous cost Cost £ Percentage increase over previous cost
29th November 1967 … 1967 No. 1366 10 11.1 13 30.0
21st June 1969 … 1969 No. 522 12 20.0 15 15.4
1st June 1971 … 1971 No. 261 14 16.7 20 33.3
21st October 1974 … 1974 No. 1314 16 14.3 22 10.0
9th June 1975 … 1975 No. 576 30 87.5 42 90.9
22nd November 1975 … 1975 No. 1532 50 66.7 73 73.8
DESIGNS
Cost of registering a design and keeping it in force for the full term of 15 years
Effective Date Statutory Instrument No. Cost £ Percentage increase over previous cost
21st June 1969 … … … 1969 No. 481 35 25.0
1st June 1971 … … … 1971 No. 262 58 65.7
19th May 1974 … … … 1974 No. 86 59.50 2.6
24th May 1975 … … … 1975 No. 372 113 89.9
10th December 1975 … … … 1975 No. 1440 147 30.1

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

asked the Secretary of State what effect will the Government's counter-inflation policies have upon the increase in the statutory fees charged by the Patent Office which is proposed to come into effect from 1st November.

Mr. Clinton Davis

The increases in Patent Office fees, which come into effect on 1st November, are necessary if the Patent Office is to maintain its long established policy of breaking even over a period. This policy is fully consistent

Mr. Clinton Davis

Altogether over 230 fees are involved and the specific items are set out in the relevant statutory instruments. The effect of the increases can, however, be assessed by comparison of certain main fees which together account for by far the largest part of the revenue of the Patent Office.

with the Government's counter-inflation policies.

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