What are excess claims fees in patent applications?

Excess claims fees are charges that applicants must pay for claims that exceed certain thresholds in a patent application. According to MPEP 714.10:

Applicant is required to pay excess claims fees for each claim that is in excess of 3 in independent form or in excess of 20 (whether dependent or independent).

These fees are designed to discourage excessive claiming and to cover the additional examination costs associated with reviewing a large number of claims.

To learn more:

• excess claims fees
• patent application
• independent claims
• dependent claims