<div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div>1. I require at least a written acknowledgement from a client (or in the case of a client having a local agent, from the local agent) that they are aware of the small entity status requirements and after factual investigation confirm that the patent is still entitled to small entity status. For direct clients, I normally require a newly signed SE form before making a maintenance fee payment on their behalf. </div><div><br></div><div>That does not moot PatentCenter sub slientio having changed entity status, but it puts the factual investigation and conclusions where they should be; with the person having personal knowledge of the facts.</div><div><br></div><div>2. I wonder of PatentCenter has implemented some algorithm to automatically remove SE status from all patents owned by an entity if someone pays a MF for one patent owned by that entity at the non SE rate. Call me slightly paranoid of USPTO actions, ever since the DOCX requirement.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div></div><br><div class="gmail_quote gmail_quote_container"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Wed, Sep 3, 2025 at 2:23\u202fPM Suzannah K. Sundby via Patentpractice <<a href="mailto:patentpractice@oppedahl-lists.com">patentpractice@oppedahl-lists.com</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div class="msg-4347004639869710653">
<div lang="EN-US" style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">
<div class="m_-4347004639869710653WordSection1">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>Of course\u2026 but I imagine some patentees who use maintenance fee vendors might claim they made an innocent mistake/oversight\u2026 but if they have to actively/purposefully change the entity status back
to small entity in <span class="m_-4347004639869710653SpellE">PatentCrapper</span>, one can\u2019t really claim an innocent oversight.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>Hence, why I wonder if the USPTO might be purposefully changing to large entity to force one to have to actively change to small\u2026 then if small entity is wrongly claimed, the USPTO can levy the significant
penalty and even invalidate the patent.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:black"><a href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/ssundby/" target="_blank"><span style="color:black;text-decoration:none">Suzannah
K. Sundby</span></a></span><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif">
<b><span style="color:rgb(0,0,204)">|</span></b> Partner<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:4pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,204)"><a href="http://www.canadylortz.com/" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;text-decoration:none">canady
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif">1050 30th Street, NW<u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"> Roger
Browdy <Roger.Browdy@FisherBroyles.com> <br>
<b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, September 3, 2025 2:09 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> For patent practitioners. This is not for laypersons to seek legal advice. <<a href="mailto:patentpractice@oppedahl-lists.com" target="_blank">patentpractice@oppedahl-lists.com</a>><br>
<b>Cc:</b> Suzannah K. Sundby <<a href="mailto:suzannah@canadylortz.com" target="_blank">suzannah@canadylortz.com</a>><br>
<b>Subject:</b> RE: Maintenance Fees - Entity Status Changed by USPTO?<u></u><u></u></span></p>
</div>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">Of course, you are well aware that the rules require that you check that small entity still applies each time to pay a maintenance fee, whether the PTO has previously recognized it as a small
entity or not.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black">Roger L. Browdy<u></u><u></u></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black">Partner <u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:7.5pt"><span style="font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:rgb(23,71,158)">_____________________________________________ <u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:rgb(23,71,158)">FisherBroyles, LLP<u></u><u></u></span></b></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><u><span style="font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:rgb(23,71,158)"><a href="mailto:roger.browdy@fisherbroyles.com" target="_blank"><span style="color:rgb(70,120,134)">roger.browdy@fisherbroyles.com</span></a><u></u><u></u></span></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:rgb(23,71,158)"> <u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<div>
<div style="border-width:1pt medium medium;border-style:solid none none;border-color:rgb(225,225,225) currentcolor currentcolor;padding:3pt 0in 0in">
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"> Patentpractice <<a href="mailto:patentpractice-bounces@oppedahl-lists.com" target="_blank">patentpractice-bounces@oppedahl-lists.com</a>>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Suzannah K. Sundby via Patentpractice<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, September 3, 2025 8:41 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> <a href="mailto:patentpractice@oppedahl-lists.com" target="_blank">patentpractice@oppedahl-lists.com</a><br>
<b>Cc:</b> Suzannah K. Sundby <<a href="mailto:suzannah@canadylortz.com" target="_blank">suzannah@canadylortz.com</a>><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [Patentpractice] Maintenance Fees - Entity Status Changed by USPTO?<u></u><u></u></span></p>
