Small Entity vs. Micro Entity

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) requires patent holders to pay filing, application, and maintenance fees. In order to encourage smaller firms to apply and hold patents, the USPTO has distinguished between small entities and micro entities and provided discounts on required fees to both. Definitions are provided by the USPTO. Small or micro-entity status must be verified and asserted prior to paying reduced fees.

Small Entity Status

Under Title 37, Code of Federal Regulations: Patents, Trademarks, and Copyrights, a small entity can be considered a person, a small business concern, or a nonprofit organization. Certain standards must be met to be considered any of the three.