What is the USPTO’s policy on federal holidays?
What is the USPTO’s policy on federal holidays?
The USPTO observes federal holidays and has specific policies regarding correspondence and deadlines that fall on these days:
- The USPTO is closed on all federal holidays.
- Deadlines that fall on a federal holiday are extended to the next business day.
- Correspondence is not accepted or processed on federal holidays.
According to MPEP 502: ‘Federal holidays falling on Sunday will be observed on the following Monday.’ This means that when a federal holiday falls on a Sunday, the USPTO will be closed on the following Monday, and any deadlines will be extended accordingly.
It’s important for patent applicants and attorneys to be aware of the federal holiday schedule and plan their filings accordingly to avoid missing critical deadlines.
Topics:
MPEP 500 - Receipt and Handling of Mail and Papers,
MPEP 502 - Depositing Correspondence,
Patent Law,
Patent Procedure