# MPEP § 502.04: Duplicate Copies of Correspondence

> Federal · Agency guidance · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S502.04

## Section

- **Citation:** MPEP § 502.04
- **Heading:** Duplicate Copies of Correspondence
- **Jurisdiction:** Federal
- **Kind:** Agency guidance
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** USPTO MPEP / Chapter 0500 - Receipt and Handling of Mail and Papers / MPEP § 502.04

## Text

37 CFR 1.4  Nature of correspondence and signature requirements.
*****
(b) Since each file must be complete in itself, a separate copy of
every paper to be filed in a patent, patent file, or other proceeding must be
furnished for each file to which the paper pertains, even though the contents
of the papers filed in two or more files may be identical. The filing of
duplicate copies of correspondence in the file of an application, patent, or
other proceeding should be avoided, except in situations in which the Office
requires the filing of duplicate copies. The Office may dispose of duplicate
copies of correspondence in the file of an application, patent, or other
proceeding.
*****
When the Office does not require duplicate copies of a paper, the filing
of multiple copies may cause a delay in processing by the Office. Accordingly, the
Office may discard duplicate copies of correspondence filed in an application or patent
file.

## Nearby sections

- [MPEP § 501 Filing Papers With the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S501.md)
- [MPEP § 502 Depositing Correspondence](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S502.md)
- [MPEP § 502.01 Correspondence Transmitted by Facsimile](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S502.01.md)
- [MPEP § 502.02 Correspondence Signature Requirements](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S502.02.md)
- [MPEP § 502.03 Communications via Internet Electronic Mail (email)](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S502.03.md)
- [MPEP § 502.04 Duplicate Copies of Correspondence](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S502.04.md)
- [MPEP § 502.05 Correspondence Transmitted by EFS-Web](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S502.05.md)
- [MPEP § 503 Application Number and Filing Receipt](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S503.md)
- [MPEP § 504 Assignment of Application for Examination](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S504.md)
- [MPEP § 505 Date of Receipt Stamp](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S505.md)
- [MPEP § 506 Completeness of Original Application](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S506.md)
- [MPEP § 506.01 [Reserved]](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S506.01.md)
- [MPEP § 506.02 Review of Refusal To Accord Filing Date](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S506.02.md)
- [MPEP § 507 Drawing Review in the Office of Patent Application Processing](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S507.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S502.04. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.