What happens if I miss the deadline for responding to an Office action in a patent application?

If you miss the deadline for responding to an Office action, your patent application may be considered abandoned. According to MPEP 711, ‘Abandonment may be either of the invention or of an application. This section relates to abandonment of the application for patent.’ The MPEP further states: ‘An application becomes abandoned if applicant does not…

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How is micro entity status determined for gross income basis?

For micro entity status based on gross income under 37 CFR 1.29(a), applicants must regularly reassess their eligibility. The MPEP 509.04(d) explains: ‘For micro entity status on the gross income basis under 37 CFR 1.29(a), the applicant must determine that the applicant and each inventor or joint inventor still meet the applicable conditions of 37…

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