What is the Customer Number practice for USPTO communications?

Question

Accepted Answer

Source: FAQ (MPEP-Based) BlueIron Update: 2024-09-10 10 Rules 5 Related FAQs This page is an FAQ based on guidance from the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure. It is provided as guidance, with links to the ground truth sources. This is information only: it is not legal advice. The Customer Number practice is a system used by the USPTO to streamline the management of correspondence addresses for patent applicants. The MPEP mentions this practice as an exception to individual address changes: “…except as provided for under Customer Number practice — see MPEP § 403 “ With a Customer Number, you can change the correspondence address for multiple applications at once. This is particularly useful for law firms or companies managing numerous patent applications. It simplifies the process of updating contact information and ensures consistent communication with the USPTO across all linked applications. Related Rules from the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure 10 rules Collapse Change Patent Correspondence to Customer Number MPEP 403 Customer Number for Correspondence Address Required MPEP 403 Permitted Correspondence Customer Number Required for USPTO Access MPEP 403 Permitted Forms for Customer Number Practice Required MPEP 403 Customer Number Practice Does Not Permit Law Firm Appointment MPEP 403 Requirement for Customer Number Practice MPEP 403 Prohibited Customer Number Practice Permitted for Appointment of Practitioners MPEP 403 Permitted Single Customer Number for Correspondence Address MPEP 403 Permitted Correspondence Address May Differ From Post Office Address MPEP 403 Permitted Change Customer Number Through USPTO System Required MPEP 403 Other Related FAQs 5 FAQs Collapse What is the significance of a Customer Number in patent application correspondence? How does the USPTO handle correspondence for juristic entities in patent applications? How does the USPTO handle correspondence from multiple patent practitioners? How does the USPTO handle correspondence fro...