How should USPTO personnel respond to status inquiries about patent applications?
USPTO personnel are instructed to handle status inquiries about patent applications promptly and professionally. According to MPEP 203.08:
“Inquiries as to the status of applications, by persons entitled to the information, should be answered promptly. The examiner, correspondent, or other appropriate personnel should provide the information requested within the following time periods: (A) For information obtainable from PALM, within one business day. (B) For information not obtainable from PALM, within five business days unless such information is not readily available, in which case a date by which an answer will be provided should be given.”
Personnel should verify the inquirer’s right to receive information and provide appropriate status updates without disclosing confidential information to unauthorized parties.
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