Can a legal entity sign patent correspondence?

Yes, a legal entity can sign patent correspondence, but there are specific requirements. According to MPEP 502.02:

When a document is to be signed by a corporation or another juristic entity, the signature must comply with 37 CFR 1.33(b)(3).

The requirements for a legal entity’s signature include:

• The name of the person signing
• Their capacity (e.g., President, CEO, General Counsel)
• The name of the legal entity

For example, a valid signature for a corporation might look like:

/John Smith, President, XYZ Corporation/

It’s important to note that the person signing must have the authority to bind the legal entity in matters before the USPTO. This ensures that the correspondence is legally binding and properly authorized.

To learn more:

• legal entity signature
• corporate signature
• patent correspondence
• USPTO