Consolidated Appropriations Act for 2005 signed into law: New Patent and Trademark Office fee schedule effective TODAY

President Bush signed into law today H.R. 4818, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2005. The Act includes several intellectual property-related provisions and immediately presents an issue regarding fees paid to the Patent and Trademark Office. The Act is effective as of 12:01 AM today, December 8, 2004, meaning that any fee paid on or after today, including patent maintenance fees, must be made in conformity with the new fee schedule [.pdf].