The new fees USPTO fees will go into effect on the day that the legislation is signed by President Bush. In a recent report, the AIPLA noted that maintenance fees create the greatest risk of getting caught by the fee change-over.
If a patent owner pays the current maintenance fee at 1:00 p.m. on the last day of the grace period, and the bill is signed at 4:00 p.m. on that same day, the patentee will have to make up the difference on that day to save the patent.
For additional information, please contact the USPTO Contact Center at (703) 308-4357 or (800) 786-9199.