</div>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Which btw if this is what the USPTO is doing\u2026 it\u2019s a totally sh*tty move as it will require significant bullsh*t paperwork/unbillable time.<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:black"><a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.linkedin.com_in_ssundby_&d=DwMFAg&c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&r=7yDyUE5lzuruhwIvS68v9eFQKnrJuSrXb1MxDfvR_V8&m=8wFZLFNF4_wLb-PNI6ALwm82yFuMK2gz3L2RESKcBuUxfXHzIFZ0fe1DtRD3HVxE&s=JFys10_4BIgCqV30L_nUUSnym5rCP1KjEcKYVsLJOGc&e=" target="_blank"><span style="color:black;text-decoration:none">Suzannah
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<b><span style="color:rgb(0,0,204)">|</span></b> Partner<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:4pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,204)"><a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.canadylortz.com_&d=DwMFAg&c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&r=7yDyUE5lzuruhwIvS68v9eFQKnrJuSrXb1MxDfvR_V8&m=8wFZLFNF4_wLb-PNI6ALwm82yFuMK2gz3L2RESKcBuUxfXHzIFZ0fe1DtRD3HVxE&s=SCL5Jt-D2aERaiZrQbVc1EFnEYP-3q0lge0m4PWN4FE&e=" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;text-decoration:none">canady
+ lortz</span><span style="font-size:8pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;text-decoration:none">
<span style="font-variant:small-caps">LLP</span></span></a></span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,204)"><u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif">1050 30th Street, NW<u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif">F: 202.540.8020<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:4pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,204)"><a href="mailto:suzannah@canadylortz.com" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;text-decoration:none">suzannah@canadylortz.com</span></a></span><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,204)"><u></u><u></u></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"> Suzannah K. Sundby
<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, September 3, 2025 8:39 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> <a href="mailto:patentpractice@oppedahl-lists.com" target="_blank">patentpractice@oppedahl-lists.com</a><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Maintenance Fees - Entity Status Changed by USPTO?<u></u><u></u></span></p>
</div>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The first maintenance fee is due in a patent. The client asked me to change it to small entity so their vendor can pay the small entity maintenance fee.<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I checked my records and PatentCrapper. The application was filed as small entity and the issue fee was also paid as small entity, and at no time did we change the entity status to Large.<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Yet, strangely, PatentCrapper shows the entity status as being Regular Undiscounted.<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Has this happened to anyone else?<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I wonder if the USPTO has decided to automatically change entity status to large for patentees who are companies (not obviously research institutions) to force one to reassert small entity status when paying maintenance fees\u2026 and thereby
having grounds for applying the severe penalties for incorrect assertions\u2026<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:black"><a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.linkedin.com_in_ssundby_&d=DwMFAg&c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&r=7yDyUE5lzuruhwIvS68v9eFQKnrJuSrXb1MxDfvR_V8&m=8wFZLFNF4_wLb-PNI6ALwm82yFuMK2gz3L2RESKcBuUxfXHzIFZ0fe1DtRD3HVxE&s=JFys10_4BIgCqV30L_nUUSnym5rCP1KjEcKYVsLJOGc&e=" target="_blank"><span style="color:black;text-decoration:none">Suzannah
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<b><span style="color:rgb(0,0,204)">|</span></b> Partner<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:4pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,204)"><a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.canadylortz.com_&d=DwMFAg&c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&r=7yDyUE5lzuruhwIvS68v9eFQKnrJuSrXb1MxDfvR_V8&m=8wFZLFNF4_wLb-PNI6ALwm82yFuMK2gz3L2RESKcBuUxfXHzIFZ0fe1DtRD3HVxE&s=SCL5Jt-D2aERaiZrQbVc1EFnEYP-3q0lge0m4PWN4FE&e=" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;text-decoration:none">canady
+ lortz</span><span style="font-size:8pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;text-decoration:none">
<span style="font-variant:small-caps">LLP</span></span></a></span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,204)"><u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif">1050 30th Street, NW<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif">Washington, DC 20007<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:4pt"><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif">T: 202.486.8020<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif">F: 202.540.8020<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:4pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,204)"><a href="mailto:suzannah@canadylortz.com" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;text-decoration:none">suzannah@canadylortz.com</span></a></span><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:"Century Gothic",sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,204)"><u></u><u></u></span></p>
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</div></blockquote></div><div><br clear="all"></div><br><span class="gmail_signature_prefix">-- </span><br><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div>Best regards</div><div>Rick Neifeld, J.D., Ph.D. <br></div><div>Neifeld IP Law PLLC<br></div><div>9112 Shearman Street, Fairfax VA 22032</div><div>Mobile: 7034470727<br></div><div>Email: <a href="mailto:RichardNeifeld@gmail.com" target="_blank">RichardNeifeld@gmail.com</a>; <br></div><br></div></div></div>