USPTO Introduces On-Line Customer Interface for Practitioner Changes of Address

The United States Patent and Trademark Office has introduced a system that allows registered practitioners to update their official address of record with the Office of Enrollment and Discipline (OED) by way of an on-line customer interface. This feature provides the practitioner with full control over contact information on file with OED. Allowing practitioners to maintain and update their own telephone number, postal and e-mail addresses will: eliminate delays and processing errors in updating information; reduce losses caused by mailings made to obsolete addresses; and ensure prompt receipt of critical communications from OED. The program benefits practitioners by providing live updates that are reflected on the Internet when the practitioner saves his or her update. Please note that email addresses are not available to the public. The on-line customer interface also provides an easy way for registered patent practitioners to ensure they comply with the requirement that OED receive notice of address changes. There is no cost to the practitioner for using the on-line customer interface. For additional information please see On-Line Change of Address for Practitioners.

Two Separately Mailed Letters are Coming

In the second week of June 2009, the Office of Enrollment and Discipline will send two letters to the official address currently listed on the official roster of registered patent attorneys and agents. The letters will be mailed separately and may arrive on different days. The first letter will contain the practitioner’s user identification number; the second letter will provide a password that, used together with the user identification number, will allow the practitioner access to the practitioner’s records through the OED customer interface. For security reasons, the user identification number and the password require separate letters. Practitioners who have provided an email address will also receive courtesy emails. Please do not discard the letters as they contain the information the practitioner needs to access the customer interface.

Who Can Use the On-Line Change of Address?

The on-line change customer interface is available to registered practitioners who have been issued a valid on-line user identification number and password. For security reasons, the user identification number is not the same as the practitioner’s registration number.

What is the Web Address for the OED On-Line Customer Interface?

Practitioners may access the on-line customer interface through the USPTO web site at Registered Practitioner Sign In. A link to the customer interface is also available through the Attorney/Agent Search Page.