What is the purpose of a Certificate of Mailing?

The purpose of a Certificate of Mailing is to establish the mailing date as the official date of submission. This is particularly important in the context of patent applications and other documents submitted to the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), where timely filing is critical. By using a Certificate of Mailing, the applicant can provide a verifiable proof that the document was mailed on a specific date, which can serve to protect against issues that arise from late submissions.

This confirmation of the mailing date becomes significant, especially when the actual receipt of the documents by the USPTO might take time. Additionally, in the event of a dispute regarding the timing of a submission, the Certificate of Mailing serves as evidence to demonstrate that the documents were sent on time. This is a fundamental aspect of ensuring that applicants can rely on their submissions being acknowledged as timely, regardless of potential postal delays.

Other options do not accurately reflect the specific function of a Certificate of Mailing; for instance, it does not confirm the receipt of documents, nor does it expedite the review process or allow faxed documents to be valid in the same way that traditional mailing does.