Major events affecting customers

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia, opens or closes according to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) status for the Washington, D.C., area. In rare instances where our operating status diverges from OPM, we will announce it on our homepage and throughout our website, as well as through our social media channels.

Even when USPTO headquarters are closed, in most situations customers may still conduct business with us through our full-service online filing systems, as well as other alternative methods such as facsimile (fax) and delivery using U.S. Postal Service Priority Mail Express and First-Class certified mail. The USPTO grants deadline extensions and other relief in limited circumstances, so we encourage customers to monitor USPTO Systems Status and Availability information and take advantage of our online and alternative methods.

On this page you will find a list of major events that have affected customers and necessitated a change to normal business operations. For more specific guidance, see Disaster guidance for patent customers and Disaster guidance for trademark customers.

Information on United States Postal Service interruption and emergency in response to Hurricane Helene

Relief available to patent and trademark applicants, patentees, reexamination parties, and registered trademark owners affected by the severe flooding impacting the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul

The USPTO considers the effects of the severe flooding impacting the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul beginning on April 27, 2024, to be an “extraordinary situation” within the meaning of 37 CFR 1.183, 2.146(a)(5), and 2.148 for affected patent and trademark applicants, patentees, reexamination parties, and registered trademark owners. For more information, read the Official Gazette Notice.

Relocation of the USPTO Patent Customer Service Window effective Tuesday, April 30, 2024

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is relocating the Patent Customer Service Window at its headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia. As of April 30, 2024, the Customer Service Window located in the Randolph building at 401 Dulany St., Alexandria, Virginia, will no longer receive patent-related correspondence. Effective April 30, the Customer Service Window for patent-related correspondence will be located in Room 1D80 of the Knox building at 501 Dulany St., Alexandria, Virginia, which is next to the Randolph building. 

You can hand carry or deliver documents to the new Customer Service Window at the above Knox building address on or after April 30. The hours of operation will be 8:30 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday, except holidays and if the USPTO is closed for inclement weather or an emergency. No application numbers will be assigned by window staff at the time of delivery.

Patent-related correspondence sent through the United States Postal Service should continue to be directed to the addresses set forth in 37 CFR 1.1 (for example, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria VA 22313-1450). Information on certificate of mailing practice under 37 CFR 1.8 and depositing correspondence as Priority Mail Express® under 37 CFR 1.10 is available in sections 512 and 513 of the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure.

The USPTO encourages applicants to transmit patent-related correspondence using the USPTO patent electronic filing system, currently Patent Center. Information concerning electronic filing via Patent Center is available at https://www.uspto.gov/PatentCenter.
 

Relief available to patent and trademark applicants, patentees and trademark owners affected by the severe earthquake on the Noto Peninsula of Japan

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) considers the effects of the severe earthquake on the Noto Peninsula in Japan that occurred on January 1, 2024, to be an "extraordinary situation" within the meaning of 37 CFR 1.183, 2.146(a)(5), and 2.148 for affected patent and trademark applicants, patentees, reexamination parties, and trademark owners. READ FULL NOTICE >>>

Closing of the USPTO on January 16, 2024

Due to the official, weather-related closing of federal government offices in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area on Tuesday, January 16, the USPTO considers that date a federal holiday. The USPTO will deem actions or fees due on Tuesday, January 16, to be timely if taken or paid no later than 11:59 p.m. ET, Wednesday, January 17, which was the next business day the USPTO was open. For more information read the Official Gazette Notice.

Early closing of the USPTO Patent Customer Service Window and Trademark Assistance Center walk-up window on Monday, August 7, 2023

Due to the inclement weather in the Washington, D.C. area, the Patent Customer Service Window and Trademark Assistance Center walk-up window closed at 3 p.m. ET on August 7, 2023.

Patent applicants may file documents by: (1) Patent Center or EFS-Web; (2) Priority Mail Express® from the United States Postal Service (USPS) in accordance with 37 CFR 1.10; (3) first-class mail with a certificate of mailing in accordance with 37 CFR 1.8; or (4) facsimile transmission to the USPTO Central Facsimile (571) 273-8300 for documents that are permitted to be submitted by facsimile (see 37 CFR 1.6(d)). Documents that are required to establish the filing date of an application (e.g., a new patent application, or a missing drawing figure or page of specification) cannot be submitted by facsimile transmission, and certificate of mailing procedures under 37 CFR 1.8 do not apply to these documents.

In general, customers may not submit any trademark filings through the USPS. With limited exceptions, all trademark correspondence must be submitted through the Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS/TEASi). 37 CFR 2.23(a). Parties to TTAB matters may file submissions through ESSTA. See Submitting documents to the USPTO when unable to file electronically for more information regarding filing of submissions via mail.

If the storm interrupts USPS service in specific areas of the country, the USPTO may designate those interruptions or emergencies pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 21(a). Applicants are encouraged not to rely on this possibility, but instead to file their documents using Patent Center, EFS-Web, TEAS/TEASi, or ESTTA, if possible.

