Does the USPTO return or preserve the computer readable form (CRF) submitted on read-only optical discs?
No, the USPTO does not permanently preserve or return computer readable forms (CRFs) submitted on read-only optical discs. The MPEP clearly states:
The Office does not desire to be bound by a requirement to permanently preserve computer readable forms submitted on read-only optical disc(s) for support, priority or correction purposes. Thus, once use of the CRF by the Office for processing has ended, i.e., once the Office has entered the data contained on the computer readable form into the appropriate database, the Office does not intend to further preserve the CRF submitted by the applicant, and applicant should not expect to have the read-only optical disc(s) returned.
This policy is referenced in 37 CFR 1.52(e)(6). Applicants should be aware that once the sequence data has been processed and entered into the USPTO’s database, the original CRF submission is not retained. It’s advisable to keep a copy of all submitted materials for your records.
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