What happens if a patent owner doesn’t provide a correspondence address for reexamination?

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.

If a patent owner fails to provide a correspondence address for reexamination, the USPTO will take the following steps:

1. Use the correspondence address of record in the patent file
2. If no address is available, attempt to contact the patent owner at the last known address

MPEP 2222 states: “If no correspondence address is otherwise specified, the attorney or agent of record in the patent file at the time ex parte reexamination is ordered will be considered the correspondence address.” This ensures that important communications reach the patent owner or their representative.