Closing of the USPTO on January 7

In view of the official closing of federal government offices in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, including the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), on Friday, January 7, 2022, due to inclement weather, the USPTO considers Friday, January 7, a federal holiday.

The USPTO will deem actions or fees due on Friday, January 7, to be timely if taken or paid no later than 11:59 p.m. ET on Monday, January 10, which was the next business day that the USPTO was open.

A link to an Official Gazette Notice providing more information is available here.

Closing of the USPTO on January 3

In view of the official closing of federal government offices in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, including the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), on Monday, January 3, 2022, due to inclement weather, the USPTO considers Monday, January 3, a federal holiday.

The USPTO will deem actions or fees due on Monday, January 3, to be timely if taken or paid no later than 11:59 p.m. ET on Tuesday, January 4, which was the next business day that the USPTO was open.

A link to an Official Gazette Notice providing more information is available here.

Information for customers affected by postal service interruption from Hurricane Ida

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has posted a notice designating the interruption in service of the United States Postal Service (USPS) in the areas affected by Hurricane Ida in Louisiana, beginning on Friday, August 27, and in New Jersey, beginning on Thursday, September 2, as a postal service interruption and emergency within the meaning of 35 U.S.C. 21(a) and 37 CFR 1.10(i) and 2.195(d).

The designation provides support for any relevant petition to the Director of the USPTO under 37 CFR 1.10(i), or 2.146 and 2.195(d), to consider correspondence as filed on a particular date. To determine whether a post office has been closed or reopened, or whether postal services have been suspended or resumed in a particular area in Louisiana or New Jersey due to Hurricane Ida, contact the post office directly or visit the USPS’s website.

The designation has no impact on electronic filings at the USPTO. 

USPTO operating status on Friday, June 18

The United States Patent and Trademark Office was closed on Friday, June 18, 2021, in observance of Juneteenth National Independence Day. Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 21(b), the USPTO will deem actions or fees due on Friday, June 18, to be timely if taken or paid no later than 11:59 p.m. ET on Monday, June 21, i.e., the next business day the USPTO was open.

USPTO designates interruption in USPS service due to winter storm in Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Alabama

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO or Office) is designating the interruption in service of the United States Postal Service (USPS) in the areas affected by the winter storm in Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Alabama beginning on Tuesday, February 16, 2021, as a postal service interruption and emergency within the meaning of 35 U.S.C. 21(a) and 37 CFR 1.10(i) and 2.195(d). READ FULL NOTICE >>>

Taking action or paying fees with the United States Patent and Trademark Office on Wednesday, January 20, 2021, a federal holiday in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area

Wednesday, January 20, was a federal holiday in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, and federal government offices located within the designated “Inauguration Day area,” including the United States Patent and Trademark Office’s (USPTO) headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia, were closed. See 5 U.S.C. § 6103(c). Thus, any action or fee due on Wednesday, January 20, will be deemed as timely for the purposes of 15 U.S.C. §§ 1051(d), 1058, 1059, 1062(b), 1063, 1064, 1126(d), 1141g, and 1141k, or 35 U.S.C. §§ 119, 120, 133, and 151, if the action was taken, or the fee was paid, no later than 11:59 p.m. ET on Thursday, January 21, which was the next business day that the USPTO was open (37 CFR §§ 1.7(a) and 2.196).

An actual filing date of Wednesday, January 20, is also available under existing procedures. Specifically, 37 CFR §§ 1.6(a)(2), 2.195(b), and 2.198 provide that any correspondence properly deposited in the Priority Mail Express® service of the United States Postal Service (USPS) in accordance with 37 CFR §§ 1.10 or 2.198 will be deemed filed on the date of deposit (as shown by the “date accepted” on the mailing label) with the USPS. Thus, any correspondence properly deposited in the Priority Mail Express® service of the USPS on Wednesday, January 20, in accordance with 37 CFR §§ 1.10 or 2.198, will be deemed filed on its respective date of deposit in the Priority Mail Express® service of the USPS (as shown by a “date accepted” of Wednesday, January 20, on the mailing label). See the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure (MPEP) § 513 and the Trademark Manual of Examining Procedure (TMEP) § 305.03. For correspondence being mailed or transmitted with a certificate of mailing or transmission in accordance with 37 CFR §§ 1.8 and 2.197, see MPEP § 512 and TMEP § 305.02, respectively. It must be noted that, in general, trademark customers may not submit any trademark filings through the USPS. With limited exceptions, all trademark correspondence must be submitted through the Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS). 37 CFR § 2.23(a).

