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U. S. PATENT & TRADEMARK OFFICE (USPTO)

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (PTO or USPTO) is the federal agency within the Department of Commerce. The USPTO mission "is to ensure that the intellectual property system contributes to a strong global economy, encourages investment in innovation, and fosters entrepreneurial spirit." While the PTO receives its authorty from Article 1, Section 8 of the United States Constitution, it is regulated by the Code of Federal Regulations (CFRs 37 and 44).

The PTO uses a propretary electronic submission process. However, the following information for 37 CFR, shows that the PTO both accepts and recognizes electronic signatures.

US Patent Office - 37 C.F.R. Patents, Trademarks, and Copyrights

§ 1.4 - Nature of correspondence and signature requirements

Sub-section (d)(3) Correspondence in character coded form being filed via the Office Electronic Filing System for a patent application or patent may be signed electronically.

§2.193 Trademark correspondence and signature requirements

(c)(1)(iii)Where an electronically transmitted trademark filing is permitted or required, the person who signs the filing must either:
(A) Place a symbol comprised of numbers and/or letters between two forward slash marks in the signature block on the electronic submission; or
(B) Sign the verified statement using some other form of electronic signature specified by the Director.

§ 2.33 Verified statement.

(d) Where an electronically transmitted filing is permitted, the person who signs the verified statement must either:

(1) Place a symbol comprised of numbers and/or letters between two forward slash marks in the signature block on the electronic submission; or

(2) Sign the verified statement using some other form of electronic signature specified by the Director.

§ 3.31 Cover sheet content.

(a) Each patent or trademark cover sheet required by §3.28 must contain:

(7) The signature of the party submitting the document. For an assignment document or name change filed electronically, the person who signs the cover sheet must either:

(i) Place a symbol comprised of letters, numbers, and/or punctuation marks between forward slash marks (e.g. /Thomas O'Malley III/) in the signature block on the electronic submission; or

(ii) Sign the cover sheet using some other form of electronic signature specified by the Director.