Guidance for filling out Micro Entity Status Form (PTO/SB/15A) 

exactly, wtf do you do after you fill this out?

Stay as a sole inventor. They are a contractor so they shouldn't lay claims to your work.

We are sorry to hear about this issue. We suggest that you reach out to our Application Assistance Unit, who can assist with questions about your application with the most up-to-date information. Contact information can be found on our website here: www.uspto.gov/learning-and-resources/support-centers/application-assistance-unit-aau

Curious Cold Burn if you ever got clarification on your question???

@@graysonschlichting6435 so far no i have not

mail it

Yeah same question - theres no forwarding address or fax number to send

@@ismaileee After a bit of my own research. You have to submit when you file it electronically. Look for EFS Web

@@jaydesigns561 This is the email response I got from USPTO: Certification for Micro Entity status form should be filed with your newly filed application with two options, uploading with the Electronic Filing System (EFS) www.uspto.gov/learning-and-resources/support-centers/patent-electronic-business-center or send to Commissioner for Patents, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313-1450. The USPTO fax number is 571.273.8300 should only be used for add-ons or responding to notices from USPTO. The USPTO fax number should not be used to file new patent applications.

It can be submitted like all other documents, specification, abstract, drawings etc. Go to the Attach Documents page, upload the PDF and choose Entity Status Correspondence, and the next box choose Certification of Micro Entity.

@@ChrisMansellVideos Should I fill out this form after, before, or during filling a provisional?

No, the inventor cannot be a company. According to the USPTO only people can invent things so it has to be a person as the inventor. The invention can have its legal ownership assigned to a company, but an individual human being (plus co-inventors) has to invent it. That has been my understanding since 1992 when I received my first patent and was primary inventor with five co-inventors. [Ownership was assigned to the GE Company.]

@@kenfisher7690 So does GE company officially own your patent? How does this work? I imagine it could be heartbreaking to hand over your patent to the company that employs you.

@@fk9305 As a condition of working at GE, and probably this is the same as at most companies, if not all, patents are signed over to GE. The logic is that the invention is based upon the information created on paid company time using company resources and contacts so it is legitimately the intellectual property of the company. Though it would be nice if the employed inventor could own the rights to a patent, the above company ownership arrangement seems perfectly reasonable to me. I am not implying the company owns ideas that I have outside and independent of my time at work. If I have novel ideas unrelated to what I do payed work on AND that are not based on other company related information I gain access to even if I don't have connection or responsibility for, I can independently patent them and keep ownership to myself. (That scenario has yet to happen for me. I do have ideas, but no patents attempted.)

The USPTO is happy to assist with questions! We suggest that you reach out to our Inventors Assistance Center. Contact information can be found on our website here: www.uspto.gov/learning-and-resources/support-centers/inventors-assistance-center-iac

Most likely no inventorship problem. The development company would probably be involved by an assignment or license from the inventor if no further inventorship is required.

There is no problem. The date and Phone number are optional!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That’s A LOT of exclamation points! 😬😅