New Users - PAIR Registration

The Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) project allows independent inventors, registered attorneys and patent agents to securely access their own patent application status information as well as other general patent information publicly available. To accomplish this, several pieces of information must be correlated to assure that you and only you have access to your data. This page describes the steps you must perform to help us connect you to your data.

View System Requirements

I.
First, you must have a customer number. For instructions on obtaining a customer number please see Obtaining Customer Numbers and Digital Certificates.

II.
If you are a registered attorney or patent agent, then your registration number must be associated with your customer number. This is accomplished by updating the customer number information. If you have a Customer Number and you need to update the information associated with it, please download and complete the Customer Number Data Change Form and fax to the Electronic Business Center Help Desk at (703) 308-2840.

Patent & PCT Forms - Related Documents: Paper Work Reduction Act [4k PDF Document] Privacy Act [HTML Web Page]

Click here to read about the process for becoming a registered attorney or patent agent; however, this is not required to be a PAIR participant..

III.
Once you have your customer number, you must also associate your current patent applications with it. Please see the instruction sheet showing how to put this information into spreadsheet format. This information must be sent on a diskette to Mail Stop EBC: Customer Number; Commissioner for Patents; P.O. Box 1450; Alexandria, VA 22313-1450.

IV.
After you have obtained your Customer Number and you have read the Subscriber Agreement, you can complete the Certificate Action Form (PAIR access form). The Certificate Action Form must be notarized, then you can mail the applications with the original signatures to Mail Stop EBC; Commissioner for Patents; P.O. Box 1450; Alexandria, VA 22313-1450. We cannot accept a fax or copy.

This information will be used to generate a certificate that will be used to uniquely identify you and allow secure access to your data. To assure the security of your data, follow the policy described in the Subscriber Agreement.

Certificate Action Form - Related Documents: Instructions [7k PDF Document] Paper Work Reduction Act [4k PDF Document] Privacy Act [7k PDF Document]

V.
After your application has been approved you will receive two codes, an Authorization Code will be sent by mail and the Reference Number via e-mail. At this point you will be able to download software for PAIR and take advantage of electronic filing of patent applications or patent application status checks via the internet.Download software from web site [approximately 3 megs]

VI.
To install the software run the "setup.exe" file. During installation you will be required to input the Reference Number and the Authorization Code provided to you. You will also be asked to create a password for USPTO/DIRECT access.

VII.
You are now set up to participate in PAIR, you will be able to look up status on the applications associated with your Customer Number. Any new applications filed with the USPTO should be filed with the Customer Number in order for you to be able to access information on them with PAIR. The PAIR system may be started by clicking on the "USPTO Direct" icon now located on your desktop.

If you have further questions about the Electronic Business Center please browse the Frequently Asked Questions page.

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