MPEP § 303 — Assignment Documents Not Endorsed on Pending Applications (Annotated Rules)

§303 Assignment Documents Not Endorsed on Pending Applications

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

This page consolidates and annotates all enforceable requirements under MPEP § 303, 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.

Assignment Documents Not Endorsed on Pending Applications

This section addresses Assignment Documents Not Endorsed on Pending Applications. Primary authority: 37 CFR 1.19. Contains: 1 requirement, 1 guidance statement, and 1 other statement.

Key Rules

Topic

Certified Copies of Documents

2 rules
StatutoryInformativeAlways
[mpep-303-e8375bf38bcd9e258baf0a35]
Certified Copies Do Not Include Assignment Indications
Note:
Patent applications' certified copies do not show assignment documents. Applicants must request separate certified copies of assignments and pay the required fees.

Certified copies of patent applications as filed do not include an indication of assignment documents. Applicants desiring an indication of assignment documents of record should request separately certified copies of assignment documents and submit the fees required by 37 CFR 1.19.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.19Certified Copies of Documents
StatutoryRequiredAlways
[mpep-303-825427f65e4d6373e2b0bf59]
Request Separate Certified Copies of Assignment Documents
Note:
Applicants must request separately certified copies of assignment documents and pay the required fees to get an indication of record assignments.

Certified copies of patent applications as filed do not include an indication of assignment documents. Applicants desiring an indication of assignment documents of record should request separately certified copies of assignment documents and submit the fees required by 37 CFR 1.19.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.19Certified Copies of Documents
Topic

Examiner Action Status Tracking

1 rules
StatutoryRecommendedAlways
[mpep-303-4e3bddd7aab8652c7e1032a1]
Examiner Must Obtain Assignment Info When Significant Condition Exists
Note:
When applications have conflicting claims or unclear prosecution direction, the examiner must get assignment information from Patent Data Portal.

When the assignment condition of an application is significant, such as when applications of different inventors contain conflicting claims or there is a question as to who should direct prosecution, it is necessary for the examiner to obtain assignment information from Patent Data Portal. See MPEP § 320.

Jump to MPEP SourceExaminer Action Status Tracking

Citations

Primary topicCitation
Certified Copies of Documents37 CFR § 1.19
Examiner Action Status TrackingMPEP § 320

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