What fees do small entities NOT receive discounts on?

Small entities, defined as independent inventors, small businesses, and nonprofit organizations, benefit from various fee discounts when engaging with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). However, there are specific instances where these discounts do not apply.

Document supply and statutory disclaimer fees are among the fees for which small entities do not receive the standard discount. This is primarily because these fees are separate services that are calculated based on the actions taken rather than on the entity's size or contributions. The USPTO has established that while small entities benefit from discounts on many of the typical application-related fees, these specific fees are treated differently due to their nature and purpose.

In contrast, application filing fees and maintenance fees are areas where small entities enjoy reduced fees to promote innovation and support smaller businesses. Therefore, detailing the context around the types of fees and understanding the particular exceptions granted to small entities helps clarify why discounts do not apply to this specific set of fees.