In addition, 37 CFR §§ 1.6(a)(4) and 2.195(a) provide that patent- and trademark-related correspondence transmitted electronically to the USPTO will be deemed filed in the USPTO on the date the USPTO received the electronic transmission. Thus, any patent- or trademark-related correspondence transmitted electronically to the USPTO on Wednesday, January 20, will be deemed filed in the USPTO on the date the USPTO received the electronic transmission. Patent correspondence successfully received by the USPTO through the USPTO’s patent electronic filing systems (EFS-Web or Patent Center) and filed in compliance with the Legal Framework for Patent Electronic System will receive the date indicated on the Acknowledgement Receipt. See, e.g., MPEP § 502.05. Trademark filings properly filed through the TEAS, the Trademark Electronic Application System International (TEASi), and the Electronic System for Trademark Trials and Appeals (ESTTA) will receive the date indicated in the email confirmation sent at the time of a successful filing. See TMEP § 301 and Trademark Trial and Appeal Board Manual of Procedure § 110.09 regarding electronic filing.

USPTO designates interruption in USPS service due to Hurricane Sally in Alabama, Florida, and Louisiana

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is designating the interruption in service of the United States Postal Service (USPS) in the areas affected by Hurricane Sally in Alabama, Florida, and Louisiana, beginning on Monday, September 14, 2020, as a postal service interruption and emergency within the meaning of35 U.S.C. 21(a) and 37 CFR 1.I0(i) and 2.195(d). READ FULL NOTICE>>>

USPTO designates interruption in USPS service due to wildfires in California, Oregon, and Washington

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is designating the interruption in service of the United States Postal Service (USPS) in the areas affected by the wildfires in California, Oregon, and Washington, beginning on Tuesday, September 8, 2020, as a postal service interruption and emergency within the meaning of35 U.S.C. 2l(a) and 37 CFR 1.I0(i) and 2.195(d). Postal services in California, Oregon, and Washington have been impacted by the wildfires to varying degrees beginning on September 8, 2020. READ FULL NOTICE>>>

USPTO designates interruption in USPS service due to Hurricane Laura in Louisiana and Texas

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is designating the interruption in service of the United States Postal Service (USPS) in the areas affected by Hurricane Laura in Louisiana and Texas, beginning on Tuesday, August 25, 2020, as a postal service interruption and emergency within the meaning of35 U.S.C. 21(a) and 37 CFR I.I0(i) and 2.195(d). READ FULL NOTICE>>>

USPTO waives original handwritten signature requirement

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) considers the effects of COVID-19 to be an "extraordinary situation" within the meaning of 37 CFR 1.183 for affected patent and trademark applicants, patentees, reexamination parties, and trademark owners. Therefore, the USPTO is waiving the requirements of 37 CFR 1.4(e)(1) and (2) for an original handwritten signature for certain correspondence with the Office of Enrollment and Discipline and certain payments by credit card. The Office notes that the requirements of 37 CFR 1.4(e)(1) and (2) are the only USPTO requirements for original handwritten, ink signatures, and the USPTO has no other requirements for original handwritten, ink signatures. READ FULL NOTICE>>>

Relief available to patent and trademark applicants, patentees and trademark owners affected by the coronavirus outbreak

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) considers the effects of coronavirus to be an "extraordinary situation" within the meaning of 37 CFR 1.183 and 37 CFR 2.146 for affected patent and trademark applicants, patentees, reexamination parties, and trademark owners. Therefore, the USPTO is waiving petition fees in certain situations for customers impacted by the coronavirus. This notice does not grant waivers or extensions of dates or requirements set by statute. READ FULL NOTICE>>>

Closing of the United States Patent and Trademark Office on Tuesday, December 24, 2019

In view of the official closing of the Federal Government offices in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, including the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), on Tuesday, December 24, 2019, the USPTO will consider Tuesday, December 24, 2019, to be a "Federal holiday within the District of Columbia" under 35 U.S.C. §21 and 37 C.F.R. §§ 1.6, 1.7, 1.9, 2.2( d), 2.195, and 2.196. Since Wednesday, December 25, 2019, is a holiday, any action or fee due on Tuesday, December 24, 2019, or Wednesday, December 25, 2019, will be deemed as timely for the purposes of, e.g., 15 U.S.C. §§ 105l(d), 1058, 1059, 1062(b), 1063, 1064, 1126(d), and 1141k, or 35 U.S.C. §§ 119, 120, 133, and 151, if the action is taken, or the fee paid, on the next succeeding business day on which the USPTO is open, that is, Thursday, December 26, 2019 (37 C.F.R. §§ l.7(a) and 2. I 96), no later than 11 :59 p.m. ET. READ FULL NOTICE>>>

Closing of the United States Patent and Trademark Office on Monday, January 14, 2019

In view of the official closing of the Federal Government offices in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, including the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), on Monday, January 14, 2019, the USPTO will consider Monday, January 14, 2019, to be a “Federal holiday within the District of Columbia” under 35 U.S.C. § 21 and 37 C.F.R. §§ 1.6, 1.7, 1.9, 2.2(d), 2.195, and 2.196. Any action or fee due on Monday, January 14, 2019,  will be deemed as timely for the purposes of, e.g., 15 U.S.C. §§ 1051(d), 1058, 1059, 1062(b), 1063, 1064, 1126(d), and 1141k, or 35 U.S.C. §§ 119, 120, 133, and 151, if the action is taken, or the fee paid, on the next succeeding business day on which the USPTO is open, that is, Tuesday, January 15, 2019 (37 C.F.R. §§ 1.7(a) and 2.196), no later than 11:59 pm EST. A link to the full notice is forthcoming. This page will be updated as soon as it is available.

