MPEP 500
Receipt and Handling of Mail and Papers
This is the Ninth Edition of the MPEP, Revision 10.2019, Last Revised in June 2020
Chapter 500: Receipt and Handling of Mail and Papers
501: Filing Papers With the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
502: Depositing Correspondence
502.01: Correspondence Transmitted by Facsimile
502.02: Correspondence Signature Requirements
502.03: Communications via Internet Electronic Mail (email)
502.04: Duplicate Copies of Correspondence
502.05: Correspondence Transmitted by EFS-Web
503: Application Number and Filing Receipt
504: Assignment of Application for Examination
505: Date of Receipt Stamp
506: Completeness of Original Application
506.01: Reserved
506.02: Review of Refusal To Accord Filing Date
507: Drawing Review in the Office of Patent Application Processing
508: Distribution
508.01: Reserved
508.02: Papers Received After Patenting or Abandonment
508.03: Reserved
508.04: Unlocatable Patent or Application Files
509: Payment of Fees
509.01: Deposit Accounts
509.02: Small Entity Status — Definitions
509.03: Claiming Small Entity Status
509.03(a): Duty to Investigate Entitlement to Claim Small Entity Status
509.03(b): Change or Correction of Status
509.04: Micro Entity Status — Definitions
509.04(a): Gross Income Basis for Micro Entity Status
509.04(b): Institution of Higher Education Basis for Micro Entity Status
509.04(c): Parties Who Can Sign the Micro Entity Certification
509.04(d): Continued Obligation to Determine Micro Entity Qualification
509.04(e): Notification of Loss of Entitlement to Micro Entity Status
509.04(f): Correcting Errors in Micro Entity Status
510: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Business Hours
511: Postal Service Interruptions and Emergencies
512: Certificate of Mailing or Transmission
513: Deposit as Priority Mail Express