Electronic Submission of Notices of Appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, Notices of Election, and Requests for Extension of Time for Seeking Judicial Review

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) issues this final rule to incorporate changes to the patent and trademark rules regarding judicial review of agency decisions, in particular how a notice of appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, a notice of election to proceed by civil action in district court, and a request for extension of time for filing a notice of appeal or commencing a civil action must be filed. This final rule states that a notice of appeal, notice of election, and a request for extension of time for filing a notice of appeal or commencing a civil action must be filed with the Director of the USPTO by email, and in the event a request cannot be filed by email, it may be filed by Priority Mail Express§.