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 (2)
The following types of patent applications and documents can be filed via EFS-Web:
- Provisional patent applications under 35 U.S.C. 111(b)
- Nonprovisional utility patent applications under 35 U.S.C. 111(a)
- Nonprovisional design patent applications under 35 U.S.C. 111(a)
- International applications filed under the PCT in the United States Receiving Office
- National stage submissions under 35 U.S.C. 371
- International design applications filed under the Hague Agreement
- Requests for ex parte reexamination for utility or design patents
- Requests for supplemental examination for utility, design, or plant patents
- Third-party preissuance submissions under 35 U.S.C. 122(e)
- Citation of prior art and written statements in patent files under 37 CFR 1.501
Follow-on documents can also be filed via EFS-Web for existing applications by registered users.
When filing patent correspondence, you should include the following identifying information:
- Application number (checked for accuracy, including series code and serial number)
- Art Unit number (copied from most recent Office communication)
- Filing date
- Name of the examiner who prepared the most recent Office action
- Title of invention
- Confirmation number
As stated in 37 CFR 1.5(a): ‘When correspondence directed to the Patent and Trademark Office concerns a previously filed application for a patent, it must identify on the top page in a conspicuous location, the application number (consisting of the series code and the serial number; e.g., 07/123,456), or the serial number and filing date assigned to that application by the Patent and Trademark Office, or the international application number of the international application, or the international registration number of an international design application.’
MPEP 502 - Depositing Correspondence (2)
The following types of patent applications and documents can be filed via EFS-Web:
- Provisional patent applications under 35 U.S.C. 111(b)
- Nonprovisional utility patent applications under 35 U.S.C. 111(a)
- Nonprovisional design patent applications under 35 U.S.C. 111(a)
- International applications filed under the PCT in the United States Receiving Office
- National stage submissions under 35 U.S.C. 371
- International design applications filed under the Hague Agreement
- Requests for ex parte reexamination for utility or design patents
- Requests for supplemental examination for utility, design, or plant patents
- Third-party preissuance submissions under 35 U.S.C. 122(e)
- Citation of prior art and written statements in patent files under 37 CFR 1.501
Follow-on documents can also be filed via EFS-Web for existing applications by registered users.
When filing patent correspondence, you should include the following identifying information:
- Application number (checked for accuracy, including series code and serial number)
- Art Unit number (copied from most recent Office communication)
- Filing date
- Name of the examiner who prepared the most recent Office action
- Title of invention
- Confirmation number
As stated in 37 CFR 1.5(a): ‘When correspondence directed to the Patent and Trademark Office concerns a previously filed application for a patent, it must identify on the top page in a conspicuous location, the application number (consisting of the series code and the serial number; e.g., 07/123,456), or the serial number and filing date assigned to that application by the Patent and Trademark Office, or the international application number of the international application, or the international registration number of an international design application.’
Patent Law (2)
The following types of patent applications and documents can be filed via EFS-Web:
- Provisional patent applications under 35 U.S.C. 111(b)
- Nonprovisional utility patent applications under 35 U.S.C. 111(a)
- Nonprovisional design patent applications under 35 U.S.C. 111(a)
- International applications filed under the PCT in the United States Receiving Office
- National stage submissions under 35 U.S.C. 371
- International design applications filed under the Hague Agreement
- Requests for ex parte reexamination for utility or design patents
- Requests for supplemental examination for utility, design, or plant patents
- Third-party preissuance submissions under 35 U.S.C. 122(e)
- Citation of prior art and written statements in patent files under 37 CFR 1.501
Follow-on documents can also be filed via EFS-Web for existing applications by registered users.
When filing patent correspondence, you should include the following identifying information:
- Application number (checked for accuracy, including series code and serial number)
- Art Unit number (copied from most recent Office communication)
- Filing date
- Name of the examiner who prepared the most recent Office action
- Title of invention
- Confirmation number
As stated in 37 CFR 1.5(a): ‘When correspondence directed to the Patent and Trademark Office concerns a previously filed application for a patent, it must identify on the top page in a conspicuous location, the application number (consisting of the series code and the serial number; e.g., 07/123,456), or the serial number and filing date assigned to that application by the Patent and Trademark Office, or the international application number of the international application, or the international registration number of an international design application.’
Patent Procedure (2)
The following types of patent applications and documents can be filed via EFS-Web:
- Provisional patent applications under 35 U.S.C. 111(b)
- Nonprovisional utility patent applications under 35 U.S.C. 111(a)
- Nonprovisional design patent applications under 35 U.S.C. 111(a)
- International applications filed under the PCT in the United States Receiving Office
- National stage submissions under 35 U.S.C. 371
- International design applications filed under the Hague Agreement
- Requests for ex parte reexamination for utility or design patents
- Requests for supplemental examination for utility, design, or plant patents
- Third-party preissuance submissions under 35 U.S.C. 122(e)
- Citation of prior art and written statements in patent files under 37 CFR 1.501
Follow-on documents can also be filed via EFS-Web for existing applications by registered users.
When filing patent correspondence, you should include the following identifying information:
- Application number (checked for accuracy, including series code and serial number)
- Art Unit number (copied from most recent Office communication)
- Filing date
- Name of the examiner who prepared the most recent Office action
- Title of invention
- Confirmation number
As stated in 37 CFR 1.5(a): ‘When correspondence directed to the Patent and Trademark Office concerns a previously filed application for a patent, it must identify on the top page in a conspicuous location, the application number (consisting of the series code and the serial number; e.g., 07/123,456), or the serial number and filing date assigned to that application by the Patent and Trademark Office, or the international application number of the international application, or the international registration number of an international design application.’