Information requested from USPTO

From Patentbarquestions

[from MyPatentBar]

Company A gave their agent B, the competitor’s patent application number, and asked if the agent B could get the information on the competitor’s patent application;

whether it has been published and publication date. By telephoning the office, how do you get such information?

101 General

[...]When handling an incoming telephone call or an in person request for information regarding an unpublished pending or abandoned patent application,

no information should be disclosed until the identity of the requester can be adequately verified as set forth below. Particular care must be exercised

when a request is made for the publication date or publication number, or issue date and patent number assigned to a pending patent application.

If the publication or issue date is later than the current date (i.e., the date of the request), such information may be given only to the applicant,

or the assignee of record, or the attorney or agent of record.