What documents should not be placed directly in patent application files?

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.

According to MPEP 318, assignment documents submitted for recording should not be placed directly in application or patent files. The section states:

“Assignment documents submitted for recording should not be placed directly in application or patent files, but should be forwarded to Assignment Division for recording.”

This means that when assignment documents are submitted, they should be sent to the Assignment Division for proper recording rather than being inserted into the application or patent files themselves.