While the fees for filing inter partes review (IPR) or post grant review (PGR) proceedings (including the transitional program for covered business method patents (CBM TPGR)) initially seemed prohibitive for cost conscious third party challengers, the USPTO has recently decreased the total fees for filing these proceedings. The final fee schedule, identified in the Federal Register on January 18, 2013 (Federal Register/ Vol. 78, No. 13/ January 18, 2013/ Part II/ 37 CFR Parts 1, 41, and 42 – Setting and Adjusting Patent Fees; Final Rule), became effective on March 19, 2013, and can be found here: www.aiablog.com/ptab-filing-fees/
