Patent Center, the US patent database, adopts higher-level security measures

Starting September 11, 2025, all users of the USPTO Patent Center will be required to verify their identity. At that time, any visitors to the USPTO Patent Center and unregistered users will be unable to access the Patent Center. To ensure a smooth experience, current and future users are advised to register as soon as possible.

In March 2025, the USPTO announced that users could verify their identities through the ID.me verification platform. Using ID.me improves security while enabling users to complete verification and gain access to the Patent Center on the same day, streamlining the verification process and reducing wait times for access to the Patent Center.

It is important to note that the ID.me platform is not the only authentication method available to Patent Center users. Users can still choose to mail in the Patent Electronic System Verification Form to verify their identity and gain access to the Patent Center and its accompanying features.