Patent Law FAQ
This FAQ answers all your questions about patent law, patent procedure, and the patent examination process.
MPEP 2900 – International Design Applications (1)
According to 37 CFR 1.1042, applicants can specify a correspondence address for communications sent by the USPTO as an office of indirect filing. The MPEP states:
“Pursuant to 37 CFR 1.1042, the applicant may specify a correspondence address for correspondence sent by the USPTO as an office of indirect filing.“
This address can be different from the one specified on the official DM/1 form used for filing the international design application. If no specific address is provided, the USPTO will use the address of the applicant’s appointed representative or the address specified in Administrative Instruction 302.
To learn more:
MPEP 2912 – Correspondence In Respect Of International Design Applications Filed With The Uspto As An Office Of Indirect Filing (1)
According to 37 CFR 1.1042, applicants can specify a correspondence address for communications sent by the USPTO as an office of indirect filing. The MPEP states:
“Pursuant to 37 CFR 1.1042, the applicant may specify a correspondence address for correspondence sent by the USPTO as an office of indirect filing.“
This address can be different from the one specified on the official DM/1 form used for filing the international design application. If no specific address is provided, the USPTO will use the address of the applicant’s appointed representative or the address specified in Administrative Instruction 302.
To learn more:
MPEP 400 – Representative of Applicant or Owner (4)
What is the difference between a correspondence address and a fee address in USPTO filings?
In USPTO filings, the correspondence address and fee address serve different purposes:
- Correspondence Address: Where the USPTO sends all official communications regarding a patent application or patent.
- Fee Address: Where the USPTO sends maintenance fee reminders for granted patents.
The MPEP clarifies:
The correspondence address is the address associated with the Customer Number to which correspondence is directed. The fee address is the address associated with the Customer Number to which maintenance fee reminders are directed.
(MPEP 403)
While these addresses can be the same, they don’t have to be. Applicants or patent owners might choose different addresses, for example, if a law firm handles prosecution but the company itself manages maintenance fees. Using a customer number allows for easy management of both addresses.
For more information on Correspondence Address, visit: Correspondence Address.
For more information on Customer Number, visit: Customer Number.
For more information on Fee Address, visit: Fee Address.
A Customer Number is a USPTO-assigned number that can be used to:
- Designate the correspondence address for a patent application or patent
- Designate the fee address for a patent
- Submit a list of practitioners with power of attorney
According to MPEP 403: “A Customer Number may be used to designate the address associated with the Customer Number as the correspondence address of an application (or patent) or the fee address of a patent, and may also be used to submit a power of attorney in the application (or patent) to the registered practitioners associated with the Customer Number.”
Using a Customer Number simplifies making changes to correspondence addresses and practitioner information across multiple applications.
For more information on Correspondence Address, visit: Correspondence Address.
For more information on Customer Number, visit: Customer Number.
For more information on Fee Address, visit: Fee Address.
For more information on power of attorney, visit: power of attorney.
The correspondence address in a patent application is the address where the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) will send all official communications regarding the application. According to 37 CFR 1.33(a):
“When filing an application, a correspondence address must be set forth in either an application data sheet (§ 1.76), or elsewhere, in a clearly identifiable manner, in any paper submitted with an application filing.”
This address is crucial for ensuring that applicants receive all necessary information and notifications about their patent application.
To learn more:
When revoking a power of attorney in a situation where there is no practitioner of record, special considerations apply. The MPEP 402.05 states:
‘If a power of attorney is revoked, and a new power of attorney is not promptly filed, then pursuant to 37 CFR 1.33(a) the correspondence address will be changed to that of the inventor(s) or assignee(s) who last provided a correspondence address.’
This means:
- The USPTO will change the correspondence address to that of the inventor(s) or assignee(s).
- The last provided correspondence address by the inventor(s) or assignee(s) will be used.
- All future communications from the USPTO will be sent to this address.
- It’s crucial to provide a new power of attorney or update the correspondence address promptly to ensure receipt of important communications.
