Privacy Act Statement
The Privacy Act of 1974 (P.L. 93-579) requires that you be given certain information in connection with your
submission of the attached form related to a patent application or patent. Accordingly, pursuant to the requirements of
the Act, please be advised that: (1) the general authority for the collection of this information is 35 U.S.C. 2(b)(2); (2)
furnishing of the information solicited is voluntary; and (3) the principal purpose for which the information is used by the
United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO or Agency) is to process and/or examine your submission related
to a patent application or patent. If you do not furnish the requested information, the USPTO may not be able to process
and/or examine your submission, which may result in termination of proceedings or abandonment of the application or
expiration of the patent.
The information provided by you in this form will be subject to the following routine uses:
1. The information on this form will be treated confidentially to the extent allowed under the Freedom of
Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) and the Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552a). Records from this system of records may
be disclosed to the Department of Justice to determine whether disclosure of these records is required by the
Freedom of Information Act.
2. A record from this system of records may be disclosed, as a routine use, in the course of presenting evidence
to a court, magistrate, or administrative tribunal, including disclosures to opposing counsel in the course of
settlement negotiations.
3. A record in this system of records may be disclosed, as a routine use, to a Member of Congress submitting a
request involving an individual, to whom the record pertains, when the individual has requested assistance from
the Member with respect to the subject matter of the record.
4. A record in this system of records may be disclosed, as a routine use, to a contractor of the Agency having
need for the information in order to perform a contract. Recipients of information shall be required to comply
with the requirements of the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552a(m).
5. A record related to an International Application filed under the Patent Cooperation Treaty in this system of
records may be disclosed, as a routine use, to the International Bureau of the World Intellectual Property
Organization, pursuant to the Patent Cooperation Treaty.
6. A record in this system of records may be disclosed, as a routine use, to another Federal agency for purposes
of national security review (35 U.S.C. 181) and for review pursuant to the Atomic Energy Act (42 U.S.C.
218(c)).
7. A record from this system of records may be disclosed, as a routine use, to the Administrator, General
Services, or his/her designee, during an inspection of records conducted by the General Services
Administration (GSA) as part of that agency’s responsibility to recommend improvements in records
management practices and programs, under the authority of 44 U.S.C. 2904 and 2906. Such disclosure shall
be made in accordance with the GSA regulations governing the inspection of records for this purpose and any
other relevant (i.e., GSA or Department of Commerce) directive. Such disclosure shall not be used to make
determinations about individuals.
8. A record from this system of records may be disclosed, as a routine use, to the public after either publication of
the application pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 122(b) or issuance of a patent pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 151. Further, a
record may be disclosed, subject to the limitations of 37 CFR 1.14, as a routine use, to the public if the record
was filed in an application that became abandoned or in which the proceedings were terminated and that
application is referenced by either a published application, an application open to public inspection, or an
issued patent.
9. A record from this system of records may be disclosed, as a routine use, to a Federal, State, or local law
enforcement agency if the USPTO becomes aware of a violation or potential violation of law or regulation.
