Patent Filing Fees of the USPTO
It depends. According to the current USPTO Fee Schedule, the patent filing fees to file a patent is $280 for a basic Utility Patent and $180 each for a basic Design or Plant Patent. To file a Provisional Patent Application the fee is $260. However, if you qualify as a “Small Entity” fees are reduced by 50% and even further reduced for “Micro Entity” filers.
A Small Entity, according to the USPTO, is typically an individual inventor, small business or nonprofit organization. To qualify as a Small Entity for fee purposes, a written statement must be on file before any fees are paid. If you qualify for this fee reduction, your patent attorney will file the necessary paperwork with your patent application.
Additional fee reductions are available if you qualify as a “Micro Entity” where filing a basic patent application is reduce to $70, for example. Micro Entity status also requires a determination that the patent filer qualifies for this status. Generally, the qualifications for “Micro Entity” are that the filer has not been a named inventor on more than 4 previously filed patent applications, does not have a yearly gross income of more than 3 times the median U.S. household income and has not assigned interest in the patent application concerned to an entity that has a yearly gross income of more than 3 times the median U.S. household income. If you believe you may qualify for this further reduction, your patent attorney can help you with the necessary paperwork.
Depending on the complexity of your application, fees may increase. Fees are also required for the examination and maintenance of your patent and do not include attorney preparation fees. If you have an idea you are interested in patenting, please contact us today. We can help you navigate the process of filing a patent application and help ensure that your idea is protected properly.