To learn more:
MPEP 403 – Correspondence — With Whom Held; Customer Number Practice (2)
What is the difference between a correspondence address and a fee address in USPTO filings?
In USPTO filings, the correspondence address and fee address serve different purposes:
- Correspondence Address: Where the USPTO sends all official communications regarding a patent application or patent.
- Fee Address: Where the USPTO sends maintenance fee reminders for granted patents.
The MPEP clarifies:
The correspondence address is the address associated with the Customer Number to which correspondence is directed. The fee address is the address associated with the Customer Number to which maintenance fee reminders are directed.
(MPEP 403)
While these addresses can be the same, they don’t have to be. Applicants or patent owners might choose different addresses, for example, if a law firm handles prosecution but the company itself manages maintenance fees. Using a customer number allows for easy management of both addresses.
For more information on Correspondence Address, visit: Correspondence Address.
For more information on Customer Number, visit: Customer Number.
For more information on Fee Address, visit: Fee Address.
A Customer Number is a USPTO-assigned number that can be used to:
- Designate the correspondence address for a patent application or patent
- Designate the fee address for a patent
- Submit a list of practitioners with power of attorney
According to MPEP 403: “A Customer Number may be used to designate the address associated with the Customer Number as the correspondence address of an application (or patent) or the fee address of a patent, and may also be used to submit a power of attorney in the application (or patent) to the registered practitioners associated with the Customer Number.”
Using a Customer Number simplifies making changes to correspondence addresses and practitioner information across multiple applications.
For more information on Correspondence Address, visit: Correspondence Address.
For more information on Customer Number, visit: Customer Number.
For more information on Fee Address, visit: Fee Address.
For more information on power of attorney, visit: power of attorney.
Patent Law (5)
What is the difference between a correspondence address and a fee address in USPTO filings?
In USPTO filings, the correspondence address and fee address serve different purposes:
- Correspondence Address: Where the USPTO sends all official communications regarding a patent application or patent.
- Fee Address: Where the USPTO sends maintenance fee reminders for granted patents.
The MPEP clarifies:
The correspondence address is the address associated with the Customer Number to which correspondence is directed. The fee address is the address associated with the Customer Number to which maintenance fee reminders are directed.
(MPEP 403)
While these addresses can be the same, they don’t have to be. Applicants or patent owners might choose different addresses, for example, if a law firm handles prosecution but the company itself manages maintenance fees. Using a customer number allows for easy management of both addresses.
For more information on Correspondence Address, visit: Correspondence Address.
For more information on Customer Number, visit: Customer Number.
For more information on Fee Address, visit: Fee Address.
A Customer Number is a USPTO-assigned number that can be used to:
- Designate the correspondence address for a patent application or patent
- Designate the fee address for a patent
- Submit a list of practitioners with power of attorney
According to MPEP 403: “A Customer Number may be used to designate the address associated with the Customer Number as the correspondence address of an application (or patent) or the fee address of a patent, and may also be used to submit a power of attorney in the application (or patent) to the registered practitioners associated with the Customer Number.”
Using a Customer Number simplifies making changes to correspondence addresses and practitioner information across multiple applications.
For more information on Correspondence Address, visit: Correspondence Address.
For more information on Customer Number, visit: Customer Number.
For more information on Fee Address, visit: Fee Address.
For more information on power of attorney, visit: power of attorney.
The correspondence address in a patent application is the address where the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) will send all official communications regarding the application. According to 37 CFR 1.33(a):
“When filing an application, a correspondence address must be set forth in either an application data sheet (§ 1.76), or elsewhere, in a clearly identifiable manner, in any paper submitted with an application filing.”
This address is crucial for ensuring that applicants receive all necessary information and notifications about their patent application.
To learn more:
When revoking a power of attorney in a situation where there is no practitioner of record, special considerations apply. The MPEP 402.05 states:
‘If a power of attorney is revoked, and a new power of attorney is not promptly filed, then pursuant to 37 CFR 1.33(a) the correspondence address will be changed to that of the inventor(s) or assignee(s) who last provided a correspondence address.’
