# 37 CFR § 102.3: Records under FOIA

> Federal · Regulations · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-37-102.3

## Section

- **Citation:** 37 CFR § 102.3
- **Heading:** Records under FOIA
- **Jurisdiction:** Federal
- **Kind:** Regulations
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** September 22, 2026
- **Source:** Publisher's official text
- **Location:** Title 37—Patents, Trademarks, and Copyrights > CHAPTER I—UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE > SUBCHAPTER B—ADMINISTRATION > PART 102—DISCLOSURE OF GOVERNMENT INFORMATION > Subpart A—Freedom of Information Act

## Text

(a) Records under FOIA include all Government records, regardless of format, medium or physical characteristics, and include electronic records and information, audiotapes, videotapes, and photographs.
(b) There is no obligation to create, compile, or obtain from outside USPTO a record to satisfy a FOIA request. With regard to electronic data, the issue of whether records are created or merely extracted from an existing database is not always apparent. When responding to FOIA requests for electronic data where creation of a record or programming becomes an issue, USPTO shall undertake reasonable efforts to search for the information in electronic format.
(c) USPTO officials may, upon request, create and provide new information pursuant to user fee statutes, such as the first paragraph of 15 U.S.C. 1525, or in accordance with authority otherwise provided by law. This is outside the scope of FOIA.
(d) The FOIA Officer shall preserve all correspondence pertaining to the requests received under this subpart, as well as copies of all requested records, until disposition or destruction is authorized by Title 44 of the United States Code or a National Archives and Records Administration's General Records Schedule. The FOIA Officer shall not dispose of records while they are the subject of a pending request, appeal, or lawsuit under FOIA.

## Nearby sections

- [37 CFR § 102.1 § 102.1 General.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-37-102.1.md)
- [37 CFR § 102.2 § 102.2 Public reference facilities.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-37-102.2.md)
- [37 CFR § 102.3 § 102.3 Records under FOIA.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-37-102.3.md)
- [37 CFR § 102.4 § 102.4 Requirements for making requests.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-37-102.4.md)
- [37 CFR § 102.5 § 102.5 Responsibility for responding to requests.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-37-102.5.md)
- [37 CFR § 102.6 § 102.6 Time limits and expedited processing.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-37-102.6.md)
- [37 CFR § 102.7 § 102.7 Responses to requests.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-37-102.7.md)
- [37 CFR § 102.9 § 102.9 Business Information.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-37-102.9.md)
- [37 CFR § 102.10 § 102.10 Appeals from initial determinations or untimely delays.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-37-102.10.md)
- [37 CFR § 102.11 § 102.11 Fees.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-37-102.11.md)
- [37 CFR § 102.21 § 102.21 Purpose and scope.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-37-102.21.md)
- [37 CFR § 102.22 § 102.22 Definitions.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-37-102.22.md)
- [37 CFR § 102.23 § 102.23 Procedures for making inquiries.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-37-102.23.md)
- [37 CFR § 102.24 § 102.24 Procedures for making requests for records.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-37-102.24.md)

---

Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-37-102.3. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.