human: Do the signature requirements of 37 CFR 1.4(d) apply to assignments that are attached to 37 CFR 3.73(b) papers supporting the right of the assignee to take action pursuant to 37 CFR 3.71 in an application or patent?
assistant: No. An assignee, for example may take over the prosecution of an application, pursuant to 37 CFR 3.71(a) provided that it establishes ownership of the application to the satisfaction of the Director. See 37 CFR 3.73(b)(1). Such ownership may be established by submitting a copy of an executed assignment, 37 CFR 3.73(b)(1)(i), or a statement specifying the reel and frame number of where the assignment is recorded in the Office, 37 CFR 3.73(b)(1)(ii). As noted in B9, an assignment need not comply with the signature requirements of § 1.4(d), as compliance is required only for the cover sheet submitting the assignment. Similarly, the actual request by an assignee to conduct prosecution must comply with the signature requirements of 37 CFR 1.4(d), but a supporting unrecorded copy of an assignment, pursuant to 37 CFR 3.73(b)(1)(i), need not comply with the signature requirements of § 1.4(d). Note that the assignee could, in the alternative, have recorded a signature non-compliant assignment (so long as the cover sheet was signature compliant) and made reference thereto pursuant to 37 CFR 3.73(b)(1)(ii). In other words, an assignment document itself is not governed by the signature requirements of § 1.4(d)(2) because that would concern the validity of the assignment document, which the Office generally does not evaluate. Nevertheless, if the Director is not satisfied that ownership has been established (due to a suspect signature on the underlying assignment), then the purported assignee will not be permitted to control the prosecution. Thus, for example,. an electronic signature may be utilized on the assignment that does not comply with the requirements of 37 CFR 1.4(d)(2). Should, however, a handwritten signature on an attached assignment not appear to be in permanent dark ink or its equivalent, the lack of compliance with 37 CFR 1.4(d)(1) may cause the Office to question the authenticity of the document for purposes of establishing the right of a particular assignee to take the action requested. Applicants are reminded that 37 CFR 1.4(d)(4) provides for specific certifications made upon the presentation of any paper or document to the Office.