How is an assignment-related document processed?

All assignments are processed through an image-based workflow management system called the Patent and Trademark Assignment System (PTAS).

• Paper documents are manually scanned into the PTAS. Documents received electronically through EFS, ETAS or EPAS are electronically scanned into the PTAS system.
  
• Bibliographic data concerning the property (ies) and party (ies) involved in the transaction are transcribed from the manually scanned image by the PTO or are entered by the requesting party at the time of submission through EFS, ETAS or EPAS. This bibliographic data is entered into the USPTO Assignment Historical Database. The data submitted is reviewed for completeness and the documents are determined to be recordable or non-recordable.
  
• The images of the coversheet and the document found recordable are automatically assigned reel and frame numbers by the PTAS and put on searchable media (microfilm and CD-ROM).
  
• PTAS software then superimposes the assigned reel and frame numbers, the official recordation date stamp and the payment information on the images.
  
• The PTAS generates a “Notice of Recordation” which is returned to the correspondence address on the cover sheet.

Documents found to be non-recordable are returned to the customer with a “Notice of Non-Recordation” citing the reason for non-recordation.