Under what criteria does someone qualify as a Small Entity?

A business qualifies as a Small Entity primarily based on the size of its workforce, specifically having fewer than 500 total employees. This criterion is established by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to determine eligibility for reduced patent fees, which can significantly benefit smaller businesses or startups compared to larger corporations. The small entity status is intended to support innovation and economic growth by making the patent process more accessible to those who may have limited resources.

While other aspects such as the status of the inventor, the nature of the organization, or the number of previous patent applications could be relevant in other contexts, they do not directly qualify an entity under the specific criteria set forth by the USPTO for small entities. The focus on employee count serves as a straightforward measure to categorize businesses in a way that acknowledges their size and resource limitations.