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Assignment Center has replaced the Electronic Patent Application System (EPAS) and Electronic Trademark Assignment System (ETAS). Assignment Center makes it easier to transfer ownership or change the name on your patent or trademark registration.
See our how-to guides on using Assignment Center for patents and trademarks . If you have questions, email [email protected] or call customer service at 800-972-6382.
Patents Assignments: Change & search ownership
Change of owner (assignment) and change of owner name.
During examination of a patent application or after the patent is granted, the owner of the patent may:
- Transfer ownership to another entity or party through an "assignment;" or
- Retain ownership but change their name.
The original owner should record the assignment or name change with the USPTO's Assignment Recordation Branch by going to Assignment Center and filing a Recordation Cover Sheet along with a copy of the actual assignment or proof of name change.
Change Ownership - Assignment Center
Use Assignment Center to file a Patent Assignment Recordation Cover Sheet and attach the supporting legal documentation as a black-and-white TIFF or PDF file. You may email questions about filing patent assignments to [email protected] .
Patent Assignment Search
Use Patent Assignment Search to search the database of all recorded Patent Assignment information from 1980 to the present (Patent Assignments recorded prior to 1980 are maintained at the National Archives and Records Administration). You may email questions about searching patent assignments to [email protected] .
For further information, you may contact the Assignment Recordation Branch Customer Service Desk at 571-272-3350 from 8:30 am – 5:00 pm Eastern Time.
Additional information about this page
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Assignment Recordation Branch (ARB) Helps customers with transferring ownership or changing the name on their patent or trademark registration using Assignment Center. Also provides information relating to pending patent or trademark assignments, and answers questions about assignments, liens on patents, and filing assignments recordation forms.
A USPTO.gov account with two-step verification is required when accessing Assignment Center. What is Assignment Center? The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is streamlining the process for recording assignments and other documents relating to interests in patents and trademarks.
Assignment Center is the USPTO's online system for filing and managing patent and trademark assignments. Learn how to use it with our tutorial videos and FAQs.
Use Assignment Center to submit your request to transfer ownership or change the owner name for your U.S. application or registration. You will need to fill out a cover sheet with certain information and may also need to upload supporting documents, depending on the type of change.
This searchable database contains all recorded Patent Assignment information from August 1980 to the present. When the USPTO receives relevant information for its assignment database, the USPTO puts the information in the public record and does not verify the validity of the information.
You may contact the Assignment Recordation Branch Customer Service Desk at 571-272-3350 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET. You may email questions about electronic assignment filing to [email protected].
The database contains all recorded Trademark Assignment information from 1955 to June 11, 2024 . Trademark Assignments recorded prior to 1955 are maintained at the National Archives and Records Administration.
Assignment Center makes it easier to transfer ownership or change the name on your patent or trademark registration. See our how-to guides on using Assignment Center for patents and trademarks. If you have questions, email AssignmentCenter@uspto.gov or call customer service at 800-972-6382.
What do I need to know about assignments? What you need to know, before filing (PDF) Sample of a Patent Assignment (PDF)
Patent Assignment Query Menu. NOTE: Results display only for issued patents and published applications. For pending or abandoned applications please consult USPTO staff. The database contains all recorded Patent Assignment information from August 1980 to June 14, 2024 .