MPEP § 1126 — Publication Fees (Annotated Rules)
§1126 Publication Fees
This page consolidates and annotates all enforceable requirements under MPEP § 1126, including statutory authority, regulatory rules, examiner guidance, and practice notes. It is provided as guidance, with links to the ground truth sources. This is information only, it is not legal advice.
Publication Fees
This section addresses Publication Fees. Primary authority: 35 U.S.C. 122(b), 37 CFR 1.18(d), and 37 CFR 1.211. Contains: 5 requirements, 1 prohibition, 1 guidance statement, 1 permission, and 5 other statements.
Key Rules
Publication Fee Due at Issue
The publication fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.18(d) must be paid in each application published (or scheduled to be published) under 35 U.S.C. 122(b) before a patent will be granted on the application. The publication fee will be required with the Notice of Allowance and Fee(s) Due, unless the publication fee was previously paid. If an application becomes abandoned without being allowed, no publication fee is required. The small entity discount is not available for the publication fee. The sum specified in the Notice of Allowance and Fee(s) Due will also include the publication fee which must be paid within three months from the date of mailing of the Notice of Allowance and Fee(s) Due to avoid abandonment of the application. This three-month period is not extendable.
The publication fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.18(d) must be paid in each application published (or scheduled to be published) under 35 U.S.C. 122(b) before a patent will be granted on the application. The publication fee will be required with the Notice of Allowance and Fee(s) Due, unless the publication fee was previously paid. If an application becomes abandoned without being allowed, no publication fee is required. The small entity discount is not available for the publication fee. The sum specified in the Notice of Allowance and Fee(s) Due will also include the publication fee which must be paid within three months from the date of mailing of the Notice of Allowance and Fee(s) Due to avoid abandonment of the application. This three-month period is not extendable.
The publication fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.18(d) must be paid in each application published (or scheduled to be published) under 35 U.S.C. 122(b) before a patent will be granted on the application. The publication fee will be required with the Notice of Allowance and Fee(s) Due, unless the publication fee was previously paid. If an application becomes abandoned without being allowed, no publication fee is required. The small entity discount is not available for the publication fee. The sum specified in the Notice of Allowance and Fee(s) Due will also include the publication fee which must be paid within three months from the date of mailing of the Notice of Allowance and Fee(s) Due to avoid abandonment of the application. This three-month period is not extendable.
The publication fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.18(d) must be paid in each application published (or scheduled to be published) under 35 U.S.C. 122(b) before a patent will be granted on the application. The publication fee will be required with the Notice of Allowance and Fee(s) Due, unless the publication fee was previously paid. If an application becomes abandoned without being allowed, no publication fee is required. The small entity discount is not available for the publication fee. The sum specified in the Notice of Allowance and Fee(s) Due will also include the publication fee which must be paid within three months from the date of mailing of the Notice of Allowance and Fee(s) Due to avoid abandonment of the application. This three-month period is not extendable.
Applicant is required to pay the publication fee to avoid abandonment of the application even if the application has not yet been published at the time when the publication fee is due. The Office will continue with the pre-grant publication process until a patent actually issues. This is because there are many instances in which the Office mails a notice of allowance in an application but the application does not issue as a patent in regular course. Therefore, the Office will not discontinue the pre-grant publication process until a patent has actually issued. Since the Office cannot discontinue the pre-grant publication process during the last two to four weeks of the publication process, this will result in a few applications being issued as patents and subsequently being published as patent application publications. The Office will refund the publication fee (if paid) if the application is not published as a patent application publication, but will not refund the publication fee if the application is published as a patent application publication, even if it is published after the patent issues. Effective January 1, 2014, the publication fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.18(d) is $0.00.
Applicant is required to pay the publication fee to avoid abandonment of the application even if the application has not yet been published at the time when the publication fee is due. The Office will continue with the pre-grant publication process until a patent actually issues. This is because there are many instances in which the Office mails a notice of allowance in an application but the application does not issue as a patent in regular course. Therefore, the Office will not discontinue the pre-grant publication process until a patent has actually issued. Since the Office cannot discontinue the pre-grant publication process during the last two to four weeks of the publication process, this will result in a few applications being issued as patents and subsequently being published as patent application publications. The Office will refund the publication fee (if paid) if the application is not published as a patent application publication, but will not refund the publication fee if the application is published as a patent application publication, even if it is published after the patent issues. Effective January 1, 2014, the publication fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.18(d) is $0.00.
Applicant is required to pay the publication fee to avoid abandonment of the application even if the application has not yet been published at the time when the publication fee is due. The Office will continue with the pre-grant publication process until a patent actually issues. This is because there are many instances in which the Office mails a notice of allowance in an application but the application does not issue as a patent in regular course. Therefore, the Office will not discontinue the pre-grant publication process until a patent has actually issued. Since the Office cannot discontinue the pre-grant publication process during the last two to four weeks of the publication process, this will result in a few applications being issued as patents and subsequently being published as patent application publications. The Office will refund the publication fee (if paid) if the application is not published as a patent application publication, but will not refund the publication fee if the application is published as a patent application publication, even if it is published after the patent issues. Effective January 1, 2014, the publication fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.18(d) is $0.00.