Closing of the United States Patent and Trademark Office on Monday, December 24, 2018

In view of the official closing of the federal government offices in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, including the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), on Monday, December 24, 2018, the USPTO will consider Monday, December 24, 2018, to be a "Federal holiday within the District of Columbia" under 35 U.S.C. § 21 and 37 C.F.R. §§ 1.6, 1.7, 1.9, 2.2( d), 2.195, and 2.196. Since Tuesday, December 25, 2018, is a holiday, any action or fee due on Monday, December 24, 2018, or Tuesday, December 25, 2018, will be deemed as timely for the purposes of, e.g., 15 U.S.C. §§ 105l(d), 1058, 1059, 1062(b), 1063, 1064, 1126(d), and 1141k,or35U.S.C. §§ 119,120, 133,and 151, if the action is taken, or the fee paid, on the next succeeding business day on which the USPTO is open, that is, Wednesday, December 26, 2018 (37 C.F.R. §§ 1.7(a) and 2.196), no later than 11:59 pm EST. READ FULL NOTICE>>>

Closing of the United States Patent and Trademark Office on Wednesday, December 5, 2018, for a National Day of Mourning

In view of the official closing of the Federal Government offices in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, including the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), on Wednesday, December 5, 2018, the day proclaimed by President Trump as a National Day of Mourning, the USPTO will consider Wednesday, December 5, 2018, to be a "Federal holiday within the District of Columbia" under 35 U.S.C. § 21 and 37 C.F.R. §§ 1.6, 1.7, 1.9, 2.2(d),2.195, and 2.196. Any action or fee due on Wednesday, December 5, 2018, will be deemed as timely for the purposes of, e.g., 15 U.S.C. §§ 105l(d), 1058, 1059, I062(b), 1063, 1064, l 126(d), and 1141k, or 35 U.S.C. §§ 119, 120, 133, and 151, if the action is taken, or the fee paid, on the next succeeding business day on which the USPTO is open, that is, Thursday, December 6, 2018 (37 C.F.R. §§ 1. 7(a) and 2.196), no later than 11 :59 pm EST. READ FULL NOTICE>>>

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) considers the effects of Hurricane Harvey in Texas and Louisiana that began on August 25, 2017, to be an "extraordinary situation" within the meaning of 37 CFR 1.183 and 37 CFR 2.146 for affected patent and trademark applicants, patentees, reexamination parties, and trademark owners. The USPTO is providing additional relief to affected customers in certain situations.  READ FULL NOTICE>>>

While actions or fees due on January 20, 2017, will be timely if taken or paid on Monday, January 23, 2017, an actual filing date of January 20, 2017 is also available under existing procedures. Specifically, 37 C.F.R. §§ 1.6(a)(4) and 2.195(a)(2) provide that patent- and trademark-related correspondence transmitted electronically to the USPTO will be considered filed in the USPTO on the date the USPTO received the electronic transmission. Thus, any patent- or trademark-related correspondence transmitted electronically to the USPTO on Friday, January 20, 2017, will be considered filed in the USPTO on the date the USPTO received the electronic transmission. Patent correspondence successfully received by the USPTO through the Electronic Filing System (EFS-Web) and filed in compliance with the EFS-Web Legal Framework will receive the date indicated on the Acknowledgement Receipt. See the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure (MPEP) § 502.05 and the USPTO website. Trademark filings properly filed through TEAS, TEASi, and ESSTA will receive the date indicated in the e-mail confirmation sent at the time of a successful filing. See the Trademark Manual of Examining Procedure (TMEP) § 301 and Trademark Trial and Appeal Board Manual of Procedure (TBMP) § 110.09 regarding electronic filing.

In addition, 37 C.F.R. §§ 1.6(a)(2) and 2.195(a)(4) provide that certain correspondence deposited in the Priority Mail Express® service of the United States Postal Service (USPS) in accordance with 37 C.F.R. §§ 1.10 or 2.198 will be considered filed on the date of deposit (as shown by the “date accepted” on the mailing label) with the USPS. Thus, any paper or fee properly deposited in the Priority Mail Express® service of the USPS on January 20, 2017, in accordance with 37 C.F.R. §§ 1.10 or 2.198, will be considered filed on its respective date of deposit in the Priority Mail Express® service of the USPS (as shown by a “date accepted” of January 20, 2017, on the mailing label).
 

