Are there any fee reductions available for U.S. national stage applications?
Yes, there are fee reductions available for U.S. national stage applications based on the applicant’s entity status. The MPEP 1893.01(c) states:
“Applicants qualifying for small entity status are entitled to a reduction of 50% of certain national fees. Applicants qualifying for micro entity status are entitled to a reduction of 75% of certain national fees.”
These reductions apply to many fees, including:
- Basic national fee
- Search fee
- Examination fee
- Application size fee
To claim these reductions, applicants must meet the criteria for small or micro entity status as defined in 37 CFR 1.27 and 1.29, respectively. It’s important to note that “A proper assertion of small entity status must be made upon entry into the national stage.” Failure to do so may result in paying the full fee amount.
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