Patent Law FAQ
This FAQ answers all your questions about patent law, patent procedure, and the patent examination process.
Here’s the complete FAQ:
MPEP 500 - Receipt and Handling of Mail and Papers (6)
To access USPTO public information facilities:
- A valid Public User or Visitor’s badge is required
- Badges can be obtained from the Office of Security next to the Public Search Facility
- An On-line Service Card is required for access to all Public Search Facilities and on-line systems
MPEP 510 states: “A valid Public User or Visitor’s badge is required to enter USPTO facilities. This badge can be obtained from the Office of Security next door to the Public Search Facility located on the first floor of the Madison East Building, 600 Dulany Street, Alexandria, VA 22314.”
The official business hours of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) are:
- 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday
- Excluding federal holidays in the District of Columbia
As stated in MPEP 510: “The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO or Office) working hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding federal holidays in the District of Columbia.”
The Public Search Facility in Alexandria has extended hours compared to the regular USPTO business hours:
- 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Monday through Friday
- Excluding federal holidays in the District of Columbia
As stated in MPEP 510: “The hours for the Public Search Facility in Alexandria are 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding federal holidays in the District of Columbia.”
To find out if the USPTO is officially closed on any particular day, you can:
- Call 1-800-PTO(786)-9199
- Call (571) 272-1000
These phone numbers are provided in MPEP 510 for obtaining information about USPTO closures.
When the entire USPTO is officially closed for business for an entire day due to adverse weather or other causes:
- The day is considered a “Federal holiday within the District of Columbia” under 35 U.S.C. 21
- Any action or fee due on such a day may be taken or paid on the next succeeding business day the Office is open
MPEP 510 states: “When the entire USPTO is officially closed for business for an entire day, for reasons due to adverse weather or other causes, the Office will consider each such day a ‘Federal holiday within the District of Columbia’ under 35 U.S.C. 21. Any action or fee due on such a day may be taken, or fee paid, on the next succeeding business day the Office is open.”
To learn more:
The USPTO is not open for filing correspondence on Saturdays, Sundays, or federal holidays within the District of Columbia. However, there are exceptions:
- Correspondence deposited as Priority Mail Express® with the USPS in accordance with 37 CFR 1.10 is considered filed on the date of deposit, even on weekends or holidays
- Electronic filing systems may be available 24/7, but the official filing date will be the next business day
MPEP 510 cites 37 CFR 1.6(a)(1): “The Patent and Trademark Office is not open for the filing of correspondence on any day that is a Saturday, Sunday or Federal holiday within the District of Columbia.”
MPEP 510 - U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Business Hours (6)
To access USPTO public information facilities:
- A valid Public User or Visitor’s badge is required
- Badges can be obtained from the Office of Security next to the Public Search Facility
- An On-line Service Card is required for access to all Public Search Facilities and on-line systems
MPEP 510 states: “A valid Public User or Visitor’s badge is required to enter USPTO facilities. This badge can be obtained from the Office of Security next door to the Public Search Facility located on the first floor of the Madison East Building, 600 Dulany Street, Alexandria, VA 22314.”
The official business hours of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) are:
- 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday
- Excluding federal holidays in the District of Columbia
As stated in MPEP 510: “The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO or Office) working hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding federal holidays in the District of Columbia.”
The Public Search Facility in Alexandria has extended hours compared to the regular USPTO business hours:
- 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Monday through Friday
- Excluding federal holidays in the District of Columbia
As stated in MPEP 510: “The hours for the Public Search Facility in Alexandria are 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding federal holidays in the District of Columbia.”
To find out if the USPTO is officially closed on any particular day, you can:
- Call 1-800-PTO(786)-9199
- Call (571) 272-1000
These phone numbers are provided in MPEP 510 for obtaining information about USPTO closures.
When the entire USPTO is officially closed for business for an entire day due to adverse weather or other causes:
- The day is considered a “Federal holiday within the District of Columbia” under 35 U.S.C. 21
- Any action or fee due on such a day may be taken or paid on the next succeeding business day the Office is open
MPEP 510 states: “When the entire USPTO is officially closed for business for an entire day, for reasons due to adverse weather or other causes, the Office will consider each such day a ‘Federal holiday within the District of Columbia’ under 35 U.S.C. 21. Any action or fee due on such a day may be taken, or fee paid, on the next succeeding business day the Office is open.”
To learn more:
The USPTO is not open for filing correspondence on Saturdays, Sundays, or federal holidays within the District of Columbia. However, there are exceptions:
- Correspondence deposited as Priority Mail Express® with the USPS in accordance with 37 CFR 1.10 is considered filed on the date of deposit, even on weekends or holidays
- Electronic filing systems may be available 24/7, but the official filing date will be the next business day
MPEP 510 cites 37 CFR 1.6(a)(1): “The Patent and Trademark Office is not open for the filing of correspondence on any day that is a Saturday, Sunday or Federal holiday within the District of Columbia.”
