Are USPTO employees allowed to initiate email communications with patent applicants?

USPTO employees are generally not permitted to initiate email communications with patent applicants unless there is a written authorization on record. According to MPEP 502.03:

‘USPTO employees are NOT permitted to initiate communications with applicants via Internet email unless there is a written authorization of record in the patent application by the applicant.’

However, if an applicant has provided written authorization for Internet communications:

‘USPTO employees may respond to Internet email and initiate communications with applicants via Internet email.’

It’s important to note that this policy applies to regular patent applications. For reissue applications and reexamination proceedings, which are open to public inspection, additional restrictions apply:

‘USPTO employees are NOT permitted to initiate communications with applicant in a reissue application or a patentee of a reexamination proceeding via Internet email unless written authorization is given by the applicant or patentee.’

To learn more:

• USPTO employees
• email initiation
• patent application
• reissue application
• reexamination proceeding