PTO provides "clarification" on patent attorney/agent fee

Last year, the PTO announced an annual fee (initially set at $118) to be paid by patent attorneys and agents. See 73 Fed. Reg. 67750. The PTO has now "clarified" that it has not decided whether or not it will be collecting the fee for fiscal year 2009 (which ends September 30, 2009).

The agency has not issued a notice to pay the annual practitionier maintenance fee for FY2009, nor has it required payment of the fee by September 30, 2009. No decision has been made to collect the fee in FY2009.

See the full release here.