37 CFR § 1.1 — Addresses for non-trademark correspondence with (MPEP Coverage Index) – BlueIron IP

This page consolidates MPEP guidance interpreting 37 CFR § 1.1, including 63 rules from the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure. It is provided as guidance, with links to the ground truth sources. This is information only, it is not legal advice.

Summary

This section addresses how to file papers with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, excluding trademark-related correspondence, including general requirements for electronic and paper submissions.

What this section covers

Defines that this section addresses filing papers with the USPTO, excluding trademark-related correspondence.
Identifies that it covers general requirements for filing non-trademark papers with the USPTO, including electronic and paper submissions.

Key obligations

States that all correspondence intended for the USPTO, except electronic submissions via their system, must be addressed to specific locations.
States that practitioners must ensure the correct address is used for filing papers with the USPTO to avoid delays or returns.
States that compliance with USC and CFR regulations is required for filing papers, as outlined in this section.

Practice notes

Always check the USPTO’s official website for any updates or changes in addresses and procedures.
Using incorrect addresses can result in delays, additional costs, or even rejection of filings, so it is crucial to follow the correct procedures.

Address for Ex Parte Reexamination CorrespondenceMPEP 2224Recommended
Papers for Ex Parte Reexamination Must Be Sent to Mail Stop Ex Parte ReexamMPEP 2806Recommended
Proper Address for USPTO CorrespondenceMPEP 501Required
Patent Correspondence Must Be Addressed to CommissionerMPEP 501
All Patent Matters to Commissioner for PatentsMPEP 501Recommended
Appeal Briefs Must Be Addressed to PTABMPEP 501
Appeal Correspondence Must Be Addressed to BoardMPEP 501Recommended
Correspondence Relating to Pending Litigation Must Be Addressed SpecificallyMPEP 501
Correspondence Relating to Pending Litigation Must Be Addressed as Provided in §104.2MPEP 501Required
Correspondence for Disciplinary Actions Must Be Directed to Specific OfficeMPEP 501
Correspondence to Counsel for Disciplinary Proceedings Must Be Mailed to Specific AddressMPEP 501Required
Correspondence to Office of the Solicitor Must Be Addressed ProperlyMPEP 501
Correspondence to Office of the Solicitor Must Be Addressed SpecificallyMPEP 501Required
Correspondence to General Counsel Must Be Addressed SpecificallyMPEP 501
Correspondence to General Counsel Must Be Addressed SpecificallyMPEP 501Required
Correspondence Must Be Addressed Properly to USPTOMPEP 501
Correspondence to Post Office Box Will Be ReturnedMPEP 501Permitted
Assignments Must Be Addressed to Assignment Recordation ServicesMPEP 501
Patent Assignments Must Be Addressed to Assignment Services DivisionMPEP 501Recommended
Request for Certified Copies Must Be Addressed to Document ServicesMPEP 501
Requests for Patent Document Copies Must Be Addressed to Specific OfficeMPEP 501Recommended
Correspondence to Office of Enrollment and Discipline RequiredMPEP 501
Correspondence to Office of Enrollment and Discipline RequiredMPEP 501Recommended
Letters Relating to PCT Must Be Marked Mail Stop PCTMPEP 501
PCT Communications Must Be Marked Mail Stop PCTMPEP 501Recommended
Mark Correspondence for Reexamination and Supplemental ExaminationMPEP 501Recommended
Correspondence for Ex Parte Reexamination Must Be MarkedMPEP 501Recommended
Correspondence for Inter Partes Reexamination Must Be MarkedMPEP 501Recommended
Requests for Supplemental Examination Must Be MarkedMPEP 501Recommended
Correspondence for Reexamination Must Be MarkedMPEP 501Recommended
Payment of Patent Maintenance Fees Must Be Addressed Electronically or to Specific PO BoxMPEP 501
Maintenance Fees Must Be Mailed to Specific PO BoxMPEP 501Permitted
Extension of Patent Term Required for FilingMPEP 501
Mark Patent Term Extension Applications with Mail Stop Hatch-Waxman PTEMPEP 501Recommended
Communication Must Be Marked to Attention of Specific Individual When AppropriateMPEP 501Recommended
Addresses for Patent and Trademark Correspondence Must Be SpecifiedMPEP 501Recommended
Mail Non-Trademark Correspondence to USPTO PO BoxMPEP 501Required
Incorrect Area Address No PenaltyMPEP 501
Use of Approved Addresses for FilingsMPEP 501
Application Addressed to Director Treated as CommissionerMPEP 501
Correct Addresses for Priority Mail Express to USPTOMPEP 511Recommended
Do Not Use Hold for Pickup Service for Priority Mail ExpressMPEP 511Recommended
Priority Mail Express Must Not Use Hold for PickupMPEP 511
Petition for Consideration of Missing Priority Mail Express CorrespondenceMPEP 513Permitted
Petition Must Establish Mailing DetailsMPEP 513
Petition for Consideration of Returned Priority Mail Express CorrespondenceMPEP 513Permitted
Petition to Consider Returned Mail as Filed on Requested DateMPEP 513
Requirement for Additional Proof of USPS Return Due to Service InterruptionMPEP 513Permitted
Petition for Consideration of Refused Priority Mail Express CorrespondenceMPEP 513Permitted
Petition to Consider Refused Priority Mail Express Correspondence as Filed on Requested DateMPEP 513
Requirement for Proof of USPS Refusal Due to Service InterruptionMPEP 513Permitted
Petition to Accrue Filing Date with Priority Mail ExpressMPEP 513
Proper Addressing and Postage Not Required for Received CorrespondenceMPEP 513
Filing Date for Priority Mail Express Not Denied Due to Addressing or PostageMPEP 513
Petition for Filing Date as of Deposit DateMPEP 513Recommended
Filing Date for Lost CorrespondenceMPEP 513
Office Records Override Applicant Claims on Submitted DrawingsMPEP 513
Applicant Cannot Use 37 CFR 1.10(e) to Establish Document ContentsMPEP 513Prohibited
Office Will Rely on Official Record of ContentsMPEP 513
Petition for Considered Filing Date After Priority Mail Express ReturnMPEP 513Required
Petition Deposit Statement for Priority Mail Express FilingMPEP 513
Petition for Consideration of Refused Priority Mail Express CorrespondenceMPEP 513Required
Petition Must Include Deposit ConfirmationMPEP 513

