Flyer on Correspondence Address Change

Archival material: Information contained in archival materials was correct at the time of original publication. Some information may no longer be applicable. For example, amendments may have been made to the rules of practice since the original date of a publication, there may have been a change in any fees indicated, and certain references to publications may no longer be valid. Wherever there is a reference to a statute or rule, please check carefully whether the statute or rule in force at the date of publication of the advice has since been amended.

As part of the Office's dissemination effort to inform practitioners and applicants to use the new correspondence address for the Director of the USPTO and the Commissioner for Patents, the Office intends to include a flyer with all outgoing Office actions and notices. The final rule Correspondence with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, 68 Fed. Reg. 14332 published March 25, 2003. The correspondence address change is effective May 1, 2003 . The flyer is shown below.

Effective May 1, 2003

Use the address provided in this flyer after May 1, 2003 for any correspondence with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) in patent-related matters to organizations reporting to the Commissioner for Patents.

DO NOT USE the Washington DC 20231 and P.O. Box 2327 Arlington, VA 22202 addresses after May 1, 2003 for any correspondence with the USPTO even if these old addresses are indicated in the accompanying Office action or Notice or in any other action, notice, material, form, instruction or other information.

Correspondence in patent-related matters to organizations reporting to the Commissioner for Patents must now be addressed to:

(Do not mail to Washington DC 20031)

Commissioner for Patents
PO Box 1450
Alexandria, VA 22313-1450

(Do Not Mail to P.O. Box 2327 Arlington, VA 22202)

Special Mail Stop designations to replace Special Box designations

Also effective May 1, 2003, the USPTO is changing the special Box designations for Patents and Trademarks to corresponding Mail Stop designations (e.g., "Box 4" will now be "Mail Stop 4").

For further information, see Correspondence with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, 68 Fed. Reg. 14332 (March 25, 2003). A copy of the Federal Register notice is available on the USPTO's web site at http://www.uspto.gov/web/menu/current.html#register.

A listing of specific USPTO mailing addresses (See Patents - specific) will be available on the USPTO's web site on April 15, 2003 at http://www.uspto.gov/main/contacts.htm.

Persons filing correspondence with the Office should check the rules of practice, the Official Gazette, or the Office's Internet Web site (www.uspto.gov) to determine the appropriate address and Mail Stop Designation (if applicable) for all correspondence being delivered to the USPTO via the United States Postal Service (USPS).

Questions regarding the content of this flyer should be directed to the Inventor Assistance Center at (703) 308-4357 or toll-free at 1-800-786-9199.