Law360, New York (May 17, 2013, 12:18 PM EDT) -- On Jan. 18, 2013, the United States Patent and Trademark Office promulgated a final rule revising most of its patent prosecution fees. While a few previously existing fees were eliminated or decreased from current levels, most were increased, and some were significantly increased. Almost all of the fee changes were made effective as of March 19, 2013, although a few (e.g., reducing issue fee/publication fee levels, eliminating electronic recordation fees and establishing reduced fee levels for PCT activities) will take effect on Jan. 1, 2014. The main overall purpose of these fee changes was to provide the PTO with additional resources to reduce patent pendencies and to open satellite offices. However, the patent office also integrated into the fee structure a number of policy changes....