Patent Law FAQ

The USPTO follows a strict procedure for handling telephone and in-person requests for information about unpublished pending or abandoned patent applications:

1. Obtain the caller’s full name, application number, and telephone number
2. Verify the caller’s identity and authority to receive information
3. Check Patent Data Portal or the application file to verify releasable information
4. Return the call using a verified telephone number

Information is only released to authorized individuals, such as the patent practitioner of record, inventor, applicant, or authorized representative of the assignee of record.

Requesting information about an unpublished patent application requires specific procedures to ensure confidentiality. According to the MPEP:

• Requests can be made by phone or in person
• The requester’s identity and right to information must be verified
• Only certain individuals (applicant, inventor, assignee of record, or attorney/agent of record) may receive detailed information
• USPTO employees must follow a strict verification process before releasing any information

The MPEP states:

“Except as provided in 35 U.S.C. 122(b), no information concerning pending or abandoned patent applications (except applications which have been published, reissue applications and reexamination proceedings) may be given to the public without appropriate written authorization.”

This ensures that confidential application information is only released to authorized individuals.

For more information on information requests, visit: information requests.

For more information on unpublished applications, visit: unpublished applications.

To obtain status information for a patent application, you can:

1. Check Patent Center or Private Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) on the USPTO website at www.uspto.gov
2. Contact the Application Assistance Unit (AAU) for applications in pre-examination or post-examination processing via email at HelpAAU@uspto.gov, phone at 571-272-4000 or toll-free at 888-786-0101, or visit their website

If the application has not been published but is pending or abandoned, the AAU will determine if the requester is authorized to receive status information based on their relationship to the application.

The USPTO follows a strict procedure for handling telephone and in-person requests for information about unpublished pending or abandoned patent applications:

1. Obtain the caller’s full name, application number, and telephone number
2. Verify the caller’s identity and authority to receive information
3. Check Patent Data Portal or the application file to verify releasable information
4. Return the call using a verified telephone number

Information is only released to authorized individuals, such as the patent practitioner of record, inventor, applicant, or authorized representative of the assignee of record.

Requesting information about an unpublished patent application requires specific procedures to ensure confidentiality. According to the MPEP:

• Requests can be made by phone or in person
• The requester’s identity and right to information must be verified
• Only certain individuals (applicant, inventor, assignee of record, or attorney/agent of record) may receive detailed information
• USPTO employees must follow a strict verification process before releasing any information

The MPEP states:

“Except as provided in 35 U.S.C. 122(b), no information concerning pending or abandoned patent applications (except applications which have been published, reissue applications and reexamination proceedings) may be given to the public without appropriate written authorization.”

This ensures that confidential application information is only released to authorized individuals.

For more information on information requests, visit: information requests.

For more information on unpublished applications, visit: unpublished applications.

To obtain status information for a patent application, you can:

1. Check Patent Center or Private Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) on the USPTO website at www.uspto.gov
2. Contact the Application Assistance Unit (AAU) for applications in pre-examination or post-examination processing via email at HelpAAU@uspto.gov, phone at 571-272-4000 or toll-free at 888-786-0101, or visit their website

If the application has not been published but is pending or abandoned, the AAU will determine if the requester is authorized to receive status information based on their relationship to the application.

The USPTO follows a strict procedure for handling telephone and in-person requests for information about unpublished pending or abandoned patent applications:

1. Obtain the caller’s full name, application number, and telephone number
2. Verify the caller’s identity and authority to receive information
3. Check Patent Data Portal or the application file to verify releasable information
4. Return the call using a verified telephone number

Information is only released to authorized individuals, such as the patent practitioner of record, inventor, applicant, or authorized representative of the assignee of record.

Requesting information about an unpublished patent application requires specific procedures to ensure confidentiality. According to the MPEP:

• Requests can be made by phone or in person
• The requester’s identity and right to information must be verified
• Only certain individuals (applicant, inventor, assignee of record, or attorney/agent of record) may receive detailed information
• USPTO employees must follow a strict verification process before releasing any information

The MPEP states:

“Except as provided in 35 U.S.C. 122(b), no information concerning pending or abandoned patent applications (except applications which have been published, reissue applications and reexamination proceedings) may be given to the public without appropriate written authorization.”

This ensures that confidential application information is only released to authorized individuals.

For more information on information requests, visit: information requests.

For more information on unpublished applications, visit: unpublished applications.

To obtain status information for a patent application, you can:

1. Check Patent Center or Private Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) on the USPTO website at www.uspto.gov
2. Contact the Application Assistance Unit (AAU) for applications in pre-examination or post-examination processing via email at HelpAAU@uspto.gov, phone at 571-272-4000 or toll-free at 888-786-0101, or visit their website

If the application has not been published but is pending or abandoned, the AAU will determine if the requester is authorized to receive status information based on their relationship to the application.