How to Transfer a Patent

To transfer ownership of a patent from one entity to another, a Patent Assignment will need to be executed between the parties and recorded in the U.S. Patent Office. The person or entity that conveys the patent to another is known as the Assignor. The person or entity who is receiving the patent is known as the Assignee. Although it is not necessary, a patent assignment may be notarized. It must then be recorded in the U.S. Patent Office.

Instructions

1. Go to the U.S. Patent Office website at www.uspto.gov.

2. Go to the Patents section and click on Assignment. This will take you to a new screen.

3. Click on Electronic Patent Assignment System (EPAS), on the lower left hand side of the screen, under Tools.

4. Scroll down and click on the link to access EPAS forms. You will then have to go through each screen and fill in the information requested such as the name of the Assignor, name of the Assignee, the date that the Assignment document was signed and the patent application numbers or patent numbers to be assigned. You will also need to include a fax number where the Notice of Recordation of Assignment Document will be sent.

5. Upload the signed Patent Assignment document into the EPAS website as a pdf document.

6. Remit a government fee of $40 per patent, either using the PTO Deposit Account, if the filer has one, or by credit card.

7. Look for the U.S. Patent Office to send a confirmation of the filing after it is done. The Notice of Recordation of Assignment Document will be sent a few days later.

Tips & Warnings

• It is best to have an experienced patent attorney prepare the Assignment document for you. You can then file the assignment yourself in the U.S. Patent Office to save the attorney's fees for this part of the work.

References

• U.S. Patent and Trademark Office