What is the purpose of the USPTO’s special procedures for official inquiries?
The USPTO has established special procedures for handling official inquiries to ensure consistency and compliance with government directives. As stated in MPEP 203.08(a):
This procedure is used so that there will be uniformity in the handling of contacts from the indicated sources, and also so that compliance with directives of the Department of Commerce is attained.
These procedures help the USPTO maintain a standardized approach to high-level inquiries and ensure that responses align with broader governmental policies.
To learn more:
Topics:
MPEP 200 - Types and Status of Application; Benefit and Priority,
Patent Law,
Patent Procedure