How does the USPTO handle correspondence delivered by EXPRESS MAIL?
How does the USPTO handle correspondence delivered by EXPRESS MAIL? The USPTO has specific procedures for handling correspondence delivered by EXPRESS MAIL. According to MPEP 502: “Any correspondence delivered by the ‘Express Mail Post Office to Addressee’ service of the United States Postal Service (USPS) is considered filed or received in the Office on the…
Read MoreHow does the USPTO handle correspondence sent by Priority Mail Express®?
How does the USPTO handle correspondence sent by Priority Mail Express®? The USPTO treats correspondence sent by Priority Mail Express® (formerly Express Mail) with special consideration. According to MPEP 502: “Any correspondence received by Priority Mail Express® will be considered filed with the USPTO on the date of deposit with the United States Postal Service.”…
Read MoreWhat are the requirements for certificate of mailing or transmission?
What are the requirements for certificate of mailing or transmission? The certificate of mailing or transmission is an important tool for securing a filing date with the USPTO. According to MPEP 502, the requirements are: “The certification requires a signature. Specifically, if the certification is filed by a registered practitioner, it must be signed by…
Read MoreCan I use a certificate of mailing for all USPTO correspondence?
Can I use a certificate of mailing for all USPTO correspondence? While the certificate of mailing or transmission is a useful tool, it cannot be used for all types of USPTO correspondence. The MPEP 502 provides specific exceptions: “The certification procedure under 37 CFR 1.8 is not available for: (A) Applications for patent under 35…
Read MoreWhat is a confirmation number and why is it important?
A confirmation number is a four-digit number assigned by the USPTO to each newly filed patent application. According to MPEP 503, the confirmation number serves several important purposes: It is used in combination with the application number to verify the accuracy of the application number on correspondence filed with the Office. It helps avoid misidentification…
Read MoreCan I use a Certificate of Mailing or Transmission for electronically filed documents?
Yes, you can use a Certificate of Transmission for documents filed electronically through the USPTO’s Electronic Filing System (EFS-Web). The MPEP provides a suggested format for a Certificate of EFS-Web Transmission: I hereby certify that this correspondence is being transmitted via the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office electronic filing system (EFS-Web) to the USPTO on…
Read MoreWhat is the difference between the Certificate of Mailing and Priority Mail Express procedures?
While both the Certificate of Mailing (37 CFR 1.8) and Priority Mail Express (37 CFR 1.10) procedures can be used to establish timely filing of USPTO correspondence, they have some key differences: Certificate of Mailing can be used with any class of mail, while Priority Mail Express is a specific USPS service. Certificate of Mailing…
Read MoreDoes the Certificate of Mailing or Transmission apply to foreign mailings?
The Certificate of Mailing procedure does not apply to papers mailed from a foreign country. However, the Certificate of Transmission procedure can be used for correspondence transmitted to the USPTO from a foreign country, with some conditions. The MPEP states: The Certificate of Transmission procedure for both facsimile transmissions and transmissions via EFS-Web, however, also…
Read MoreCan I use a Certificate of Mailing or Transmission for international patent applications?
The use of a Certificate of Mailing or Transmission for international patent applications is limited and depends on the specific type of correspondence. According to the MPEP and 37 CFR 1.8(a)(2)(i)(D)-(F), the certificate procedure does not apply to: The filing of an international application for patent The filing of correspondence in an international application before…
Read MoreCan I use the “Hold for Pickup” service when sending Priority Mail Express® to the USPTO?
No, you should not use the “Hold for Pickup” service option when sending Priority Mail Express® to the USPTO. The reasons for this are: The USPTO does not have resources for picking up mail Mail sent using the “Hold for Pickup” service will not reach the Office Always use the standard Priority Mail Express® Post…
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