Previous legal notifications related to closures, Postal Service interruptions and emergencies, and other events

• United States Postal Service Interruption and Emergency under 35 U.S.C. 21(a)

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is designating the interruption in service of the United States Postal Service in the areas affected by Hurricane Matthew in the Southeast United States, beginning on Wednesday, October 5, 2016, as a postal service interruption and emergency within the meaning of 35 U.S.C. § 21(a) and 37 CFR 1.10(i) and 2.195(e). READ FULL NOTICE>>>

• Relief Available to Patent and Trademark Applicants, Patentees and Trademark Owners Affected by the Severe Earthquakes in the Southwest Region of Japan

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) considers the effects of the severe earthquakes in the Southwest region in Japan that occurred on April 14 and April 16, 2016, to be an "extraordinary situation" within the meaning of 37 CFR 1.183 and 37 CFR 2.146 for affected patent and trademark applicants, patentees, reexamination parties, and trademark owners. READ FULL NOTICE>>>

• Closing of the United States Patent and Trademark Office on Monday January 25, 2016, and Tuesday, January 26, 2016

In view of the official closing of the Federal Government offices in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area, including the the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), on Monday, January 25, 2016, and Tuesday, January 26, 2016, the USPTO will consider Monday, January 25, 2016, and Tuesday, January 26, 2016, to be a "Federal holiday within the District of Columbia" under 35 U.S.C. § 21 and 37 C.F.R. §§ 1.6, 1.7, 1.9, 2.2(d), 2.195 and 2.196. READ FULL NOTICE>>>

• Early Closing of the United States Patent and Trademark Office Patent Customer Service Window and Trademark Assistance Center walk-up window on Friday, January 22, 2016

Due to the inclement weather in the Washington, D.C. area, the Patent Customer Service Window and Trademark Assistance Center walk-up window will be closing at noon January 22, 2016. 

Patent applicants may file documents by: (1) EFS-Web; (2) Priority Mail Express® from the United States Postal Service in accordance with 37 CFR 1.10; (3) first class mail with a certificate of mailing in accordance with 37 CFR 1.8; or (4) facsimile transmission to the USPTO Central Facsimile (571) 273-8300 for documents that are permitted to be submitted by facsimile (see 37 CFR 1.6(d)).  Documents that are required to establish the filing date of an application (e.g., a new patent application, or a missing drawing figure or page of specification) cannot be submitted by facsimile transmission, and certificate of mailing procedures under 37 CFR 1.8 do not apply to these documents. 

Trademark applicants, registrants and parties to TTAB matters may file submissions by: (1) TEAS/TEASi and ESSTA; (2) Certificate of Mailing or Transmission procedures in accordance with 37 C.F.R. §2.197, as appropriate; (3) Priority Mail Express® from the United States Postal Service in accordance with §2.198, as appropriate.  See Alternative Methods of Filing for more information regarding filing of submissions via facsimile and mail. 

If the storm interrupts USPS service in specific areas of the country, the USPTO may designate those interruptions or emergencies pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 21(a).  Applicants are encouraged not to rely on this possibility, but instead to file their documents using EFS-Web, TEAS/TEASi, or ESTTA, if possible.

• Shutdown of Certain Electronic Systems of the United States Patent and Trademark Office from Tuesday, December 22, 2015 through Thursday, December 24, 2015

On December 22, 2015, at approximately 7:00 pm, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO experienced a major power outage at its headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia, resulting in damaged equipment that required the subsequent shutdown of many USPTO online and information technology systems. The USPTO is currently estimating that these systems will be impacted through at least the Federal holiday on Friday, December 25, 2015. In light of this emergency situation, the USPTO will consider each day from Tuesday, December 22, 2015, through Thursday, December 24, 2015, to be a "Federal holiday within the District of Columbia under 35 U.S.C. § 21 and 37 C.F.R. §§ 1.6, 1.7, 1.9, 2.2(d), 2.195 and 2.196. READ FULL NOTICE>>>

• Closing of the United States Patent and Trademark Office on Thursday, March 5, 2015

In view of the official closing of the Federal Government offices in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area, including the the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), on Thursday, March 5, 2015, the USPTO will consider Thursday, March 5, 2015, to be a "Federal holiday within the District of Columbia" under 35 U.S.C. § 21 and 37 C.F.R. §§ 1.6, 1.7, 1.9, 2.2(d), 2.195 and 2.196. READ FULL NOTICE>>>

• Closing of the United States Patent and Trademark Office on Tuesday, February 17, 2015

In view of the official closing of the Federal Government offices in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area, including the the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), on Tuesday, February 17, 2015, the USPTO will consider Tuesday, February 17, 2015, to be a "Federal holiday within the District of Columbia" under 35 U.S.C. § 21 and 37 C.F.R. §§ 1.6, 1.7, 1.9, 2.2(d), 2.195 and 2.196. READ FULL NOTICE>>>

• Closing of the United States Patent and Trademark Office on Friday, December 26, 2014

