Inventors Assistance Center

• Answer general questions regarding patent examining policy.
• Direct your call to appropriate USPTO personnel, as necessary.
• Assist you with filling out forms.
• Provide you with general information concerning rules, procedures, and fees.
• Send you patenting information via mail or facsimile.

• Cannot answer questions concerning a particular patent application.
• Cannot give an opinion as to whether an invention is patentable.
• Cannot provide legal advice.
  >> see Roster of Registered Patent Agents and Attorneys to locate a qualified practitioner

Upon dialing either of the above telephone numbers, you will first reach an automated information system. Often, the information sought can be obtained without speaking to a IAC representative. If you do not find the necessary information using the automated information system, your call will be forwarded to a USPTO Contact Center (UCC) operator who can provide literature on patent topics, send you forms, and answer basic questions if this is all that is needed. The UCC operator will transfer calls to the IAC as necessary. Currently, the IAC handles approximately 320 calls per day. So that we may assist all of our customers, we ask that you limit your calls to a reasonable length of time. A review of the materials available by mail or on the USPTO Web Site prior to your call will make your questions more meaningful and should provide the IAC staff with a better opportunity to properly answer your questions.

Before you contact the IAC, you may find the answers to your questions in the information available in the links on the right side of this page.

You may direct questions regarding how to use the Patent Electronic Business Systems to electronically file applications or seek status information to the Patent EBC Customer Service Center