Applicant is required to pay the publication fee to avoid abandonment of the application even if the application has not yet been published at the time when the publication fee is due. The Office will continue with the pre-grant publication process until a patent actually issues. This is because there are many instances in which the Office mails a notice of allowance in an application but the application does not issue as a patent in regular course. Therefore, the Office will not discontinue the pre-grant publication process until a patent has actually issued. Since the Office cannot discontinue the pre-grant publication process during the last two to four weeks of the publication process, this will result in a few applications being issued as patents and subsequently being published as patent application publications. The Office will refund the publication fee (if paid) if the application is not published as a patent application publication, but will not refund the publication fee if the application is published as a patent application publication, even if it is published after the patent issues. Effective January 1, 2014, the publication fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.18(d) is $0.00.
Applicant is required to pay the publication fee to avoid abandonment of the application even if the application has not yet been published at the time when the publication fee is due. The Office will continue with the pre-grant publication process until a patent actually issues. This is because there are many instances in which the Office mails a notice of allowance in an application but the application does not issue as a patent in regular course. Therefore, the Office will not discontinue the pre-grant publication process until a patent has actually issued. Since the Office cannot discontinue the pre-grant publication process during the last two to four weeks of the publication process, this will result in a few applications being issued as patents and subsequently being published as patent application publications. The Office will refund the publication fee (if paid) if the application is not published as a patent application publication, but will not refund the publication fee if the application is published as a patent application publication, even if it is published after the patent issues. Effective January 1, 2014, the publication fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.18(d) is $0.00.
If applicant files a request for continued examination (RCE) under 37 CFR 1.114 after a Notice of Allowance and Fee(s) Due is mailed (but before the expiration of the three-month time period set forth in the Notice of Allowance and Fee(s) Due), the Office will suspend the due date for the publication fee until three months from the mail date of the new Notice of Allowance and Fee(s) Due for the application (if and when a new Notice is mailed). See Time Period for Paying Publication Fee if a Request for Continued Examination is Filed After a Notice of Allowance is Mailed, 1249 Off. Gaz. Pat. Office 81 (Aug. 21, 2001). For more information on RCE practice, see MPEP § 706.07(h).
Issue Fees
Accordingly, applicant may file a request for a refund of the publication fee after 4 weeks from the issue date of the patent if the application did not publish. A request for refund filed before 4 weeks from the issue date is premature and will be disregarded. Requests for a refund of the publication fee should be directed to the Office at Mail Stop PGPUB.
Accordingly, applicant may file a request for a refund of the publication fee after 4 weeks from the issue date of the patent if the application did not publish. A request for refund filed before 4 weeks from the issue date is premature and will be disregarded. Requests for a refund of the publication fee should be directed to the Office at Mail Stop PGPUB.
Three-Month Issue Fee Period
If applicant files a request for continued examination (RCE) under 37 CFR 1.114 after a Notice of Allowance and Fee(s) Due is mailed (but before the expiration of the three-month time period set forth in the Notice of Allowance and Fee(s) Due), the Office will suspend the due date for the publication fee until three months from the mail date of the new Notice of Allowance and Fee(s) Due for the application (if and when a new Notice is mailed). See Time Period for Paying Publication Fee if a Request for Continued Examination is Filed After a Notice of Allowance is Mailed, 1249 Off. Gaz. Pat. Office 81 (Aug. 21, 2001). For more information on RCE practice, see MPEP § 706.07(h).
If applicant files a request for continued examination (RCE) under 37 CFR 1.114 after a Notice of Allowance and Fee(s) Due is mailed (but before the expiration of the three-month time period set forth in the Notice of Allowance and Fee(s) Due), the Office will suspend the due date for the publication fee until three months from the mail date of the new Notice of Allowance and Fee(s) Due for the application (if and when a new Notice is mailed). See Time Period for Paying Publication Fee if a Request for Continued Examination is Filed After a Notice of Allowance is Mailed, 1249 Off. Gaz. Pat. Office 81 (Aug. 21, 2001). For more information on RCE practice, see MPEP § 706.07(h).
Issue Fee Amount
The publication fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.18(d) must be paid in each application published (or scheduled to be published) under 35 U.S.C. 122(b) before a patent will be granted on the application. The publication fee will be required with the Notice of Allowance and Fee(s) Due, unless the publication fee was previously paid. If an application becomes abandoned without being allowed, no publication fee is required. The small entity discount is not available for the publication fee. The sum specified in the Notice of Allowance and Fee(s) Due will also include the publication fee which must be paid within three months from the date of mailing of the Notice of Allowance and Fee(s) Due to avoid abandonment of the application. This three-month period is not extendable.
