What is the Certificate of Mailing procedure for USPTO filings?

What is the Certificate of Mailing procedure for USPTO filings?

The Certificate of Mailing procedure is a method that allows applicants to establish the date of filing for correspondence sent to the USPTO. As explained in MPEP 501:

‘Under the procedure, correspondence is considered as being timely filed if (A) the correspondence is mailed or transmitted prior to expiration of the set period for response by being: (1) Addressed as set out in 37 CFR 1.1(a) and deposited with the U.S. Postal Service with sufficient postage as first class mail; or (2) Transmitted by facsimile to the Patent and Trademark Office in accordance with 37 CFR 1.6(d); or (3) Transmitted via the Office electronic filing system in accordance with 37 CFR 1.6(a)(4); and (B) the correspondence includes a certificate for each piece of correspondence stating the date of deposit or transmission.’

This procedure is particularly useful for ensuring timely filing when using postal services. It’s important to note that the certificate must be signed by the person depositing or transmitting the correspondence.

For more information on Certificate of Mailing, visit: Certificate of Mailing.

For more information on electronic filing, visit: electronic filing.