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Section 297 of Title 35, United States Code, authorizes collection of this information. The primary use of
this information is to make complaints publicly available. Additional disclosures will be made to (i) persons
or entities identified in the complaint, and (ii) a Federal, State, and local law enforcement agency.
Furnishing the information on this form is voluntary, but failure to submit the information may prevent the
communication from being a publicly available complaint.
Carefully read the following:
An “Invention Promoter” is defined in 35 U.S.C. § 297(c)(3) as “any person, firm, partnership, corporation,
or other entity who offers to perform or performs invention promotion services for, or on behalf of, a
customer, and who holds out itself through advertising in any mass media as providing such services, but
does not include
(A) any department or agency of the Federal Government or of a State or local government;
(B) any nonprofit, charitable, scientific, or educational organization, qualified under applicable
State law or described under section 170(b)(1)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code;
(C) any person or entity involved in the evaluation to determine commercial potential of, or
offering to license or sell, a utility patent or a previously filed nonprovisional utility patent
application;
(D) any party participating in a transaction involving the sale of the stock or assets of a business;
or
(E) any party who directly engages in the business of retail sales of products or the distribution of
products.”
“Invention Promotion Services” is defined in 35 U.S.C. § 297(c)(4) as “the procurement or attempted
procurement for a customer of a firm, corporation, or other entity to develop and market products or
services that include the invention of the customer.”
“Customer” is defined in 35 U.S.C. § 297(c)(2) as “any individual who enters into a contract with an
invention promoter for invention promotion services.”
“Contract for invention promotion services” is defined in 35 U.S.C. § 297(c)(1) as “a contract by which an
invention promoter undertakes invention promotion services for a customer.”
Any individual completing and filing the complaint form should understand the following.
1. No action will be taken by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on behalf of the individual against
the invention promoter based on the complaint. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has no
authority to pursue a cause of action on behalf of any individual against an invention promoter or
provide the individual with any personal remedy. If an individual believes that he or she has an
actionable case, the individual should consult with an attorney about the possible legal options
which may be available.
2. The complaint will be published.
3. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office will provide the invention promoter with a reasonable
opportunity to respond.
4. The response by the invention promoter will be published.
Submit your complaint form by mail to:
U. S. Patent and Trademark Office
Mail Stop 24
Commissioner for Patents
P.O. Box 1450
