A few months ago we wrote about a problem every IP firm was feeling: the USPTO's Certification Branch had fallen badly behind, and certified copies that used to take days were taking three months or more. We described the situation — and how to get expedited handling around it — in our post on the certified copy backlog.
We're glad to report the situation has turned around. The USPTO added staff to the Certification Branch and worked through the queue, and we're now consistently seeing certified copy requests processed in about two weeks — across the board.
Where Processing Times Stand Now
We place certified copy orders with the USPTO every day on behalf of IP firms across the country, so we see current turnaround in real time. As of this writing, the Certification Branch is processing most standard certified copy requests in roughly two weeks — a dramatic improvement over the 90-plus days we were seeing earlier in the year. This applies to every common request type:
- File histories — the complete certified file wrapper for a patent, application, or trademark.
- Patents — certified copies of issued patent grants.
- Assignments — certified copies of recorded patent and trademark assignments (we run the assignment search for you).
- Applications as filed — the certified priority documents used to perfect a priority claim abroad.
Do You Still Need At-Cost Expedited Handling?
For most orders, no. When the backlog was at its worst, at-cost expedited processing was often the only way to hit a foreign filing or court deadline. Now that standard processing is back to about two weeks, the vast majority of requests no longer need it. Expedited handling is still available for genuinely urgent situations — a priority document due within days, for example — but it's no longer a routine necessity, and that keeps costs down.
It's Still Smart to Order Early
Two weeks is a healthy turnaround, but it isn't instant, and deadlines in this work are unforgiving — a priority document generally has to be furnished within 16 months of the priority date, and a certified copy stuck in transit still risks a missed filing. The lesson from the backlog holds: build the current timeline into your deadline planning and don't wait until the last minute.
One Number, Every Certified Copy
If you need certified copies for a patent, you don't have to order each document separately or look up reel and frame numbers yourself. Give us the patent or application number and tell us what you need — we'll run the assignment search and obtain certified copies of the assignments, file history, patent, and application as filed, add any apostille or consular legalization for foreign use, and forward everything worldwide with tracking.
The Patent Place obtains certified documents from the USPTO every day and legalizes intellectual property documents for use in countries around the world. Get a free estimate or get in touch.