The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) recently announced that effective March 9, 2026, it will no longer automatically mail courtesy ceremonial copies of patent grants to applicants. Instead, applicants must opt in to receive a ceremonial copy—a change aimed at improving efficiency, reducing costs, and minimizing paper waste.
Since transitioning to fully electronic patent grants in April 2023, the USPTO has been mailing a complimentary ceremonial copy for each electronically issued patent to help stakeholders adapt to the transition. These ceremonial copies are bound commemorative items featuring the USPTO Director's signature and seal, while the electronic version remains the official legal patent grant.
Under the new rules, patent applications for which the issue fee is paid on or after March 9, 2026, will not automatically receive a paper ceremonial copy. Applicants who wish to obtain one must actively opt in at the time of issue fee payment. This can be done by checking a new box on the PTOL-85b Notice of Allowance form (for those mailed on or after March 9, 2026) or by selecting the corresponding option when paying the issue fee online via Patent Center. If an applicant inadvertently fails to check the box at the time of payment, they may still opt in by emailing eGrants@uspto.gov with the patent number by June 9, 2026. One free ceremonial copy will be mailed to the correspondence address of record per patent. Duplicate copies are not currently available.
It is important to note that applications for which the issue fee is paid before March 9, 2026, will still receive a ceremonial copy automatically, with no opt-in required. The official electronic patent grant can be accessed through Patent Center. In addition, the USPTO continues to offer for-fee presentation copies—certified copies of the first page of a patent, suitable for framing and display, complete with a special ribbon and seal. In the future, ceremonial copies will also be available for purchase at the Certified Copy Center for a nominal fee.
This change reflects the USPTO's ongoing commitment to digital transformation and environmentally sustainable practices. Applicants are encouraged to take note of the effective date and ensure timely action if they wish to receive a ceremonial copy.
Source: https://www.uspto.gov/sites/default/files/documents/og-ceremonial-opt-in-Feb2026.pdf
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