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Question:
List 3 fees that are reduced by 80 percent for micro entities.
Answer:
The fees which are reduced by 80 percent for micro entities include:
- filing fees (nonprovisional and provisional)
- search fees
- examination fees
- issue fees
- appeal fees for utility
- design, plant, and reissue patent applications
- patent maintenance fees including the maintenance fee grace period surcharges
- the surcharge for a petition to accept a delayed maintenance fee payment in order to reinstate an expired patent
Chapter Details:
The answer to this question can be found in chapter 500 of the MPEP. This chapter covers Receipt and Handling of Mail and Papers.
The answer is from the 9th Edition, Revision 01.2024, Published November 2024. Depending on future changes to the MPEP, the question and answer may or may not be applicable in later Editions or revisions.
Section Summary:
This question and answer comes from section 509.04 of the MPEP. The following is a brief summary of section 509.04.
509.04 Micro Entity Status — Definitions
The 80% micro entity discount first became available on December 29, 2022. This section covers the fees that are reduced by 80% along with the requirements for a certification establishing micro entity status.
The requirements for micro entity status can be met through one of two basis; gross income and the institution of higher education. Both these basis are explained in detail in this section.
This section also covers the parties who can sign the micro entity certification and the continued obligation to determine micro entity status. In addition, this section covers the notification of loss of entitlement to micro entity status along with the correction of errors in micro entity status.