FAQ p125018- USPTO
How do I conduct a patent assignment search?
A patent is intellectual property that may be sold or bequeathed to heirs of a deceased patentee or patent owner. The patent law provides for the transfer or sale of a patent or patent application by means of a legal document called an assignment. A properly executed assignment transfers all rights from the existing owner to another person. When the patent is transferred, the assignee becomes the new owner of the patent and has the same rights as the original owner.
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) records all assignment documents and any document that affects title. Documents that affect title are, but are not limited to, mergers, changes of names, security agreements, various liens, licenses, probate documents, and bankruptcy petitions. For information on filing a patent assignment or documents affecting title, please call the Assignment Division between 8:30 a.m.and 5 p.m. Eastern Time on normal business days at (571) 272-3350.
The USPTO Public Search Facility maintains assignment ownership records. The Public Search Facility , located on the first floor of the Madison East building at 600 Dulany St. , Alexandria , VA 22313 , is open to the public from 8:00 a.m. to 8 p.m. , Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. Assignment information is also available at the Patent and Trademark Depository Libraries throughout the United States.
For additional patent assignment information, you may visit the USPTO web site at www.uspto.gov/web/offices/ac/ido/opr/index.html .
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see also
Search Patent Assignments
(15JUN2006)