MPEP § 2433 — Box Sequence; Hand Delivery of a “Sequence Listing” and Computer Readable Forms (Annotated Rules)

§2433 Box Sequence; Hand Delivery of a “Sequence Listing” and Computer Readable Forms

USPTO MPEP version: BlueIron's Update: 2025-12-31

This page consolidates and annotates all enforceable requirements under MPEP § 2433, including statutory authority, regulatory rules, examiner guidance, and practice notes. It is provided as guidance, with links to the ground truth sources. This is information only, it is not legal advice.

Box Sequence; Hand Delivery of a “Sequence Listing” and Computer Readable Forms

This section addresses Box Sequence; Hand Delivery of a “Sequence Listing” and Computer Readable Forms. Primary authority: 37 CFR 1.52(e)(4). Contains: 1 requirement, 2 guidance statements, and 1 permission.

Key Rules

Topic

Correspondence with the Office

1 rules
StatutoryPermittedAlways
[mpep-2433-04434e363c9786168196c881]
Hand-Delivered Correspondence Must Be Labeled
Note:
Correspondence regarding sequence rules must be hand-delivered to the Customer Service Window and labeled with at least the application number.

Correspondence relating to the sequence rules may also be hand-delivered to the Customer Service Window. In cases of hand delivery to the Customer Service Window, the computer readable form should be placed in a protective mailer labeled with at least the application number, if available. The labeling requirements of 37 CFR 1.52(e)(4) must also be complied with. In no circumstances should additional or complimentary electronic copies be delivered to examiners or other Office personnel.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.52(e)(4)Correspondence with the OfficeSequence Listing FormatSequence Listing Requirements
Topic

Identifying the Application

1 rules
StatutoryRecommendedAlways
[mpep-2433-f01fe63bc0247400c8a23f8b]
Computer Readable Form Requires Protective Mailer
Note:
When hand-delivered to the Customer Service Window, the computer readable form must be placed in a protective mailer labeled with at least the application number.

Correspondence relating to the sequence rules may also be hand-delivered to the Customer Service Window. In cases of hand delivery to the Customer Service Window, the computer readable form should be placed in a protective mailer labeled with at least the application number, if available. The labeling requirements of 37 CFR 1.52(e)(4) must also be complied with. In no circumstances should additional or complimentary electronic copies be delivered to examiners or other Office personnel.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.52(e)(4)Identifying the ApplicationSequence Listing RequirementsCorrespondence with the Office
Topic

General Filing and Format Requirements

1 rules
StatutoryRequiredAlways
[mpep-2433-db80b591b1d6ee73caae3d36]
Labeling Requirements for Hand-Delivered Sequence Listings
Note:
The labeling requirements of 37 CFR 1.52(e)(4) must be complied with when hand-delivering sequence listings to the Customer Service Window.

Correspondence relating to the sequence rules may also be hand-delivered to the Customer Service Window. In cases of hand delivery to the Customer Service Window, the computer readable form should be placed in a protective mailer labeled with at least the application number, if available. The labeling requirements of 37 CFR 1.52(e)(4) must also be complied with. In no circumstances should additional or complimentary electronic copies be delivered to examiners or other Office personnel.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.52(e)(4)General Filing and Format RequirementsSequence Listing RequirementsIdentifying the Application
Topic

Sequence Listing Requirements

1 rules
StatutoryRecommendedAlways
[mpep-2433-e0c60ffdf2f389f6e3054a2b]
No Complimentary Electronic Copies for Examiners
Note:
Electronic copies should not be delivered to examiners or other Office personnel. Only the computer readable form placed in a protective mailer labeled with the application number, if available, is allowed.

Correspondence relating to the sequence rules may also be hand-delivered to the Customer Service Window. In cases of hand delivery to the Customer Service Window, the computer readable form should be placed in a protective mailer labeled with at least the application number, if available. The labeling requirements of 37 CFR 1.52(e)(4) must also be complied with. In no circumstances should additional or complimentary electronic copies be delivered to examiners or other Office personnel.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.52(e)(4)Sequence Listing RequirementsIdentifying the ApplicationCorrespondence with the Office
Topic

Sequence Listing Format

1 rules
MPEP GuidanceRecommendedAlways
[mpep-2433-7df667d69cd991cc3d0fb203]
Mark All Related Documents with Box SEQUENCE
Note:
All computer readable forms, read-only optical discs, fees, and accompanying papers should be marked 'Box SEQUENCE' for administrative processing.

To facilitate administrative processing of all papers and read-only optical discs associated with sequence rule compliance, all computer readable forms, read-only optical discs, fees, and papers accompanying them filed in the Office should be marked “Box SEQUENCE.”

Jump to MPEP SourceSequence Listing FormatSequence Listing Requirements

Citations

Primary topicCitation
Correspondence with the Office
General Filing and Format Requirements
Identifying the Application
Sequence Listing Requirements
37 CFR § 1.52(e)(4)

Source Text from USPTO’s MPEP

This is an exact copy of the MPEP from the USPTO. It is here for your reference to see the section in context.

BlueIron Last Updated: 2025-12-31