Patent Services Available from the United States Patent and Trademark Office
Assignment Recordation
The Assignment Division records the transfer of ownership of patents and trademarks, as well as other documents that affect titles to patents and trademarks. Rules regulating assignment practice are set forth in 37 CFR 3.11. A cover sheet which allows for entry of all information specified in 37 CFR 3.31 must accompany a document to be recorded. Copies of documents are acceptable and highly recommended. Copies of current recordation cover sheets, word processing macros for assignments, and related products to produce cover sheets are available.
Fees for recording assignments:
Patents
$40.00 per property
$25.00 for each additional property in the assignment
Government Register Documents
$40.00 per property
Confirmatory Licenses
No fee if submitted in a format approved by USPTO
Expedited service
$40.00 per hour (3 hour minimum) plus the standard recordation cost
For more information send an e-mail to assign@uspto.gov or fax 571-273-3250, or call customer service at 800-972-6382.
USPTO Web Site
Information on assignments is available at http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/pac/doc/general/assign.htm
Abstract of Title
USPTO staff will prepare a chronology from assignment records of recorded documents that affect the ownership of a patent.
Fee: $25.00 per patent (excludes copies of individual assignment deeds)
For more information send an e-mail to assign@uspto.gov, or fax 571-273-3250, or call customer service at 800-972-6382.
Certification Services
Records available from the PTO may be certified as true copies by the Certification Division. Certified copies are authenticated by the PTO ribbon and seal with the signature of an authorized certifying officer. Examples of available certified documents are US Patents, US Trademarks (showing title and status), office letters, file wrapper and contents, patent disclosure documents and defensive publication files, patent re-examination files, files from the Board of Appeals and Interferences, all trademark files, opposition, cancellation and concurrent use proceedings, assignment records, and abstracts of title. Pending patent applications are preserved in secrecy. No copies or information may be obtained without written consent of the inventor, applicant, attorney of record, assignee of record, or attorney for the assignee of record. Such written consent must accompany the request for certified copies. Entitled parties may obtain copies of a pending application by submitting a written order identifying the application by application number, filing date, and the name(s) of the inventor(s).
For more information send an e-mail to dsd@uspto.gov, or fax 571-273-3250, or call customer service at 800-972-6382.
File Copies
Uncertified copies of file histories, assignments, and trademark application records may be purchased. (Access to pending patent applications is limited to those able to show legal entitlement to the information.)
For more information send an e-mail to dsd@uspto.gov, or fax 571-273-3250, or call customer service at 800-972-6382.
Inventor Name Search Assistance
When a customer provides an inventor's name and approximate date of patent grant, Public Search Facility staff will conduct a search and provide a list of any patent numbers found.
Fee: $40.00 per hour or fraction thereof, which usually encompasses a 10-year span
Patent Classification Research
USPTO will provide a suggested class/subclass or field of technology for searching purposes. For information, call 571-272-3275.
Fee: free
Public Search Facility
The Public Search Facility (PSF) contains a searchable set of US patents issued from 1790 to the current week of issue.
Patent Subscriptions
Customers may place standing orders to receive patents as they issue in selected technology classifications of the U.S. Patent Classification System. Patents are mailed on the day of issue. This service is available only to holders of PTO deposit accounts. Address inquiries to:
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
Office of Patent Publication
P.O. Box 1450
Alexandria, VA 22313-1450
Fee: $3.00 per utility patent and $15.00 per plant patent (color)
To place a patent subscription request, call 571-272-4200.
For Deposit Account information , call 571-272-6500.
Training for Public Users of Automated Systems
Training is available for those who wish to use PTO's patent automated systems. See the Public Search Facility Web page.
Patent and Trademark Depository Libraries that subscribe to automated search systems also occasionally schedule seminars or training sessions for members of the public. See PTDL list to contact the nearest subscribing PTDL for information.
