USPTO Collecting Patent Practitioner E-mail Addresses

On May 11, 2006, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (Office) announced that it is collecting Internet e-mail addresses for each registered patent attorney and patent agent. The e-mail information will be maintained in an electronic database of the roster. To reduce occasions for spam and unwanted electronic communications, the e-mail addresses will not be published, viewable by the public on line, or otherwise made available to the public.

The Office is in the process of implementing 37 CFR § 11.11, under which each "registered practitioner must notify the OED Director of up to three e-mail addresses where he or she receives e-mail." By this notice, practitioners are being requested to provide up to three e-mail addresses where they can receive communications from the Office. The collection of e-mail addresses is being implemented using a two-step process discussed here.