This means:
- The USPTO will change the correspondence address to that of the inventor(s) or assignee(s).
- The last provided correspondence address by the inventor(s) or assignee(s) will be used.
- All future communications from the USPTO will be sent to this address.
- It’s crucial to provide a new power of attorney or update the correspondence address promptly to ensure receipt of important communications.
To learn more:
According to 37 CFR 1.1042, applicants can specify a correspondence address for communications sent by the USPTO as an office of indirect filing. The MPEP states:
“Pursuant to 37 CFR 1.1042, the applicant may specify a correspondence address for correspondence sent by the USPTO as an office of indirect filing.“
This address can be different from the one specified on the official DM/1 form used for filing the international design application. If no specific address is provided, the USPTO will use the address of the applicant’s appointed representative or the address specified in Administrative Instruction 302.
To learn more:
Patent Procedure (5)
What is the difference between a correspondence address and a fee address in USPTO filings?
In USPTO filings, the correspondence address and fee address serve different purposes:
- Correspondence Address: Where the USPTO sends all official communications regarding a patent application or patent.
- Fee Address: Where the USPTO sends maintenance fee reminders for granted patents.
The MPEP clarifies:
The correspondence address is the address associated with the Customer Number to which correspondence is directed. The fee address is the address associated with the Customer Number to which maintenance fee reminders are directed.
(MPEP 403)
While these addresses can be the same, they don’t have to be. Applicants or patent owners might choose different addresses, for example, if a law firm handles prosecution but the company itself manages maintenance fees. Using a customer number allows for easy management of both addresses.
For more information on Correspondence Address, visit: Correspondence Address.
For more information on Customer Number, visit: Customer Number.
For more information on Fee Address, visit: Fee Address.
A Customer Number is a USPTO-assigned number that can be used to:
- Designate the correspondence address for a patent application or patent
- Designate the fee address for a patent
- Submit a list of practitioners with power of attorney
According to MPEP 403: “A Customer Number may be used to designate the address associated with the Customer Number as the correspondence address of an application (or patent) or the fee address of a patent, and may also be used to submit a power of attorney in the application (or patent) to the registered practitioners associated with the Customer Number.”
Using a Customer Number simplifies making changes to correspondence addresses and practitioner information across multiple applications.
For more information on Correspondence Address, visit: Correspondence Address.
For more information on Customer Number, visit: Customer Number.
For more information on Fee Address, visit: Fee Address.
For more information on power of attorney, visit: power of attorney.
The correspondence address in a patent application is the address where the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) will send all official communications regarding the application. According to 37 CFR 1.33(a):
“When filing an application, a correspondence address must be set forth in either an application data sheet (§ 1.76), or elsewhere, in a clearly identifiable manner, in any paper submitted with an application filing.”
This address is crucial for ensuring that applicants receive all necessary information and notifications about their patent application.
To learn more:
When revoking a power of attorney in a situation where there is no practitioner of record, special considerations apply. The MPEP 402.05 states:
‘If a power of attorney is revoked, and a new power of attorney is not promptly filed, then pursuant to 37 CFR 1.33(a) the correspondence address will be changed to that of the inventor(s) or assignee(s) who last provided a correspondence address.’
This means:
- The USPTO will change the correspondence address to that of the inventor(s) or assignee(s).
- The last provided correspondence address by the inventor(s) or assignee(s) will be used.
- All future communications from the USPTO will be sent to this address.
- It’s crucial to provide a new power of attorney or update the correspondence address promptly to ensure receipt of important communications.
To learn more:
According to 37 CFR 1.1042, applicants can specify a correspondence address for communications sent by the USPTO as an office of indirect filing. The MPEP states:
“Pursuant to 37 CFR 1.1042, the applicant may specify a correspondence address for correspondence sent by the USPTO as an office of indirect filing.“
This address can be different from the one specified on the official DM/1 form used for filing the international design application. If no specific address is provided, the USPTO will use the address of the applicant’s appointed representative or the address specified in Administrative Instruction 302.
To learn more: