What types of signatures are accepted for international patent applications?

The United States Receiving Office accepts two types of signatures for international patent applications, as outlined in MPEP 1820:

1. Handwritten signatures: “The United States Receiving Office will accept signatures meeting the requirements of 37 CFR 1.4(d)(1) with respect to handwritten signatures.”
2. S-signatures: “The United States Receiving Office will accept signatures meeting the requirements of 37 CFR 1.4(d)(2) with respect to S-signatures.”

For S-signatures, additional requirements apply:

“For S-signatures, the signer’s name must be presented in printed or typed form preferably immediately below or adjacent the S-signature, and must be reasonably specific enough so that the identity of the signer can be readily recognized. See MPEP § 502.02, subsection II.”

To learn more:

• PCT
• international application
• signature types
• handwritten signatures
• S-signatures