How is the mailing date applied to USPTO Office actions?
According to MPEP 707.11, the mailing date for USPTO Office actions is applied through a specific process:
- The mailing date is not typed when the Office action is initially written.
- Instead, it is “stamped or printed on all copies of the action”.
- This stamping or printing occurs after the action has been signed by the authorized signatory examiner.
- The date is applied just before the copies are about to be mailed.
This procedure ensures that the mailing date accurately reflects when the Office action is actually sent out, which is crucial for calculating response deadlines and other time-sensitive matters in the patent examination process.
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