What is a fee address for maintenance fee purposes?

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Source: FAQ (MPEP-Based) BlueIron Update: 2024-09-30 10 Rules 5 Related FAQs 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. A fee address is a designated address for receiving communications related to maintenance fee payments for patents. According to MPEP 2540 , “Generally, notices, receipts, and other communications relating to the payment of a maintenance fee will be directed to the correspondence address used during the prosecution of the application, unless a ‘fee address’ for the purpose of payment of the maintenance fee has been designated or a change in the correspondence address has been made.” It’s important to note that “A fee address must be an address associated with a Customer Number” as stated in 37 CFR 1.363(c) . Related Rules from the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure 10 rules Collapse Fee Address for Maintenance Fee Communications MPEP 2540 Correspondence Address for Maintenance Fees Must Be Set During Prosecution MPEP 2540 Single Address for Maintenance Fees Required MPEP 2540 Fee Address Must Be Associated With Customer Number MPEP 2540 Required Customer Number Required for Fee Address MPEP 2540 Permitted Fee Address Must Be Linked to Customer Number MPEP 2540 Required Proper Fee Address Required for Maintenance Fees MPEP 2540 Recommended Fee Address Must Be Established Before Payment MPEP 2540 Recommended Customer Number Required for Fee Address MPEP 2540 Recommended Customer Number Required for Fee Address Designation MPEP 2540 Recommended Other Related FAQs 5 FAQs Collapse Can a fee address be directed to multiple addresses? How can I designate a fee address for maintenance fee purposes? Does assigning a patent application or patent change the fee address? Is the USPTO required to notify patentees about maintenance fee payments? What is the difference between absolute and equitable inte...