本篇筆記主要是源自一個問題？
原本因為微實體資格而獲得優惠費用的專利/申請案，是否在失去微實體資格後要以新的資格（小實體、大實體）繳交後續費用（不追溯），如答辯費用、年費？
摘錄部份費用欄目，微實體有很大的折扣：
微實體定義（35 U.S.C. 123 MICRO ENTITY DEFINED）：
微實體資格（4項都要滿足）：
(1) qualifies as a small entity, as defined in regulations issued by the Director;
（符合"小實體"資格，包括：個人發明人、申請人企業小於500人、非營利或教育機構。也就是說，微實體是小實體的特例。）
(2) has not been named as an inventor on more than 4 previously filed patent applications, other than applications filed in another country, provisional applications under section 111(b), or international applications filed under the treaty defined in section 351(a) for which the basic national fee under section 41(a) was not paid;
（前申請案不超過4件（正式案），不算臨時岸、其他國家或PCT申請案。）
(3) did not, in the calendar year preceding the calendar year in which the applicable fee is being paid, have a gross income, as defined in section 61(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, exceeding 3 times the median household income for that preceding calendar year, as most recently reported by the Bureau of the Census; and
（前一年度總收入不超過美國家庭收入中位數的3倍。）
(4) has not assigned, granted, or conveyed, and is not under an obligation by contract or law to assign, grant, or convey, a license or other ownership interest in the application concerned to an entity that, in the calendar year preceding the calendar year in which the applicable fee is being paid, had a gross income, as defined in section 61(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, exceeding 3 times the median household income for that preceding calendar year, as most recently reported by the Bureau of the Census.
（不能基於合約義務或法律而要讓與、授予或轉讓權利給其他權利人，且此權利人的總收入超過美國家庭收入中位數的3倍。）
從以下Micro Entity規則的標題 - 「每次繳費都要重新評估微實體狀態」來看，微實體優惠方案是鼓勵相關資格的人可以以較低費用布局專利，但是一旦變大、變有錢、變厲害後，就要以小實體或大實體的費用繳後續費用。以標註紅色字可知，每次繳費用給USPTO時都要審視是否符合「微實體」資格，主要理由是因為微實體資格會變動，如收入，如果資格沒變就不用做任何動作，如果經審視不再符合微實體資格，申請人或專利權人要通知USPTO-"notification of a loss of entitlement to micro entity status"（失去微實體資格通知），且繳交的費用就要以新的資格來繳。
這樣表示，原本繳交微實體費用所提交的申請案或是獲准的專利，一旦申請人/專利權人失去微實體資格，後續的費用（如答辯、領證與年費）就不能用微實體優惠方案繳交費用。
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USPTO：
https://www.uspto.gov/patents/laws/micro-entity-status
這個段落標題說到「每次繳費時都要重新評估微實體狀態」!!!
1.2 Micro entity
status must be reevaluated every time a fee is paid
After micro entity status has been established in an application
or patent, it will remain in effect until it is changed. However, the applicant or patentee must re-evaluate whether or not
the application or patent still qualifies for micro entity status each and every time a fee is paid to the USPTO in that application or patent. This is particularly important
if the application or patent qualified under the gross income basis, because
(1) the income limit changes every year (usually in September or October) and
(2) the gross income of any applicant, inventor or other person with an ownership interest in the patent or
application will likely change from year to year. For more information
concerning the income limit, see section 2.3 Maximum qualifying gross income.
If the applicant or patentee determines that the application or patent still qualifies for micro entity status, then the fee may be paid in the micro
entity amount. There is no need to re-file the micro entity certification form
every time a payment is made.
If an application or patent no
longer qualifies for micro entity
status, for example because the income limit for the gross income basis is no
longer met, then the applicant or patentee must file a notification of a loss of entitlement to micro entity status in the application or patent. The “Notification of Loss of
Entitlement to Micro Entity Status” form (Form SB/460) may
be used to notify the USPTO of loss of entitlement to micro entity status.
Information about how to notify the USPTO of loss on entitlement to micro
entity status can be found in MPEP sections 509.04(e), 509.04(f) and 2550(II) (maintenance fees). If micro entity status is no longer applicable, the fee should be
paid in either the small entity or undiscounted amount.
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my two cents:
有趣的是，網路上有文章在微實體先前申請案4件的限制上有特別的解釋，如果不在文字上過度解釋，直接的理解就是微實體方案提供申請人前4申請案的優惠方案，在提出第5件申請案時，已經不符微實體資格。這個想法還有另一個判斷邏輯是，基於微實體申請人＂先前＂4件數量的限制，因此第5件算符合微實體資格??? 如果 這樣是對的話，誇張一點，如果申請人同時申請10件申請案，先前低於"4件數量"的限制，是否這10件也符合微實體申請資格？ 我的意見是，在沒有證據顯示這樣解釋是對的之前，還是需要保守看待這些數量的限制，避免權利主張受到影響。
微實體相關參考資料：
回頭看2012年（AIA於2013年施行）Federal Register：
Ron
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