Code of Federal Regulations, Title 37; Patents, Trademarks, and Copyrights

Available from the U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO). Includes Patent Rules of Practice, Trademark Rules of Practice, and Copyright Rules of Practice. It is a compilation of laws in force at the time of issue. Revised annually. For current Superintendent of Documents stock numbers and prices, call 202-512-1800.

See an electronic version of the Title 37--Patents, Trademarks, and Copyrights, CHAPTER I--UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE and CHAPTER II--COPYRIGHT OFFICE, LIBRARY OF CONGRESS at the Library of Congress Web site.

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Available from the U.S. Government Online Bookstore.

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Available from the U.S. Government Online Bookstore.

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Copy/Document Sales

Copies of granted U.S. Patents and registered U.S. Trademarks are available for sale from Copy/Document Sales . Requests for copies must include payment and identification of the patent number(s) or trademark registration number(s) being requested.

Payment may be made by check, money order, VISA®, MasterCard®, Discover®/NOVUS®, American Express®, or USPTO Deposit Account.

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Copyright Information

Copyright information is not available from the Patent and Trademark Office. The U.S. Copyright Office is part of the Library of Congress. Visit their Internet site at http://www.copyright.gov/ for links to general information, publications, and other copyright related topics. Information specialists are available to answer questions by phone Monday through Friday (except federal holidays) from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Recorded copyright information is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Call 202-707-3000.

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Employee Locator

The on-line Employee Locator replaces the Information Directory of USPTO employee telephone numbers

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Fee Schedule (USPTO)

This is the current USPTO schedule of fees for patent and trademark submissions and services. To view the fee schedule, click here .

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Product Code: GIS-5030G-PP
Price: free
Use: USPTO Contact Center order form
To order by phone, 800-786-9199

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Forms

Forms are found on the USPTO Web site . General Information Services also provides individual forms required for various submissions. Some forms found on the Web site are not fillable, but they can be printed for completion.

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Price: free
To order by phone, call 800-786-9199

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Information Contacts

The Information Contacts telephone directory is a guide to services arranged alphabetically by subject matter. Published annually as a stand alone document.

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Product Code: GIS-5045G-PP
Price: free
Use: USPTO Contact Center order form
To order by phone, call 800-786-9199

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Inventors Assistance Center (IAC)

The Inventors Assistance Center (IAC ), formerly the Patent Assistance Center (PAC) provides patent information and services to the public. The IAC is staffed by former Supervisory Patent Examiners and experienced Primary Examiners who answer general questions concerning patent examining policy and procedure.

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Notes on Becoming a Patent and Trademark Depository Library

The Notes on Becoming a Patent and Trademark Depository Library brochure is intended for library administrators, librarians, and others interested in learning more about specific requirements for a library to receive designation as a Patent and Trademark Depository Library (PTDL). The PTDL Program promotes the dissemination of intellectual property information through PTDL locations in the United States and its territories. The network is a critical component in stimulating economic development and providing the information and resources which help businesses do business. To request this free brochure, call 571-272-5750, or write to:

Patent and Trademark Depository Library Program
United States Patent and Trademark Office
P.O. Box 1450
Alexandria, VA 22313-1450

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Patent and Trademark Depository Libraries

The network of Patent and Trademark Depository Libraries (PTDLs), located in 49 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, provides access to many of the same products and services offered at the USPTO search facilities located in Arlington, VA.  Scope of PTDL collections, hours of operation, services, and fees (where applicable) vary depending on PTDL location. Users are advised to call ahead to determine products and services available at a particular PTDL. Visit the Patent and Trademark Depository Library Program web site.

PTDLs also offer automated access to patent and trademark information. All PTDLs offer free access to the Cassis series of search tools to assist patrons in the use of patent and trademark collections. The PTDLs which provide users with access to automated patent search systems are noted on the library list.  Partnership libraries provide enhanced services for which fees are charged. USPTO officials and other intellectual property experts routinely conduct seminars and workshops on-site or via video conference. Contact each library for schedules.

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Patent and Trademark Depository Library Program Brochure

The Patent and Trademark Depository Library Program brochure defines a Patent and Trademark Depository Library (PTDL) and describes core resources which users of this nationwide network of libraries can expect to access. It serves as an adjunct brochure to Notes on Becoming a Patent and Trademark Depository Library for those libraries exploring potential PTDL status. To request this free brochure, call 571-272-5750, or write to:

Patent and Trademark Depository Library Program
United States Patent and Trademark Office
P.O. Box 1450
Alexandria, VA 22313-1450

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Public Search Facility

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) Office of Public Information Services provides public access to patent and trademark information in a variety of formats including on-line, microfilm, and print. Trained staff are available to assist public users. The Public Search Facility is located in Alexandria, VA. Technical Information Specialists are available to help users locate appropriate files and reference materials. See Public Search Facility . The Public Search Facility is closed on Federal Holidays .

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Public Search Faciliy Brochure

The Public Search Facility brochure describes the collections available in the USPTO Public Search Facility located in Alexandria, VA. It contains the location, street address, hours of operation, and the telephone number to call for information about the Facility. Descriptions of the automated search systems and the training available for public users of these systems are included in the brochure. 

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Product Code: GIS-5150G-PP
Price: free
Use: USPTO Contact Center order form

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Trademark Assistance Center

The Trademark Assistance Center (TAC) provides general information about the trademark registration process and responds to inquiries about the status of trademark applications and registrations. The location of the Trademark Assistance Center is Madison East, Concourse Level, 600 Dulany Street, Alexandria, VA 22314.

Assistance may be obtained in person or by calling 800-786-9199 or 571-272-9250, Monday through Friday (except federal holidays) from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

You can also check the status of an application or registration through the Trademark Applications and Registrations Retrieval ("TARR") database . Additional links to trademark information can be found on the USPTO Web site.

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U.S. Patent and Trademark Museum

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Museum was established in 1995 to educate the public about the patent and trademark systems and the important role intellectual property protection plays in our nation's social and economic health. The museum holds three permanent exhibits. The first explains the importance of intellectual property and how it is protected. The second covers the history and homes of the Patent Office, and features just a few of the 250,000 patent models that were displayed in the old Patent Office from 1840 to 1893. Trademarks: Fingerprints of Commerce, the third exhibit, traces the history of trademarks from those found on pottery as early as 5,000 B.C. to the nearly 800,000 registered trademarks that are in use today. Periodic exhibits focus on types of patents and technologies - bicycles, toys, cameras, household items, designs, and plants - and inventor groups, such as African Americans and women. The Museum also celebrates milestones in patent and trademark history, such as the 50th anniversary of the Trademark Act.

For more information, call the Office of Public Affairs at 571-272-8400. See information about the USPTO Museum.

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