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The folder in which the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office maintains the application papers is referred to as a file wrapper.
Papers that do not become a permanent part of the record should not be entered on the "Contents" of the file wrapper. All papers legally entered on the "Contents" of the file wrapper are given a paper number. No paper legally entered on the "Contents" should ever be withdrawn or returned to applicant, especially a part of the original disclosure of the application, without special authority of the Commissioner. However, 37 CFR 1.59 provides that certain documents may be returned to applicant if they were unintentionally submitted or contain proprietary information which has not been made public and is not important to a decision of patentability. See MPEP § 724. Certain oaths executed abroad may be returned but a copy is retained in the file. See MPEP § 604.04(a).
Form paragraph 7.214 may be used to notify applicant that papers in an application that has received a filing date ordinarily will not be returned.
Papers in an application that has received a filing date pursuant to 37 CFR 1.53 ordinarily will not be returned. If applicant has not preserved copies of the papers, the Office will furnish copies at applicant's expense. See 37 CFR 1.19 for a list of the current fees. See MPEP § 724.05 for information pertaining to petitions to expunge information.
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