[Patentpractice] Maintenance Fees - Entity Status Changed by USPTO?

Wed Sep 3 19:59:04 UTC 2025

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.

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.

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.

On Wed, Sep 3, 2025 at 2:23 PM Suzannah K. Sundby via Patentpractice <
patentpractice at oppedahl-lists.com> wrote:

> Of course… but I imagine some patentees who use maintenance fee vendors
> might claim they made an innocent mistake/oversight… but if they have to
> actively/purposefully change the entity status back to small entity in
> PatentCrapper, one can’t really claim an innocent oversight.
>
>
>
> Hence, why I wonder if the USPTO might be purposefully changing to large
> entity to force one to have to actively change to small… then if small
> entity is wrongly claimed, the USPTO can levy the significant penalty and
> even invalidate the patent.
>
>
>
> Suzannah K. Sundby <http://www.linkedin.com/in/ssundby/> *|* Partner
>
> *canady + lortz** LLP* <http://www.canadylortz.com/>
>
> 1050 30th Street, NW
>
> Washington, DC 20007
>
> T: 202.486.8020
>
> F: 202.540.8020
>
> suzannah at canadylortz.com
>
> www.canadylortz.com
>
> Confidentiality Notice:  This message is being sent by or on behalf of a
> lawyer.  It is intended exclusively for the individual or entity to which
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> *From:* Roger Browdy <Roger.Browdy at FisherBroyles.com>
> *Sent:* Wednesday, September 3, 2025 2:09 PM
> *To:* For patent practitioners. This is not for laypersons to seek legal
> advice. <patentpractice at oppedahl-lists.com>
> *Cc:* Suzannah K. Sundby <suzannah at canadylortz.com>
> *Subject:* RE: Maintenance Fees - Entity Status Changed by USPTO?
>
>
>
> 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.
>
>
>
> *Roger L. Browdy*
>
> Partner
>
> _____________________________________________
>
> *FisherBroyles, LLP*
>
> direct: +1 202-277-5198
>
> *roger.browdy at fisherbroyles.com <roger.browdy at fisherbroyles.com>*
>
> www.fisherbroyles.com
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>
>
> The information contained in this e-mail message is only for the personal
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>
> *From:* Patentpractice <patentpractice-bounces at oppedahl-lists.com> *On
> Behalf Of *Suzannah K. Sundby via Patentpractice
> *Sent:* Wednesday, September 3, 2025 8:41 AM
> *To:* patentpractice at oppedahl-lists.com
> *Cc:* Suzannah K. Sundby <suzannah at canadylortz.com>
> *Subject:* Re: [Patentpractice] Maintenance Fees - Entity Status Changed
> by USPTO?
>
>
>
> Which btw if this is what the USPTO is doing… it’s a totally sh*tty move
> as it will require significant bullsh*t paperwork/unbillable time.
>
>
>
> Suzannah K. Sundby
> <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=>
> *|* Partner
>
> canady + lortz LLP
> <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=>
>
> 1050 30th Street, NW
>
> Washington, DC 20007
>
> T: 202.486.8020
>
> F: 202.540.8020
>
> suzannah at canadylortz.com
>
> www.canadylortz.com
> <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=>
>
> Confidentiality Notice:  This message is being sent by or on behalf of a
> lawyer.  It is intended exclusively for the individual or entity to which
> it is addressed.  This communication may contain information that is
> proprietary, privileged or confidential, or otherwise legally exempt from
> disclosure.  If you are not the named addressee, you may not read, print,
> retain, copy, or disseminate this message or any part.  If you have
> received this message in error, please notify the sender immediately by
> e-mail and delete all copies of the message.
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>
>
> *From:* Suzannah K. Sundby
> *Sent:* Wednesday, September 3, 2025 8:39 AM
> *To:* patentpractice at oppedahl-lists.com
> *Subject:* Maintenance Fees - Entity Status Changed by USPTO?
>
>
>
> 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.
>
>
>
> 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.
>
>
>
> Yet, strangely, PatentCrapper shows the entity status as being Regular
> Undiscounted.
>
>
>
> Has this happened to anyone else?
>
>
>
> 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…
> and thereby having grounds for applying the severe penalties for incorrect
> assertions…
>
>
>
> Suzannah K. Sundby
> <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=>
> *|* Partner
>
> canady + lortz LLP
> <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=>
>
> 1050 30th Street, NW
>
> Washington, DC 20007
>
> T: 202.486.8020
>
> F: 202.540.8020
>
> suzannah at canadylortz.com
>
> www.canadylortz.com
> <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=>
>
> Confidentiality Notice:  This message is being sent by or on behalf of a
> lawyer.  It is intended exclusively for the individual or entity to which
> it is addressed.  This communication may contain information that is
> proprietary, privileged or confidential, or otherwise legally exempt from
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> retain, copy, or disseminate this message or any part.  If you have
> received this message in error, please notify the sender immediately by
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>
>
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-- 
Best regards
Rick Neifeld, J.D., Ph.D.
Neifeld IP Law PLLC
9112 Shearman Street, Fairfax VA 22032
Mobile: 7034470727
Email: RichardNeifeld at gmail.com;
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