- Issue Fees and Assignment Recordation Fees to Decrease: As of January 1, 2014, regular entity patent applicants who can pay an issue fee for a utility patent on or after January 1, 2014 will save $1120 because the issue fee will be reduced from $1780 to $960 and the $300 publication fee will be eliminated. Any size applicant can electronically file an assignment on January 1, 2014 or later for free rather than paying the current $40 fee.