uspto assignment search patents

Navigating The USPTO Patent Assignment Search: A Comprehensive Guide

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The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is a pivotal institution in the realm of intellectual property, playing a crucial role in protecting the innovations that fuel progress. Among its varied services, the USPTO patent assignment search stands out as an essential resource for individuals and organizations navigating the intricacies of patent ownership and assignments. This guide delves deep into the functionality and significance of the USPTO's patent assignment search tool, shedding light on its utility and operation for all stakeholders involved in the patenting process.

Understanding Patent Assignments

To fully appreciate the value of the USPTO assignment search, one must first understand what a patent assignment entails. Essentially, a patent assignment is the transfer of an owner's rights, title, and interest in a patent or patent application to another entity or individual. This process can occur through the sale of the patent, a transfer of ownership during a business transaction, or through inheritance. The completion of an assignment confers upon the new owner the exclusive rights to the patent, including the authority to prevent others from exploiting the patented invention.

The Role of the USPTO Patent Assignment Search

Central to the USPTO's offerings is the USPTO assignment database, a comprehensive repository that records all patent assignment information from August 1980 to the current day. This database becomes indispensable for verifying the present ownership of a patent or patent application whenever the USPTO processes pertinent assignment details.

For inventors, legal professionals, and corporations alike, the USPTO assignment search is vital for various reasons. It facilitates due diligence efforts prior to the acquisition or licensing of patents, aids in the resolution of patent right disputes, and ensures adherence to assignment recording protocols.

Utilizing the USPTO Patent Assignment Search

Thanks to the user-friendly interface of the USPTO assignment search tool , users can effortlessly access detailed records of patent assignments. This tool, part of the broader USPTO Electronic Patent Assignment System (EPAS), allows searches by multiple criteria such as patent number, assignor and assignee names, publication numbers, and reel/frame numbers. Results from this assignee search provide comprehensive details about each assignment, including participant names, assigned patents or applications, and the date of assignment.

The USPTO patent assignment search tool is far more than a mere database; it serves as a critical access point to the legal and commercial dimensions of patenting. By facilitating access to exhaustive records of US patent assignments, the USPTO empowers stakeholders across the innovation landscape to make well-informed decisions. This, in turn, helps in averting disputes and promoting the seamless transfer of technology. Whether you are conducting a US patent assignment search, exploring the USPTO assignment database, or utilizing the USPTO trademark assignment search function, the USPTO's resources are invaluable for anyone involved in the intricate world of patents and trademarks.

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.

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Patent Public Search Basic (PPUBS Basic)

Quick lookup.

For example: 0123456 or 20210123456

Basic search

Query building guidance.

To start a quick lookup, enter a single patent or publication number and select the Search button. To start a basic search, select a search field, enter your search term, and select the Search button.

For example, to search for the keywords 'horse blanket', select Everything from both of the Basic Search dropdowns. Type 'horse' in the top text box, select 'AND' from the Operator dropdown, type 'blanket' in the bottom text box, and select the Search button.

Formatting rules for searching are as follows:

• One word per text box
• Before Patent Numbers with 6 digits or less to make 7 total digits - ex: 123456 should be entered as 0123456 - ex: 12345 should be entered as 0012345
• After the year to make 11 total digits for Application Publication numbers: - ex: 2021123456 should be entered as 20210123456
• If using Publication Date, the date format should be YYYYMMDD (e.g. 20221230)

Search results

Results for query

For example, to search for the inventor ‘John Smith,’ select Inventor Name from both of the Basic Search dropdowns. Type ‘John’ in the top text box, select 'AND' from the Operator dropdown, type ‘Smith’ in the bottom text box, and select the Search button.

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• API Catalog

Patent Assignment Search

1.4 | patents.

Use this API to retrieve patent assignment information from the USPTO assignment search database and generate XML files with the search results. An XML file with search results contains a list of found documents and their categorization. For API, please use Chrome or Safari browser.

USPTO’s Guidance on AI-Based Tools

Earlier this month, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and the United States Department of Commerce issued guidance on the use of artificial intelligence tools when practicing before the USPTO. As summarized in the USPTO’s Notice :

“The [USPTO] issues this guidance to inform practitioners and the public of the important issues that patent and trademark professionals, innovators, and entrepreneurs must navigate while using Artificial Intelligence (AI) in matters before the USPTO. The USPTO recognizes the possibility that AI will be used to prepare and prosecute patent and trademark applications, as well as other filings before the Office including filings submitted to the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) and Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB). While the USPTO is committed to maximizing AI’s benefits and seeing them distributed broadly across society, the USPTO recognizes the need, through technical mitigations and human governance, to cabin the risks arising from the use of AI in practice before the USPTO. At this time, based on the USPTO’s engagement with stakeholders through the USPTO’s AI and Emerging Technologies (ET) Partnership (AI/ET Partnership) and a review of existing rules, the USPTO has determined that existing rules protect the USPTO’s ecosystem against such potential perils. This guidance reminds individuals involved in proceedings before the USPTO of the pertinent rules and policies, helps inform those same individuals of the risks associated with the use of AI systems, and provides suggestions to mitigate those risks. The USPTO will continue to engage with the public, including through the AI/ET Partnership, as the use of AI advances and evolves.”

The lengthy guidance is set forth in the USPTO’s Notice , which ends by saying the guidance is not meant to be exhaustive and that “those appearing before the USPTO or accessing its systems are reminded to comply with the laws, regulations, precedent, and guidance in force at the time of their dealings with the USPTO.”

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DISCLAIMER: Because of the generality of this update, the information provided herein may not be applicable in all situations and should not be acted upon without specific legal advice based on particular situations.

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The site is secure. The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

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Learn how to search like an examiner and give input on patent applications

Published on: 05/09/2024 14:38 PM

Get an in-depth look at how examiners search for prior art when reviewing a patent application, and learn how you can provide input on pending patent applications that matter to you: join us for our second Public Engagement Partnership meeting virtually and in person at United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia, on June 10 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET .

We’ll conduct a hands-on prior art search workshop, and USPTO patent experts and practitioners will provide information and strategies on filing third-party submissions – documents that members of the public can file for consideration during an examiner’s review of a pending patent application.

This event is free and specifically designed for members of the public in advocacy groups, public interest-focused nonprofits, academia, and civil society organizations. Learn more about the Public Engagement Partnership meeting series on the USPTO website . 

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