What are the format requirements for electronic submission of assignment documents?

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.

For electronic submissions of assignment documents, the following requirements apply:

• Either a copy of the original document or an extract of the original document may be submitted.
• Documents must be submitted as digitized images in Tagged Image File Format (TIFF) or another prescribed format.
• When printed to paper size (8.5″ x 11″ or A4), the document must be legible with a 1-inch margin on all sides.

As stated in 37 CFR 3.24(a): “All documents must be submitted as digitized images in Tagged Image File Format (TIFF) or another form as prescribed by the Director.”