How can I regain micro entity status after losing it?
To regain micro entity status after losing it, you must file a new certification of entitlement to micro entity status. As stated in MPEP 509.04(e): Once a notification of a loss of entitlement to micro entity status is filed in the application or patent, a new certification of entitlement to micro entity status is required…
Read MoreHow can I request a refund for my USPTO deposit account?
How can I request a refund for my USPTO deposit account? To request a refund for your USPTO deposit account, you need to follow these steps: Submit a written request to the USPTO Office of Finance Include your deposit account number and the amount to be refunded Provide a detailed explanation for the refund request…
Read MoreHow do I set up a deposit account with the USPTO?
How do I set up a deposit account with the USPTO? To set up a deposit account with the USPTO: Visit the USPTO Deposit Accounts page Download and complete the Deposit Account Application Form Submit the form with an initial deposit (minimum $1,000) Wait for account approval and receive your account number According to MPEP…
Read MoreHow does licensing affect small entity status for patent fees?
Licensing can significantly impact small entity status for patent fees. The MPEP provides specific guidance on this matter: Rights conveyed by an applicant or patentee to a Government agency are not considered to be license for purposes of this paragraph. A Government agency includes any agency of the Federal Government or military department of the…
Read MoreWhat information must be included in the itemization for a micro entity fee deficiency payment?
According to 37 CFR 1.29(k)(1), the itemization for a micro entity fee deficiency payment must include: Each type of fee erroneously paid as a micro entity The current fee amount for a small or non-small entity The micro entity fee actually paid and the date of payment The deficiency owed amount for each fee The…
Read MoreHow is the gross income limit for micro entity status determined?
The gross income limit for micro entity status is determined as follows: It is set at three times the median household income for the preceding calendar year, as reported by the Bureau of the Census. The USPTO publishes the current maximum qualifying gross income on their website. This limit applies to each applicant, inventor, and…
Read MoreWhat are the income limitations for qualifying as a micro entity?
What are the income limitations for qualifying as a micro entity? To qualify as a micro entity based on income, an applicant’s gross income in the previous calendar year must not exceed three times the median household income as reported by the Bureau of the Census. The MPEP states: “The income limit is not described…
Read MoreWhat are the requirements for micro entity status on the gross income basis?
To establish micro entity status on the gross income basis, an applicant must meet the following requirements as outlined in 37 CFR 1.29(a)(1)-(4): Qualify as a small entity Not have been named as an inventor on more than four previously filed patent applications Not have a gross income exceeding three times the median household income…
Read MoreWhat are the requirements for micro entity status based on an institution of higher education?
To establish micro entity status based on an institution of higher education, an applicant must meet two main requirements: Qualify as a small entity as defined in 37 CFR 1.27 Meet one of the following criteria: The applicant’s employer, from which they obtain the majority of their income, is an institution of higher education as…
Read MoreHow are fees calculated for multiple dependent claims?
Fees for multiple dependent claims are calculated differently from regular dependent claims. According to MPEP 608.01(n): A multiple dependent claim is considered to be that number of dependent claims to which it refers. Any claim depending from a multiple dependent claim is also considered as the number of dependent claims as referred to in the…
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