Does a change of business name affect the legal entity for patent purposes?
According to MPEP 314, a mere change of business name does not constitute a change in legal entity for patent purposes. The MPEP states:
Although a mere change of name does not constitute a change in legal entity, it is properly a link in the chain of title.
This means that while the legal entity remains the same, documenting the name change is still important for maintaining a clear chain of title for the patent.
To learn more:
Topics:
MPEP 300 - Ownership and Assignment,
MPEP 314 - Certificates of Change of Name or of Merger,
Patent Law,
Patent Procedure