Proper Address for USPTO CorrespondenceMPEP 501Required
Correspondence Relating to Pending Litigation Must Be Addressed as Provided in §104.2MPEP 501Required
Correspondence to Counsel for Disciplinary Proceedings Must Be Mailed to Specific AddressMPEP 501Required
Correspondence to Office of the Solicitor Must Be Addressed SpecificallyMPEP 501Required
Correspondence to General Counsel Must Be Addressed SpecificallyMPEP 501Required
Mail Non-Trademark Correspondence to USPTO PO BoxMPEP 501Required
Petition for Considered Filing Date After Priority Mail Express ReturnMPEP 513Required
Petition for Consideration of Refused Priority Mail Express CorrespondenceMPEP 513Required

MPEP Section	Rules
MPEP § 2224	Address for Ex Parte Reexamination CorrespondenceMPEP 2224Recommended
MPEP § 2806	Papers for Ex Parte Reexamination Must Be Sent to Mail Stop Ex Parte ReexamMPEP 2806Recommended
MPEP § 501	Proper Address for USPTO CorrespondenceMPEP 501Required Patent Correspondence Must Be Addressed to CommissionerMPEP 501 All Patent Matters to Commissioner for PatentsMPEP 501Recommended Appeal Briefs Must Be Addressed to PTABMPEP 501 Appeal Correspondence Must Be Addressed to BoardMPEP 501Recommended Correspondence Relating to Pending Litigation Must Be Addressed SpecificallyMPEP 501 Correspondence Relating to Pending Litigation Must Be Addressed as Provided in §104.2MPEP 501Required Correspondence for Disciplinary Actions Must Be Directed to Specific OfficeMPEP 501 Correspondence to Counsel for Disciplinary Proceedings Must Be Mailed to Specific AddressMPEP 501Required Correspondence to Office of the Solicitor Must Be Addressed ProperlyMPEP 501 Correspondence to Office of the Solicitor Must Be Addressed SpecificallyMPEP 501Required Correspondence to General Counsel Must Be Addressed SpecificallyMPEP 501 Correspondence to General Counsel Must Be Addressed SpecificallyMPEP 501Required Correspondence Must Be Addressed Properly to USPTOMPEP 501 Correspondence to Post Office Box Will Be ReturnedMPEP 501Permitted Assignments Must Be Addressed to Assignment Recordation ServicesMPEP 501 Patent Assignments Must Be Addressed to Assignment Services DivisionMPEP 501Recommended Request for Certified Copies Must Be Addressed to Document ServicesMPEP 501 Requests for Patent Document Copies Must Be Addressed to Specific OfficeMPEP 501Recommended Correspondence to Office of Enrollment and Discipline RequiredMPEP 501 Correspondence to Office of Enrollment and Discipline RequiredMPEP 501Recommended Letters Relating to PCT Must Be Marked Mail Stop PCTMPEP 501 PCT Communications Must Be Marked Mail Stop PCTMPEP 501Recommended Mark Correspondence for Reexamination and Supplemental ExaminationMPEP 501Recommended Correspondence for Ex Parte Reexamination Must Be MarkedMPEP 501Recommended Correspondence for Inter Partes Reexamination Must Be MarkedMPEP 501Recommended Requests for Supplemental Examination Must Be MarkedMPEP 501Recommended Correspondence for Reexamination Must Be MarkedMPEP 501Recommended