Terms of Service

Last updated: September 18, 2026

These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your access to and use of the website, products, and services of The Patent Place, Inc. ("The Patent Place," "we," "us," or "our"). By accessing our website or placing an order, you agree to these Terms. If you do not agree, do not use our website or services.

1. Our Services

We provide document-related services including obtaining certified copies of documents from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and other agencies; document legalization (apostilles and consular legalization); assistance with foreign-filing licenses; and online tools for searching publicly available intellectual-property data (the "IP Library"). We arrange for the retrieval, authentication, and shipping of documents; we do not issue, certify, or legalize documents ourselves — those acts are performed by the relevant government authorities.

2. Not a Law Firm; No Legal Advice

The Patent Place is a document-retrieval and authentication service. We are not a law firm, and we do not provide legal advice. Nothing on this website or provided through our services constitutes legal advice or creates an attorney–client relationship. You are responsible for determining what documents and services you require, and you should consult a qualified attorney for legal questions.

3. Orders, Quotes, and Estimates

Estimates and quotes are approximate and provided for convenience only; they are not binding offers or guarantees of final cost or turnaround. Government and third-party fees, document conditions, and agency processing times can change the final price and timeline. An order is accepted only when we confirm it, and we may decline or cancel any order. Turnaround times are targets, not guarantees, and depend on the issuing authorities and carriers.

4. Fees and Payment

You agree to pay our service fees plus any government, agency, consular, notary, and shipping fees, which are passed through to you. Payments are processed by our third-party payment processor (Stripe); we do not store full payment-card numbers. Unless otherwise agreed in writing, invoices are due on receipt. You are responsible for fees incurred on your behalf even if a government authority ultimately rejects or is unable to produce a document.

5. Shipping and Risk of Loss

We ship documents via third-party carriers (e.g., FedEx, USPS). Delivery times are estimated by the carriers and are outside our control. Risk of loss for physical documents passes to the carrier upon pickup; we are not responsible for carrier delays, loss, or damage, though we will reasonably assist with carrier claims.

6. IP Library and Public Data

The IP Library reproduces information drawn from public government records, primarily the USPTO. This information is provided on an "as is" basis, without warranty of accuracy, completeness, or timeliness, and is not a substitute for the official records maintained by the USPTO or other authorities. You should independently verify any information before relying on it. You agree not to scrape, bulk-download, resell, or otherwise misuse the IP Library, or to use it in a way that burdens or disrupts our systems or the upstream data sources.

7. Website and Intellectual Property

The website design, text, graphics, and software (excluding public-record data and third-party content) are owned by The Patent Place or its licensors and are protected by law. You may not copy, modify, or distribute them without our permission.

8. Disclaimer of Warranties

Our website and services are provided "as is" and "as available." To the fullest extent permitted by law, we disclaim all warranties, express or implied, including merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement. We do not warrant that a government authority will produce, certify, or legalize any particular document, or that data in the IP Library is accurate or complete.

9. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, The Patent Place will not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, or for lost profits or data. Our total liability arising out of or relating to your use of the website or services will not exceed the amount of the service fees you paid to us for the specific order giving rise to the claim.

10. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless The Patent Place and its officers, employees, and agents from any claims, losses, or expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising out of your use of the website or services, your documents, or your violation of these Terms or applicable law.

11. Third-Party Services

We rely on third parties including Stripe (payments), FedEx and USPS (shipping), and government authorities. Your use of those services may be subject to their own terms, and we are not responsible for their acts or omissions.

12. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. Changes are effective when posted, with an updated "Last updated" date. Your continued use of the website or services after changes are posted constitutes acceptance.

13. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia, without regard to its conflict-of-laws rules. You agree to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the state and federal courts located in Virginia for any dispute arising out of or relating to these Terms or our services.

14. Contact

The Patent Place, Inc.
301 Franklin Street, 3rd Floor, Alexandria, VA 22314
(703) 415-1077 · [email protected]