When does the public gain access to a recorded assignment?

The correct understanding is that the public gains access to a recorded assignment when the patent application is published. The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) typically publishes patent applications 18 months after their earliest filing date, unless they are not subject to publication. At this point, the assignment is made accessible through the assignment records maintained by the USPTO. This means that once the assignment is recorded, it becomes public at the same time the associated patent application is published, allowing third parties to discover who holds the rights to the associated patent.

Other options do not align with the established procedure. The immediate recording of an assignment does not guarantee public access until the patent application is published. Notarization of the assignment is relevant for evidentiary purposes but is not a factor in determining when public access is granted. Lastly, the assertion that access is delayed for five years is inaccurate; records are available as soon as the related application is published.