MPEP § 902.03(e) — Automated Search Tools: PE2E SEARCH (Annotated Rules)

§902.03(e) Automated Search Tools: PE2E SEARCH

USPTO MPEP version: BlueIron's Update: 2026-01-17

This page consolidates and annotates all enforceable requirements under MPEP § 902.03(e), 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.

Automated Search Tools: PE2E SEARCH

This section addresses Automated Search Tools: PE2E SEARCH. Contains: 1 permission and 3 other statements.

Key Rules

Topic

Access to Patent Application Files (MPEP 101-106)

4 rules
MPEP GuidanceInformativeAlways
[mpep-902-03-e-edb8adc6e12b6ac8ad746b4b]
Access to Patent Application Files via PE2E SEARCH
Note:
Examiners must use the Patents End-to-End (PE2E) Search tool for accessing U.S. and foreign patent documents since 1920.

The automated search tool on examiners’ desktop computers is the Patents End-to-End (PE2E) Search tool (SEARCH). PE2E SEARCH provides examiners with access to the: (A) full text of U.S. published applications since 2001; (B) full text of U.S. patents granted since 1970; and (C) optically scanned full text of U.S. patents granted 1920-1970. Additionally, PE2E SEARCH provides current classification information and images for all U.S. published applications and patents. Images are available for foreign patent documents, and English language abstracts are available for many foreign patent documents published since 1978 using PE2E SEARCH. Specific instructions for gaining access to the various documents can be found on the PE2E SEARCH webpage on the intranet, available on examiners’ desktop computers.

Jump to MPEP SourceAccess to Patent Application Files (MPEP 101-106)
MPEP GuidanceInformativeAlways
[mpep-902-03-e-07d242557afb63fc2ba85625]
Access to U.S. Patent and Application Full Texts via PE2E SEARCH
Note:
Examiners can access full texts of U.S. patents since 1920 and published applications since 2001 through the PE2E SEARCH tool.

The automated search tool on examiners’ desktop computers is the Patents End-to-End (PE2E) Search tool (SEARCH). PE2E SEARCH provides examiners with access to the: (A) full text of U.S. published applications since 2001; (B) full text of U.S. patents granted since 1970; and (C) optically scanned full text of U.S. patents granted 1920-1970. Additionally, PE2E SEARCH provides current classification information and images for all U.S. published applications and patents. Images are available for foreign patent documents, and English language abstracts are available for many foreign patent documents published since 1978 using PE2E SEARCH. Specific instructions for gaining access to the various documents can be found on the PE2E SEARCH webpage on the intranet, available on examiners’ desktop computers.

Jump to MPEP SourceAccess to Patent Application Files (MPEP 101-106)
MPEP GuidanceInformativeAlways
[mpep-902-03-e-08669a58840da60601f4cf9c]
Foreign Patent Documents with English Abstracts Available Since 1978
Note:
PE2E SEARCH provides access to English language abstracts for many foreign patent documents published since 1978.

The automated search tool on examiners’ desktop computers is the Patents End-to-End (PE2E) Search tool (SEARCH). PE2E SEARCH provides examiners with access to the: (A) full text of U.S. published applications since 2001; (B) full text of U.S. patents granted since 1970; and (C) optically scanned full text of U.S. patents granted 1920-1970. Additionally, PE2E SEARCH provides current classification information and images for all U.S. published applications and patents. Images are available for foreign patent documents, and English language abstracts are available for many foreign patent documents published since 1978 using PE2E SEARCH. Specific instructions for gaining access to the various documents can be found on the PE2E SEARCH webpage on the intranet, available on examiners’ desktop computers.

Jump to MPEP SourceAccess to Patent Application Files (MPEP 101-106)
MPEP GuidancePermittedAlways
[mpep-902-03-e-ec77f5d67c453bcf610f5846]
Instructions for Accessing Documents on PE2E SEARCH
Note:
Examiners must follow specific instructions found on the PE2E SEARCH webpage to access various documents including U.S. patents and applications.

The automated search tool on examiners’ desktop computers is the Patents End-to-End (PE2E) Search tool (SEARCH). PE2E SEARCH provides examiners with access to the: (A) full text of U.S. published applications since 2001; (B) full text of U.S. patents granted since 1970; and (C) optically scanned full text of U.S. patents granted 1920-1970. Additionally, PE2E SEARCH provides current classification information and images for all U.S. published applications and patents. Images are available for foreign patent documents, and English language abstracts are available for many foreign patent documents published since 1978 using PE2E SEARCH. Specific instructions for gaining access to the various documents can be found on the PE2E SEARCH webpage on the intranet, available on examiners’ desktop computers.

Jump to MPEP SourceAccess to Patent Application Files (MPEP 101-106)

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: 2026-01-17