Notice of Allowance Period (3 Months)
The publication fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.18(d) must be paid in each application published (or scheduled to be published) under 35 U.S.C. 122(b) before a patent will be granted on the application. The publication fee will be required with the Notice of Allowance and Fee(s) Due, unless the publication fee was previously paid. If an application becomes abandoned without being allowed, no publication fee is required. The small entity discount is not available for the publication fee. The sum specified in the Notice of Allowance and Fee(s) Due will also include the publication fee which must be paid within three months from the date of mailing of the Notice of Allowance and Fee(s) Due to avoid abandonment of the application. This three-month period is not extendable.
Patent Issue and Publication
Applicant is required to pay the publication fee to avoid abandonment of the application even if the application has not yet been published at the time when the publication fee is due. The Office will continue with the pre-grant publication process until a patent actually issues. This is because there are many instances in which the Office mails a notice of allowance in an application but the application does not issue as a patent in regular course. Therefore, the Office will not discontinue the pre-grant publication process until a patent has actually issued. Since the Office cannot discontinue the pre-grant publication process during the last two to four weeks of the publication process, this will result in a few applications being issued as patents and subsequently being published as patent application publications. The Office will refund the publication fee (if paid) if the application is not published as a patent application publication, but will not refund the publication fee if the application is published as a patent application publication, even if it is published after the patent issues. Effective January 1, 2014, the publication fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.18(d) is $0.00.
Fee Requirements
Accordingly, applicant may file a request for a refund of the publication fee after 4 weeks from the issue date of the patent if the application did not publish. A request for refund filed before 4 weeks from the issue date is premature and will be disregarded. Requests for a refund of the publication fee should be directed to the Office at Mail Stop PGPUB.
Citations
| Primary topic | Citation |
|---|---|
| Issue Fee Amount Notice of Allowance Period (3 Months) Publication Fee Due at Issue | 35 U.S.C. § 122(b) |
| Publication Fee Due at Issue Three-Month Issue Fee Period | 37 CFR § 1.114 |
| Issue Fee Amount Notice of Allowance Period (3 Months) Patent Issue and Publication Publication Fee Due at Issue | 37 CFR § 1.18(d) |
| Publication Fee Due at Issue Three-Month Issue Fee Period | MPEP § 706.07(h) |
Source Text from USPTO’s MPEP
This is an exact copy of the MPEP from the USPTO. It is here for your reference to see the section in context.
Official MPEP § 1126 — Publication Fees
Source: USPTO1126 Publication Fees [R-01.2024]
37 CFR 1.211 Publication of applications.
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- (e) The publication fee set forth in § 1.18(d) must be paid in each application published under this section before the patent will be granted. If an application is subject to publication under this section, the sum specified in the notice of allowance under § 1.311 will also include the publication fee which must be paid within three months from the date of mailing of the notice of allowance to avoid abandonment of the application. This three-month period is not extendable. If the application is not published under this section, the publication fee (if paid) will be refunded.
The publication fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.18(d) must be paid in each application published (or scheduled to be published) under 35 U.S.C. 122(b) before a patent will be granted on the application. The publication fee will be required with the Notice of Allowance and Fee(s) Due, unless the publication fee was previously paid. If an application becomes abandoned without being allowed, no publication fee is required. The small entity discount is not available for the publication fee. The sum specified in the Notice of Allowance and Fee(s) Due will also include the publication fee which must be paid within three months from the date of mailing of the Notice of Allowance and Fee(s) Due to avoid abandonment of the application. This three-month period is not extendable.
Applicant is required to pay the publication fee to avoid abandonment of the application even if the application has not yet been published at the time when the publication fee is due. The Office will continue with the pre-grant publication process until a patent actually issues. This is because there are many instances in which the Office mails a notice of allowance in an application but the application does not issue as a patent in regular course. Therefore, the Office will not discontinue the pre-grant publication process until a patent has actually issued. Since the Office cannot discontinue the pre-grant publication process during the last two to four weeks of the publication process, this will result in a few applications being issued as patents and subsequently being published as patent application publications. The Office will refund the publication fee (if paid) if the application is not published as a patent application publication, but will not refund the publication fee if the application is published as a patent application publication, even if it is published after the patent issues. Effective January 1, 2014, the publication fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.18(d) is $0.00.
Accordingly, applicant may file a request for a refund of the publication fee after 4 weeks from the issue date of the patent if the application did not publish. A request for refund filed before 4 weeks from the issue date is premature and will be disregarded. Requests for a refund of the publication fee should be directed to the Office at Mail Stop PGPUB.
If applicant files a request for continued examination (RCE) under 37 CFR 1.114 after a Notice of Allowance and Fee(s) Due is mailed (but before the expiration of the three-month time period set forth in the Notice of Allowance and Fee(s) Due), the Office will suspend the due date for the publication fee until three months from the mail date of the new Notice of Allowance and Fee(s) Due for the application (if and when a new Notice is mailed). See Time Period for Paying Publication Fee if a Request for Continued Examination is Filed After a Notice of Allowance is Mailed, 1249 Off. Gaz. Pat. Office 81 (Aug. 21, 2001). For more information on RCE practice, see MPEP § 706.07(h).