§2.197    Certificate of mailing.

  • (a) The filing date of correspondence submitted under this section is the date of deposit with the USPS if the correspondence:
    • (1) Is addressed as set out in § 2.190 and deposited with the USPS with sufficient postage as first-class mail; and
    • (2) Includes a certificate of mailing for each piece of correspondence that:
      • (i) Attests to the mailing and the address used;
      • (ii) Includes the name of the document and the application serial number or USPTO reference number, if assigned, or registration number to which the document pertains;
      • (iii) Is signed separately from any signature for the correspondence by a person who has a reasonable basis to expect that the correspondence would be mailed on the date indicated; and
      • (iv) Sets forth the date of deposit with the USPS.
  • (b) If correspondence is mailed in accordance with paragraph (a) of this section, but not received by the Office, the party who mailed such correspondence may file a petition to the Director under § 2.146(a)(2) to consider such correspondence filed in the Office on the date of deposit with the USPS. The petition must:
    • (1) Be filed within two months after the date of mailing;
    • (2) Include a copy of the previously mailed correspondence and certificate; and
    • (3) Include a verified statement attesting to the facts of the original mailing.
  • (c) If the certificate of mailing does not meet the requirements of paragraph (a)(2) of this section, the filing date is the date the Office receives the submission.

[Added 68 FR 48286, Aug. 13, 2003, effective Sept. 12, 2003; amended 69 FR 57181, Sept. 24, 2004, effective Oct. 4, 2004; 84 FR 37081, July 31, 2019, effective Feb. 15, 2020]