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) will be closed on Friday, December 26, 2014. Since Thursday, December 25, 2014, is a Federal holiday, the USPTO will consider both Thursday December 25, 2014, and Friday, December 26, 2014, to be a "Federal holiday within the District of Columbia" under 35 U.S.C. § 21 and 37 C.F.R. §§ 1.6, 1.7, 1.9, 2.2(d), 2.195 and 2.196. READ FULL NOTICE>>>

• United States Postal Service Interruption and Emergency under 35 U.S.C. 21(a)

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is designating the interruption in service of the United States Postal Service in the areas affected by the winter storm in New York, on Wednesday, November 19, 2014, as a postal service interruption and emergency within the meaning of 35 U.S.C. § 21(a) and 37 CFR 1.10(i) and 2.195(e). READ FULL NOTICE>>>

• Closing of the United States Patent and Trademark Office on Monday,  March 17, 2014

In view of the official closing of the Federal Government offices in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, including the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), on Monday, March 17, 2014, the USPTO will consider Monday, March 17, 2014, to be a "Federal holiday within the District of Columbia" under 35 U.S.C. § 21 and 37 C.F.R. §§ 1.6, 1.7, 1.9, 2.2(d), 2.195 and 2.196. READ FULL NOTICE>>>

• Closing of the United States Patent and Trademark Office on Monday, March 3, 2014

In view of the official closing of the Federal Government offices in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, including the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), on Monday, March 3, 2014, the USPTO will consider Monday, March 3, 2014, to be a "Federal holiday within the District of Columbia" under 35 U.S.C. § 21 and 37 C.F.R. §§ 1.6, 1.7, 1.9, 2.2(d), 2.195 and 2.196. READ FULL NOTICE>>>

• Closing of the United States Patent and Trademark Office on Thursday, February 13, 2014

In view of the official closing of the Federal Government offices in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, including the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), on Thursday, February 13, 2014, the USPTO will consider Thursday, February 13, 2014, to be a "Federal holiday within the District of Columbia" under 35 U.S.C. § 21 and 37 C.F.R. §§ 1.6, 1.7, 1.9, 2.2(d), 2.195 and 2.196. READ FULL NOTICE>>>

• Closing of the United States Patent and Trademark Office on Tuesday, January 21, 2014

In view of the official closing of the Federal Government offices in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, including the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), on Tuesday, January 21, 2014, the USPTO will consider Tuesday, January 21, 2014, to be a "Federal holiday within the District of Columbia" under 35 U.S.C. § 21 and 37 C.F.R. §§ 1.6, 1.7, 1.9, 2.2(d), 2.195 and 2.196. READ FULL NOTICE>>>

• Closing of the United States Patent and Trademark Office on Tuesday, December 10, 2013

In view of the official closing of the Federal Government offices in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, including the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), on Tuesday, December 10, 2013, the USPTO will consider Tuesday, December 10, 2013, to be a "Federal holiday within the District of Columbia" under 35 U.S.C. § 21 and 37 C.F.R. §§ 1.6, 1.7, 1.9, 2.2(d), 2.195 and 2.196. READ FULL NOTICE>>>

• United States Postal Service Interruption and Emergency under 35 U.S.C. 21(a)

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is designating the interruption in service of the United States Postal Service in the areas affected by the tornado in Oklahoma, on Monday, May 20, 2013, as a postal service interruption and emergency within the meaning of 35 U.S.C. § 21(a) and 37 CFR 1.10(i) and 2.195(e). READ FULL NOTICE>>>

• United States Postal Service Interruption and Emergency under 35 U.S.C. 21(a)

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is designating the interruption in service of the United States Postal Service in the areas affected by the police activity in the Greater Boston area in Massachusetts, on Friday, April 19, 2013, as a postal service interruption and emergency within the meaning of 35 U.S.C. § 21(a) and 37 CFR 1.10(i) and 2.195(e). READ FULL NOTICE>>>

• Closing of the United States Patent and Trademark Office on Wednesday, March 6, 2013

In view of the official closing of the Federal Government offices in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, including the USPTO, on Wednesday, March 6, 2013, the USPTO will consider Wednesday, March 6, 2013, to be a "Federal holiday within the District of Columbia" under 35 U.S.C. § 21 and 37 C.F.R. §§ 1.6, 1.7, 1.9, 2.2(d), 2.195 and 2.196. READ FULL NOTICE>>>

• Relief Available to Patent and Trademark Applicants, Patentees and Trademark Owners Affected by Hurricane Sandy

Special accommodations are available to patent and trademark applicants, patentees, reexamination parties, and trademark owners affected by Hurricane Sandy in Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Maryland, Virginia, the District of Columbia, and the Appalachian region in October and November 2012. In particular, the USPTO is making available various opportunities for relief to the following categories of affected patent and trademark applicants, patentees, reexamination parties, and trademark owners:

