Small Entity Government Use License Exception (Effective date: January 20, 2021) The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is amending the rules of practice in patent cases to clarify and expand exceptions to the rule pertaining to government use licenses and their effect on small entity status for purposes of paying reduced patent fees. The rule change is designed to support independent inventors, small business concerns, and nonprofit organizations in filing patent applications and to encourage collaboration with the Federal Government by expanding the opportunities to qualify for the small entity patent fees discount for inventions made during the course of federally funded or federally supported research. We would be happy to answer any questions that you may have on this clarification from the USPTO.