How are Priority Mail Express® submissions dated by the USPTO?

Question

Accepted Answer

Source: FAQ (MPEP-Based) BlueIron Update: 2024-09-09 10 Rules 5 Related FAQs This page is an FAQ based on guidance from the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure. It is provided as guidance, with links to the ground truth sources. This is information only: it is not legal advice. Priority Mail Express® submissions to the USPTO are treated differently in terms of dating. According to 37 CFR 1.6(a)(2): Correspondence filed in accordance with § 1.10 will be stamped with the date of deposit as Priority Mail Express® with the United States Postal Service. This means that new patent applications filed using Priority Mail Express® will be stamped with the date they were deposited with USPS, even if that date is a Saturday, Sunday, or federal holiday. The MPEP provides an example: For example, if a new patent application is deposited in Priority Mail Express® in accordance with 37 CFR 1.10 on a Saturday and the United States Postal Service gives it a date of deposit of Saturday, the Office will accord and stamp the correspondence with the Saturday date. Related Rules from the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure 10 rules Collapse Date of Deposit Stamped on Patent Applications MPEP 505 Priority Mail Express Stamp for Filing MPEP 505 Permitted Date of Deposit Stamped on Patent Application MPEP 505 Priority Mail Express Date for Patent Office Receipt MPEP 505 Permitted Office Date Stamp Establishes Filing Date for Complete Applications MPEP 505 Saturday Deposit Date Stamped MPEP 505 Hand-Carried Papers Must Be Date Stamped MPEP 505 Office Date Stamp Required for Receipt of Correspondence MPEP 505 Office Date Stamping for Mail and Electronic Filings MPEP 505 Fax Date Stamped on Next Business Day MPEP 505 Permitted Other Related FAQs 5 FAQs Collapse What happens if the date of receipt stamp is illegible or missing? What determines the filing date of a patent application? How does the USPTO handle correspondence received on weekends or holidays? What is the date of receipt stamp f...