(a) The United States Patent and Trademark Office will act as a Designated Office or Elected Office for international applications in which the United States of America has been designated or elected as a State in which patent protection is desired.
(b) The United States Patent and Trademark Office, when acting as a Designated Office or Elected Office during international processing will be identified by the full title ``United States Designated Office'' or by the abbreviation ``DO/US'' or by the full title ``United States Elected Office'' or by the abbreviation ``EO/US''.
(c) The major functions of the United States Designated Office or Elected Office in respect to international applications in which the United States of America has been designated or elected, include:
(1) Receiving various notifications throughout the international stage and
(2) National stage processing for international applications entering the national stage under 35 U.S.C. 371. [52 FR 20047, May 28, 1987, as amended at 77 FR 48823, Aug. 14, 2012]