Which of the following entities does not qualify as a Small Entity?

A large corporation with over 500 people does not qualify as a Small Entity because the U.S. patent system, specifically under the America Invents Act, defines a Small Entity as an organization that meets certain criteria, primarily regarding its number of employees and income. Specifically, a Small Entity is defined as a business having fewer than 500 employees. Therefore, any organization employing 500 or more individuals, such as a large corporation, is inherently classified as a Large Entity.

In contrast, other choices represent entities that do qualify as Small Entities. For example, a start-up with 300 employees falls under the Small Entity definition since it has fewer than 500 employees. Non-profit organizations can also qualify as Small Entities regardless of their employee count, provided they meet other criteria. An individual inventor is the quintessential example of a Small Entity as they do not meet the threshold for being classified as a large business. This understanding highlights the distinction in classifications based on employment size and organizational structure in the context of patent filing fees and regulations.