MPEP § 320 — Title Reports (Annotated Rules)
§320 Title Reports
This page consolidates and annotates all enforceable requirements under MPEP § 320, 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.
Title Reports
This section addresses Title Reports. Primary authority: 37 CFR 1.19(b)(4). Contains: 1 requirement, 1 prohibition, 4 permissions, and 2 other statements.
Key Rules
Examiner Action Status Tracking
Information as to the title is not normally required by the examiner to examine an application. It is only in limited circumstances when the ownership becomes an issue and an examiner needs a title report. See MPEP § 303. Examiners may obtain a title report using the Patent Data Portal (select “General Information,” insert the appropriate application number, select Search, select “Assignments”). The screen resulting from the search may be printed to yield the copy of the title report.
Information as to the title is not normally required by the examiner to examine an application. It is only in limited circumstances when the ownership becomes an issue and an examiner needs a title report. See MPEP § 303. Examiners may obtain a title report using the Patent Data Portal (select “General Information,” insert the appropriate application number, select Search, select “Assignments”). The screen resulting from the search may be printed to yield the copy of the title report.
Information as to the title is not normally required by the examiner to examine an application. It is only in limited circumstances when the ownership becomes an issue and an examiner needs a title report. See MPEP § 303. Examiners may obtain a title report using the Patent Data Portal (select “General Information,” insert the appropriate application number, select Search, select “Assignments”). The screen resulting from the search may be printed to yield the copy of the title report.
Document Supply Fees
NOTE: The public can request a certified abstract of title. The fee for this service is set forth at 37 CFR 1.19(b)(4). See MPEP § 301.01 for a discussion of which assignment records are publicly available.
NOTE: The public can request a certified abstract of title. The fee for this service is set forth at 37 CFR 1.19(b)(4). See MPEP § 301.01 for a discussion of which assignment records are publicly available.
Reexamination Order
The “title report” is a form which can be used under certain circumstances by the Assignment Recordation Branch to report to someone within the Office the name of the owner of an application or patent as shown by the Assignment Recordation Branch records on the date the title report is made. For example, a title report is requested by the Reexamination Preprocessing Staff when a request for reexamination is filed. Title reports may not be ordered by applicants or attorneys.
The “title report” is a form which can be used under certain circumstances by the Assignment Recordation Branch to report to someone within the Office the name of the owner of an application or patent as shown by the Assignment Recordation Branch records on the date the title report is made. For example, a title report is requested by the Reexamination Preprocessing Staff when a request for reexamination is filed. Title reports may not be ordered by applicants or attorneys.
Ex Parte Reexamination
The “title report” is a form which can be used under certain circumstances by the Assignment Recordation Branch to report to someone within the Office the name of the owner of an application or patent as shown by the Assignment Recordation Branch records on the date the title report is made. For example, a title report is requested by the Reexamination Preprocessing Staff when a request for reexamination is filed. Title reports may not be ordered by applicants or attorneys.
Citations
| Primary topic | Citation |
|---|---|
| Document Supply Fees | 37 CFR § 1.19(b)(4) |
| Document Supply Fees | MPEP § 301.01 |
| Examiner Action Status Tracking | MPEP § 303 |
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.
Official MPEP § 320 — Title Reports
Source: USPTO320 Title Reports [R-01.2024]
The “title report” is a form which can be used under certain circumstances by the Assignment Recordation Branch to report to someone within the Office the name of the owner of an application or patent as shown by the Assignment Recordation Branch records on the date the title report is made. For example, a title report is requested by the Reexamination Preprocessing Staff when a request for reexamination is filed. Title reports may not be ordered by applicants or attorneys.
Information as to the title is not normally required by the examiner to examine an application. It is only in limited circumstances when the ownership becomes an issue and an examiner needs a title report. See MPEP § 303. Examiners may obtain a title report using the Patent Data Portal (select “General Information,” insert the appropriate application number, select Search, select “Assignments”). The screen resulting from the search may be printed to yield the copy of the title report.
NOTE: The public can request a certified abstract of title. The fee for this service is set forth at 37 CFR 1.19(b)(4). See MPEP § 301.01 for a discussion of which assignment records are publicly available.