MPEP § 714.01(d) — Amendment Signed by Applicant but Not by Attorney or Agent of Record (Annotated Rules)

§714.01(d) Amendment Signed by Applicant but Not by Attorney or Agent of Record

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

This page consolidates and annotates all enforceable requirements under MPEP § 714.01(d), 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.

Amendment Signed by Applicant but Not by Attorney or Agent of Record

This section addresses Amendment Signed by Applicant but Not by Attorney or Agent of Record. Primary authority: 37 CFR 1.33 and 37 CFR 1.33(b)(3). Contains: 1 requirement and 4 guidance statements.

Key Rules

Topic

Correspondence Signature Requirements

2 rules
StatutoryRecommendedAlways
[mpep-714-01-d-aa742b1660cea9e4ede75768]
Amendment Signed by Applicant Must Be Entered
Note:
An amendment signed by an individual applicant, not a juristic entity, in an application with a duly appointed attorney or agent should be entered and acted upon.

If an amendment signed by the applicant, other than a juristic entity, is received in an application in which there is a duly appointed attorney or agent, the amendment should be entered and acted upon. Attention should be called to 37 CFR 1.33 in patent applications. Two copies of the action should be prepared, one being sent to the attorney and the other directly to the applicant. The notation: "Copy to applicant" should appear on the original and on both copies. An amendment submitted on behalf of a juristic entity must be signed by a patent practitioner. See 37 CFR 1.33(b)(3) and MPEP § 714.01(a).

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.33Correspondence Signature RequirementsAssignee as Applicant SignatureJuristic Entity Signature
StatutoryRequiredAlways
[mpep-714-01-d-e0700d5466b4dbe6dd3466a4]
Amendment by Juristic Entity Must Be Signed By Patent Practitioner
Note:
An amendment submitted on behalf of a juristic entity must be signed by a patent practitioner as per 37 CFR 1.33(b)(3) and MPEP § 714.01(a).

If an amendment signed by the applicant, other than a juristic entity, is received in an application in which there is a duly appointed attorney or agent, the amendment should be entered and acted upon. Attention should be called to 37 CFR 1.33 in patent applications. Two copies of the action should be prepared, one being sent to the attorney and the other directly to the applicant. The notation: "Copy to applicant" should appear on the original and on both copies. An amendment submitted on behalf of a juristic entity must be signed by a patent practitioner. See 37 CFR 1.33(b)(3) and MPEP § 714.01(a).

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.33Correspondence Signature RequirementsJuristic Entity SignatureCorrespondence Address Requirements
Topic

Assignee as Applicant Signature

2 rules
StatutoryRecommendedAlways
[mpep-714-01-d-57401dcba74408981cf16335]
Two Copies of Action Required for Applicant and Attorney
Note:
The rule requires preparing two copies of the action, one sent to the attorney and the other directly to the applicant.

If an amendment signed by the applicant, other than a juristic entity, is received in an application in which there is a duly appointed attorney or agent, the amendment should be entered and acted upon. Attention should be called to 37 CFR 1.33 in patent applications. Two copies of the action should be prepared, one being sent to the attorney and the other directly to the applicant. The notation: "Copy to applicant" should appear on the original and on both copies. An amendment submitted on behalf of a juristic entity must be signed by a patent practitioner. See 37 CFR 1.33(b)(3) and MPEP § 714.01(a).

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.33Assignee as Applicant SignatureCorrespondence Signature RequirementsJuristic Entity Signature
StatutoryRecommendedAlways
[mpep-714-01-d-77fb1399a0de08e3443f2b90]
Notation for Copies Required When Amending Application
Note:
When an amendment is signed by the applicant, it must be noted on both copies that a copy will be sent to the applicant.

If an amendment signed by the applicant, other than a juristic entity, is received in an application in which there is a duly appointed attorney or agent, the amendment should be entered and acted upon. Attention should be called to 37 CFR 1.33 in patent applications. Two copies of the action should be prepared, one being sent to the attorney and the other directly to the applicant. The notation: "Copy to applicant" should appear on the original and on both copies. An amendment submitted on behalf of a juristic entity must be signed by a patent practitioner. See 37 CFR 1.33(b)(3) and MPEP § 714.01(a).

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.33Assignee as Applicant SignatureCorrespondence Signature RequirementsJuristic Entity Signature
Topic

Correspondence Address Requirements

1 rules
StatutoryRecommendedAlways
[mpep-714-01-d-cd3cc82cc3844024d0e43c24]
Amendment Signed by Applicant Must Be Noted and Sent to Attorney
Note:
An amendment signed by an applicant must be recorded, sent to the attorney, and a copy sent directly to the applicant.

If an amendment signed by the applicant, other than a juristic entity, is received in an application in which there is a duly appointed attorney or agent, the amendment should be entered and acted upon. Attention should be called to 37 CFR 1.33 in patent applications. Two copies of the action should be prepared, one being sent to the attorney and the other directly to the applicant. The notation: "Copy to applicant" should appear on the original and on both copies. An amendment submitted on behalf of a juristic entity must be signed by a patent practitioner. See 37 CFR 1.33(b)(3) and MPEP § 714.01(a).

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.33Correspondence Address RequirementsCorrespondence AddressCorrespondence Signature Requirements

Citations

Primary topicCitation
Assignee as Applicant Signature
Correspondence Address Requirements
Correspondence Signature Requirements
37 CFR § 1.33
Assignee as Applicant Signature
Correspondence Address Requirements
Correspondence Signature Requirements
37 CFR § 1.33(b)(3)
Assignee as Applicant Signature
Correspondence Address Requirements
Correspondence Signature Requirements
MPEP § 714.01(a)

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