Small or Large Entity
What is the difference between a small and large entity?
Fees that are due to the USPTO for filing patent related documents. The fees that are due to the USPTO for a small entity can be decreased by 50% over that when compared to a large entity.
There are several constarints; but, the primary distinction between a small or large entity is whether the owner of the idea for the patent employs less or more than 500 people.
For example, an independent inventor working in their basement files for a patent application for an idea they discover. The independent inventor is not obliged to hand over his idea to anyone. The independent inventor is a small entity.
A second example, an inventor had assigned all of their ideas to a company that employs him. Hower, the company that employs him has over a 1000 people. The company would file under large entity status.