To access any of the services below, click the respective link or send us an email.

• Attend an upcoming Eastern regional event or one of our USPTO headquarters events
• Consult on-site patent and trademark experts
• Pick up free guides and booklets on intellectual property
• Use our Speaker request form to have us talk at your event, or call 571-270-7100

Trying to file a patent or trademark application? We can direct you to the hand-carry window, but please consider using our Patent Center for online filing. More information is available on our website: filing patent applications or filing trademark applications. 

• For patent or general intellectual property questions, we have on-site staff available to meet with you Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET.
• For trademark specific questions, we can arrange a consultation with the Trademark Assistance Center (TAC) at our headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET.

Patent Trial and Appeal Board

The Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) is located at our headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia. The PTAB conducts trials, including inter partes, post-grant, and covered business method patent reviews and derivation proceedings, hears appeals from adverse examiner decisions in patent applications and reexamination proceedings, and renders decisions in interferences.

The Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) re-established in-person hearings in July 2022 at the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) headquarters in Alexandria, VA, and at all USPTO regional offices.  

• Parties have the option to appear virtually for appeals and trials. 
• Most in-person hearings will likely have one or more judges attending virtually. 
• PTAB will only conduct an in-person hearing when requested by all parties. 
• Specific details of each hearing may vary, and will be subject to hearing room availability, agency operating status, and guidelines. Parties should refer to their Scheduling Orders and Hearing Orders for details.
• For public access to a PTAB hearing, either virtual or in-person, submit a request to PTABHearings@uspto.gov at least 3 days before the hearing.
• For more information about PTAB oral hearings, please contact PTABHearings@uspto.gov or call 571-272-9797.

PTAB homepage

Need to search our vast collection of patents and technical databases? The Eastern Regional Outreach Office can provide you with instructions to access the USPTO's Public Search Facility. The search room is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday, except federal holidays. Trained Staff are available to assist users with questions during the hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday. Self-service access is permitted between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. ET.

Please be aware that you will not be able to connect a removable media device—such as a thumb drive or your personal phone—to our USPTO computers for the purpose of downloading your search results. Please see the USPTO removable media policy for more information.

Are you new to patent or trademark searching? We encourage you to find a Patent and Trademark Resource Center (PTRC) near you. PTRC librarians are trained by the USPTO to provide an introduction to the patent and trademark application process. The USPTO collections can also be searched online using Patent Public Search for patents and trademark search system for trademarks.

At USPTO headquarters, we have collaboration spaces intended for public use. These rooms may be configured to suit events of all sizes and are equipped with whiteboards, easels, telephones, and A/V equipment. Typical uses include inventor organization meetings, business councils, and networking events. Please contact us for more information and to reserve a space.

As the Eastern Regional Outreach Director, Elizabeth Dougherty carries out the strategic direction of the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO. Focusing on the 17 states within this region, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, Ms. Dougherty actively engages with the community and ensures the USPTO’s initiatives and programs are tailored to the Eastern United States' unique ecosystem of industries and stakeholders. She is available to speak at your event, speak with your team, or talk to students in your classroom. More...

Eastern Regional Office Outreach Officer: Tomeka Oubichon

The Eastern Regional Outreach Office is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday, excluding federal holidays. We are located within the Madison West Building of USPTO headquarters, identifiable by its soaring glass atrium. 

Our address:

600 Dulany Street
Alexandria, Virginia 22314

Email: EasternRegionalOutreachOffice@uspto.gov 
Phone: 571-270-7100

Please find more information, including transportation and parking, a campus map, and rules and regulations for visiting us on our USPTO headquarters page.