How does the USPTO handle confidential license agreements?

The USPTO provides a specific process for handling confidential license agreements. According to MPEP 313:

“If the document to be recorded is a confidential license agreement, such as a trade secret agreement, the instrument must be submitted with a cover sheet to request redaction of the document. The parties must include all of the information required by 37 CFR 3.31, and additionally state that the document is confidential and identify the item(s) for which redaction is being requested.”

This process allows parties to protect sensitive information while still recording the existence of the license agreement with the USPTO.