IP Australia announced on 10 May 2012 that changes to official fees for Australian patents, trade marks, designs and plant breeders rights will become effective in most cases from 1 July 2012, although new application filing fees will not change until 1 October 2012. Details of the new fee structures can be found at:
- IP Australia > Patents > Fees
- IP Australia > Trade Marks > Fees
- IP Australia > Designs > Fees
- IP Australia > Plant breeders rights > Fees
A significant change included within the new patent fee schedule is that the first continuation fee payment in respect of patent applications with a date of patent (international application filing date, Australian filing date for non-PCT applications or divisional parent filing date) on or after 1 July 2008 will be due 4 years from the date of patent instead of the current 5 years.