Patent Law FAQ
This FAQ answers all your questions about patent law, patent procedure, and the patent examination process.
Here’s the complete FAQ:
The USPTO records documents other than assignments for several important reasons:
- Public interest: To provide notification to third parties of equitable interests or other matters relevant to patent ownership.
- Transparency: To maintain a clear record of various interests in patents and patent applications.
- Legal compliance: To fulfill the requirements of 35 U.S.C. 261 and 37 CFR 3.11.
The MPEP states, “Such documents are recorded in the public interest in order to give third parties notification of equitable interests or other matters relevant to the ownership of a patent or application.” (MPEP 313)