1. applicants or reexamination parties having a patent application or reexamination proceeding pending in the USPTO as of October 29, 2012, having one or more inventors, an assignee, or a correspondence address in areas of Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Maryland, Virginia, the District of Columbia, and the Appalachian region affected by Hurricane Sandy;
2. patentees who were unable to timely pay a patent maintenance fee due to the effects of Hurricane Sandy in October and November 2012;
3. applicants who filed a nonprovisional application on or after October 29, 2012, and prior to November 30, 2012, without an executed oath or declaration or payment of the basic filing fee, search fee, and/or examination fee due to Hurricane Sandy in October and November 2012; and
4. trademark applicants and registrants with a correspondence or owner address in areas of Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Maryland, Virginia, the District of Columbia, and the Appalachian region affected by Hurricane Sandy in October and November 2012. READ FULL NOTICE>>>

• Closing of the United States Patent and Trademark Office on Monday, October 29, 2012, and Tuesday, October 30, 2012

In view of the official closing of the Federal Government offices in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, including the USPTO, on Monday, October 29, 2012, and Tuesday, October 30, 2012, the USPTO will consider both Monday, October 29, 2012, and Tuesday, October 30, 2012, to be a "Federal holiday within the District of Columbia" under 35 U.S.C. § 21 and 37 C.F.R. §§ 1.6, 1.7, 1.9, 2.2(d), 2.195 and 2.196. READ FULL NOTICE>>>

• United States Postal Service Interruption and Emergency under 35 U.S.C. 21(a)

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is designating the interruption in service of the United States Postal Service (USPS) in the areas affected by Hurricane Sandy including in Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Maryland, Virginia, the District of Columbia, and the Appalachian region beginning on Monday, October 29, 2012, as a postal service interruption and emergency within the meaning of 35 U.S.C. § 21(a) and 37 CFR 1.10(i) and 2.195(e).

Once the USPS, through its Internet Web site, has notified the public that this interruption in the service of the USPS has ended, the designation of this interruption and emergency within the meaning of 35 U.S.C. § 21(a) and 37 CFR 1.10(i) and 2.195(e) will terminate without further notice from the USPTO. READ FULL NOTICE>>>

• Relief Available to Patent and Trademark Applicants, Patentees and Trademark Owners Affected by the Severe Earthquakes in Northern Italy

Special accommodations are available to patent and trademark applicants, patentees, reexamination parties, and trademark owners affected by the severe earthquakes that took place in Northern Italy in May 2012. In particular, the USPTO is making available various opportunities for relief to the following categories of affected patent and trademark applicants, patentees, reexamination parties, and trademark owners:

1. applicants or reexamination parties having a patent application or reexamination proceeding pending in the USPTO as of May 29, 2012, having one or more inventors, an assignee, or a correspondence address in areas of Northern Italy affected by the earthquakes;
2. patentees who were unable to timely pay a patent maintenance fee due to the effects of the severe earthquakes in May 2012;
3. applicants who filed a nonprovisional application on or after May 29, 2012, and prior to June 30, 2012, without an executed oath or declaration or payment of the basic filing fee, search fee, and/or examination fee due to the severe earthquakes in May 2012; and
4. trademark applicants and registrants with a correspondence or owner address in areas of Northern Italy affected by the severe earthquakes in May 2012. READ FULL NOTICE>>>

• United States Postal Service Interruption and Emergency under 35 U.S.C. 21(a)

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is designating the interruption in service of the United States Postal Service (USPS) in the areas affected by the severe storms in Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia beginning on Friday, June 29, 2012, as a postal service interruption and emergency within the meaning of 35 U.S.C. § 21(a) and 37 CFR 1.10(i) and 2.195(e).

Once the USPS, through its Internet Web site, has notified the public that this interruption in the service of the USPS has ended, the designation of this interruption and emergency within the meaning of 35 U.S.C. § 21(a) and 37 CFR 1.10(i) and 2.195(e) will terminate without further notice from the USPTO. READ FULL NOTICE>>>

• Relief Available to Patent and Trademark Applicants, Patentees and Trademark Owners Affected by the Catastrophic Flooding in Thailand

Special accommodations are available to patent and trademark applicants, patentees, reexamination parties, and trademark owners affected by the catastrophic flooding that took place in Thailand in October and November 2011. In particular, the USPTO is making available various opportunities for relief to the following categories of affected patent and trademark applicants, patentees, reexamination parties, and trademark owners:

1.  
   1. applicants or reexamination parties having a patent application or reexamination proceeding pending in the USPTO as of November 12, 2011, having one or more inventors, an assignee, or a correspondence address in areas of Thailand affected by the flooding;
   2. patentees who were unable to timely pay a patent maintenance fee due to the effects of the flooding in October and November 2011;
   3. applicants who filed a nonprovisional application on or after November 12, 2011, and prior to December 13, 2011, without an executed oath or declaration or payment of the basic filing fee, search fee, and/or examination fee due to the flooding in October and November 2011; and
   4. trademark applicants and registrants with a correspondence or owner address in areas of Thailand affected by the flooding in October and November 2011. READ FULL NOTICE>>>

• United States Postal Service Interruption and Emergency under 35 U.S.C. 21(a)

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is designating the interruption in service of the United States Postal Service (USPS) in the areas affected by Tropical Storm Lee and flooding due to weather-related incidents in Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Vermont beginning on Wednesday, September 7, 2011, as a postal service interruption and emergency within the meaning of 35 U.S.C. § 21(a) and 37 CFR 1.10(i) and 2.195(e).