Patent Law (6)
To access USPTO public information facilities:
- A valid Public User or Visitor’s badge is required
- Badges can be obtained from the Office of Security next to the Public Search Facility
- An On-line Service Card is required for access to all Public Search Facilities and on-line systems
MPEP 510 states: “A valid Public User or Visitor’s badge is required to enter USPTO facilities. This badge can be obtained from the Office of Security next door to the Public Search Facility located on the first floor of the Madison East Building, 600 Dulany Street, Alexandria, VA 22314.”
The official business hours of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) are:
- 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday
- Excluding federal holidays in the District of Columbia
As stated in MPEP 510: “The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO or Office) working hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding federal holidays in the District of Columbia.”
The Public Search Facility in Alexandria has extended hours compared to the regular USPTO business hours:
- 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Monday through Friday
- Excluding federal holidays in the District of Columbia
As stated in MPEP 510: “The hours for the Public Search Facility in Alexandria are 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding federal holidays in the District of Columbia.”
To find out if the USPTO is officially closed on any particular day, you can:
- Call 1-800-PTO(786)-9199
- Call (571) 272-1000
These phone numbers are provided in MPEP 510 for obtaining information about USPTO closures.
When the entire USPTO is officially closed for business for an entire day due to adverse weather or other causes:
- The day is considered a “Federal holiday within the District of Columbia” under 35 U.S.C. 21
- Any action or fee due on such a day may be taken or paid on the next succeeding business day the Office is open
MPEP 510 states: “When the entire USPTO is officially closed for business for an entire day, for reasons due to adverse weather or other causes, the Office will consider each such day a ‘Federal holiday within the District of Columbia’ under 35 U.S.C. 21. Any action or fee due on such a day may be taken, or fee paid, on the next succeeding business day the Office is open.”
To learn more:
The USPTO is not open for filing correspondence on Saturdays, Sundays, or federal holidays within the District of Columbia. However, there are exceptions:
- Correspondence deposited as Priority Mail Express® with the USPS in accordance with 37 CFR 1.10 is considered filed on the date of deposit, even on weekends or holidays
- Electronic filing systems may be available 24/7, but the official filing date will be the next business day
MPEP 510 cites 37 CFR 1.6(a)(1): “The Patent and Trademark Office is not open for the filing of correspondence on any day that is a Saturday, Sunday or Federal holiday within the District of Columbia.”
Patent Procedure (6)
To access USPTO public information facilities:
- A valid Public User or Visitor’s badge is required
- Badges can be obtained from the Office of Security next to the Public Search Facility
- An On-line Service Card is required for access to all Public Search Facilities and on-line systems
MPEP 510 states: “A valid Public User or Visitor’s badge is required to enter USPTO facilities. This badge can be obtained from the Office of Security next door to the Public Search Facility located on the first floor of the Madison East Building, 600 Dulany Street, Alexandria, VA 22314.”
The official business hours of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) are:
- 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday
- Excluding federal holidays in the District of Columbia
As stated in MPEP 510: “The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO or Office) working hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding federal holidays in the District of Columbia.”
The Public Search Facility in Alexandria has extended hours compared to the regular USPTO business hours:
- 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Monday through Friday
- Excluding federal holidays in the District of Columbia
As stated in MPEP 510: “The hours for the Public Search Facility in Alexandria are 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding federal holidays in the District of Columbia.”
To find out if the USPTO is officially closed on any particular day, you can:
- Call 1-800-PTO(786)-9199
- Call (571) 272-1000
These phone numbers are provided in MPEP 510 for obtaining information about USPTO closures.
When the entire USPTO is officially closed for business for an entire day due to adverse weather or other causes:
- The day is considered a “Federal holiday within the District of Columbia” under 35 U.S.C. 21
- Any action or fee due on such a day may be taken or paid on the next succeeding business day the Office is open
MPEP 510 states: “When the entire USPTO is officially closed for business for an entire day, for reasons due to adverse weather or other causes, the Office will consider each such day a ‘Federal holiday within the District of Columbia’ under 35 U.S.C. 21. Any action or fee due on such a day may be taken, or fee paid, on the next succeeding business day the Office is open.”
To learn more:
The USPTO is not open for filing correspondence on Saturdays, Sundays, or federal holidays within the District of Columbia. However, there are exceptions:
- Correspondence deposited as Priority Mail Express® with the USPS in accordance with 37 CFR 1.10 is considered filed on the date of deposit, even on weekends or holidays
- Electronic filing systems may be available 24/7, but the official filing date will be the next business day
MPEP 510 cites 37 CFR 1.6(a)(1): “The Patent and Trademark Office is not open for the filing of correspondence on any day that is a Saturday, Sunday or Federal holiday within the District of Columbia.”