Payment of Patent Maintenance Fees Must Be Addressed Electronically or to Specific PO BoxMPEP 501 Maintenance Fees Must Be Mailed to Specific PO BoxMPEP 501Permitted Extension of Patent Term Required for FilingMPEP 501 Mark Patent Term Extension Applications with Mail Stop Hatch-Waxman PTEMPEP 501Recommended Communication Must Be Marked to Attention of Specific Individual When AppropriateMPEP 501Recommended Addresses for Patent and Trademark Correspondence Must Be SpecifiedMPEP 501Recommended Mail Non-Trademark Correspondence to USPTO PO BoxMPEP 501Required Incorrect Area Address No PenaltyMPEP 501 Use of Approved Addresses for FilingsMPEP 501 Application Addressed to Director Treated as CommissionerMPEP 501
MPEP § 511	Correct Addresses for Priority Mail Express to USPTOMPEP 511Recommended Do Not Use Hold for Pickup Service for Priority Mail ExpressMPEP 511Recommended Priority Mail Express Must Not Use Hold for PickupMPEP 511
MPEP § 513	Petition for Consideration of Missing Priority Mail Express CorrespondenceMPEP 513Permitted Petition Must Establish Mailing DetailsMPEP 513 Petition for Consideration of Returned Priority Mail Express CorrespondenceMPEP 513Permitted Petition to Consider Returned Mail as Filed on Requested DateMPEP 513 Requirement for Additional Proof of USPS Return Due to Service InterruptionMPEP 513Permitted Petition for Consideration of Refused Priority Mail Express CorrespondenceMPEP 513Permitted Petition to Consider Refused Priority Mail Express Correspondence as Filed on Requested DateMPEP 513 Requirement for Proof of USPS Refusal Due to Service InterruptionMPEP 513Permitted Petition to Accrue Filing Date with Priority Mail ExpressMPEP 513 Proper Addressing and Postage Not Required for Received CorrespondenceMPEP 513 Filing Date for Priority Mail Express Not Denied Due to Addressing or PostageMPEP 513 Petition for Filing Date as of Deposit DateMPEP 513Recommended Filing Date for Lost CorrespondenceMPEP 513 Office Records Override Applicant Claims on Submitted DrawingsMPEP 513 Applicant Cannot Use 37 CFR 1.10(e) to Establish Document ContentsMPEP 513Prohibited Office Will Rely on Official Record of ContentsMPEP 513 Petition for Considered Filing Date After Priority Mail Express ReturnMPEP 513Required Petition Deposit Statement for Priority Mail Express FilingMPEP 513 Petition for Consideration of Refused Priority Mail Express CorrespondenceMPEP 513Required Petition Must Include Deposit ConfirmationMPEP 513

Related Provisions

Based on MPEP Last Modified: 10/30/2024 08:50:22

37 CFR § 1.1 — Addresses for non-trademark correspondence with (MPEP Coverage Index) – BlueIron IP

37 CFR § 1.1 Addresses for non-trademark correspondence with

Summary

Official MPEP § 1.1 — Addresses for non-trademark correspondence with

1.1 Addresses for non-trademark correspondence with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

Verbatim in MPEP

Required Actions

Topics

MPEP Coverage

Related Provisions

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