Once the USPS, through its Internet Web site, has notified the public that this interruption in the service of the USPS has ended, the designation of this interruption and emergency within the meaning of 35 U.S.C. § 21(a) and 37 CFR 1.10(i) and 2.195(e) will terminate without further notice from the USPTO. READ FULL NOTICE>>>

• United States Postal Service Interruption and Emergency under 35 U.S.C. 21(a)

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is designating the interruption in service of the United States Postal Service (USPS) as a result of the power outages in California beginning on Thursday, September 8, 2011, as a postal service interruption and emergency within the meaning of 35 U.S.C. § 21(a) and 37 CFR 1.10(i) and 2.195(e).

Once the USPS, through its Internet Web site, has notified the public that this interruption in the service of the USPS has ended, the designation of this interruption and emergency within the meaning of 35 U.S.C. § 21(a) and 37 CFR 1.10(i) and 2.195(e) will terminate without further notice from the USPTO. READ FULL NOTICE>>>

• United States Postal Service Interruption and Emergency under 35 U.S.C. 21(a)

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is designating the interruption in service of the United States Postal Service (USPS) in the areas affected by Hurricane Irene in North Carolina, the mid-Atlantic and the Northeast beginning on Saturday, August 27, 2011, as a postal service interruption and emergency within the meaning of 35 U.S.C. § 21(a) and 37 CFR 1.10(i) and 2.195(e).

Once the USPS, through its Internet Web site, has notified the public that this interruption in the service of the USPS has ended, the designation of this interruption and emergency within the meaning of 35 U.S.C. § 21(a) and 37 CFR 1.10(i) will terminate without further notice from the USPTO. READ FULL NOTICE>>>

• United States Postal Service Interruption and Emergency under 35 U.S.C. 21(a)

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is designating the interruption in service of the United States Postal Service (USPS) in the areas affected by the severe storms and tornadoes in Alabama beginning on Wednesday, April 27, 2011, as a postal service interruption and emergency within the meaning of 35 U.S.C. § 21(a) and 37 CFR 1.10(i) and 2.195(e).

As of May 16, 2011 or earlier, the USPS, through its Internet Web site, has notified the public that this interruption in the service of the USPS has ended, and thus the designation of this interruption and emergency within the meaning of 35 U.S.C. § 21(a) and 37 CFR 1.10(i) has terminated. READ FULL NOTICE>>>

• Emergency Closing of the Customer Service Window on Wednesday, March 2, 2011

On March 2, 2011, at approximately 11:00 p.m., the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) Customer Service Window located in the Randolph Building in Alexandria, Virginia, was unexpectedly closed due to a power outage. In light of this emergency situation, the USPTO will consider Wednesday, March 2, 2011, to be a "Federal holiday within the District of Columbia" under 35 U.S.C. § 21 and 37 C.F.R. §§ 1.6, 1.7, 1.9, 2.2(d) 2.195 and 2.196. READ FULL NOTICE>>>

• Relief Available to Patent and Trademark Applicants, Patentees and Trademark Owners Affected by the Catastrophic Events of March 11, 2011 in Japan

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) considers the effects of the earthquake and resulting tsunami in Japan on March 11, 2011, to be an "extraordinary situation" within the meaning of 37 CFR 1.183 and 37 CFR 2.146 for affected patent and trademark applicants, patentees, reexamination parties, and trademark owners. Since this catastrophic event occurred outside the United States and did not result in a postal service interruption in the United States Postal Service, the USPTO has no authority to designate a postal service emergency as authorized by 35 U.S.C. 21(a). READ FULL NOTICE>>>

• Closing of the United States Patent and Trademark Office from Monday, February 8, 2010, through Thursday, February 11, 2010

In view of the official closing of the Federal Government offices in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, including the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), from Monday, February 8, 2010, through Thursday, February 11, 2010, the USPTO will consider each day from Monday, February 8, 2010, through Thursday, February 11, 2010, to be a "Federal holiday within the District of Columbia" under 35 U.S.C. § 21(b) and 37 C.F.R. §§ 1.6, 1.7, 1.9, 2.2(d), 2.195 and 2.196. READ FULL NOTICE>>>

• Closing of the United States Patent and Trademark Office on Monday, December 21, 2009

In view of the official closing of the Federal Government offices in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, including the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), on Monday, December 21, 2009, the USPTO will consider Monday, December 21, 2009, to be a "Federal holiday within the District of Columbia" under 35 U.S.C. § 21(b) and 37 C.F.R. §§ 1.6, 1.7, 1.9, 2.2(d), 2.195 and 2.196. READ FULL NOTICE>>>

Some contents linked to on this page require a plug-in for PDF files.