Patent Law FAQ
This FAQ answers all your questions about patent law, patent procedure, and the patent examination process.
Here’s the complete FAQ:
For an assignee organization (e.g., corporation, partnership, university), the submission establishing ownership can be signed by:
- A person with apparent authority to sign on behalf of the organization, such as an officer (e.g., CEO, president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer). The MPEP states: “An officer (chief executive officer, president, vice-president, secretary, or treasurer) is presumed to have authority to sign on behalf of the organization.”
- Any person, if the submission states that the person is authorized to act on behalf of the assignee.
- A person empowered by an organizational resolution, if a copy of the resolution is submitted.
If the signer does not fall into one of these categories, evidence of their authority to sign may be required. This is outlined in MPEP 324, section V.