USPTO Launches Dedicated Help Desk for Sequence Listing Support in Patent Applications

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has introduced a specialized Sequence Listing Help Desk designed to support patent applicants, practitioners, and the public in preparing and filing sequence listings for patent applications involving biological sequences. This initiative is housed within the USPTO’s Scientific and Technical Information Center Library.

The Help Desk is staffed by personnel with extensive expertise in molecular biology and patent examination, ensuring a deep understanding of the sequence listing rules as set forth in the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Standards ST.25 and ST.26. These standards govern the formatting and submission of nucleotide and amino acid sequence listings in patent applications.

In addition to providing guidance on compliance with these standards, the Help Desk offers expert assistance in using key sequence listing authoring tools, including the WIPO Sequence Authoring Tool and PatentIn software. These tools facilitate the creation of sequence listings that meet USPTO and international requirements.

Applicants uncertain about whether their patent application requires a sequence listing under the applicable standards are encouraged to consult the USPTO’s Sequence Listing Resource Center. This online resource provides comprehensive information on preparing and filing sequence listings, updates on WIPO Standard 26 (ST.26), and other relevant materials for patent applications containing biosequences.

For personalized support, the USPTO invites users to contact the Sequence Listing Help Desk directly by phone at 571-272-2510 or via email at SequenceHelpDesk@uspto.gov.

The USPTO emphasizes that this initiative is educational and informational in nature. It does not constitute legal advice, nor does the office endorse any private entities or guarantee specific outcomes. References to third parties or events within the program do not imply endorsement by the USPTO.

Users experiencing difficulties accessing links in USPTO communications are advised to consult their IT or email administrators to "allow-list" specific domains such as links-1.govdelivery.com and links-2.govdelivery.com to ensure full access to content.

To stay informed about USPTO updates and resources, stakeholders can subscribe to regular email notifications via the USPTO subscription center at www.uspto.gov/subscribe, where they can also manage their email preferences.

The USPTO notes that communications are sent from unmonitored mailboxes. For inquiries or further contact, users should visit the USPTO’s official contact page at www.uspto.gov/about/contacts.

This new Help Desk represents the USPTO’s commitment to facilitating compliance with complex sequence listing requirements and supporting innovation in biotechnology patent filings.