Patents – Page 77 – Ant-Like Persistence

December 11, 2017

A new Best Practice – reporting docx

A year ago or so, the USPTO started a beta-test of its system in which docx files play an important role. In the best-test system, an applicant was permitted to file a patent application in docx format rather than PDF format. Likewise, the applicant had the opportunity to receive some documents from the USPTO in docx format in addition to PDF format. Our firm was among the beta-testers of this docx system.

Now, as of September 10, 2017, these features have been made available to all USPTO customers (not merely the beta-test users). This offers a new Best Practice for reporting to clients.

Continue reading “A new Best Practice – reporting docx”

December 6, 2017

ISA/RU search fee for US filers increases today

It will be recalled (see blog post of November 3, 2017) that the search fee to be paid by a US filer selecting ISA/RU was scheduled for a fee increase today, December 6, 2017.

The fee increase, from $482 to $698, has indeed taken place.

You do not need to worry about accidentally paying the incorrect fee amount, because EFS-Web and ePCT have both been updated to reflect this new fee amount.

As of today the various searching authorities available to those who file in RO/US, ranked by the amount of the search fee, are:

EP – $2238
US – $2080
AU – $1688
SG – $1552
JP – $1372
KR – $1114
US – $1040 (small entity)
IL – $963
RU – $698
US – $520 (micro entity)

There are many factors in addition to price which a filer might wish to take into account when selecting an International Searching Authority.

November 29, 2017

Time to first Office Action in PPH?

A blog reader posted this comment recently:

I’m less interested in how long it takes to get PPH decisions, and more interested in how long it takes to get a first Office Action when using PPH. It doesn’t help my client to be able to say that an application is on the PPH track. It helps my client to have an issued patent. Do you know of any data regarding this? I don’t see anything useful at https://www.uspto.gov/corda/dashboards/patents/main.dashxml

This reader is correct that the USPTO dashboard is silent on this particular delay, namely how long it takes, after the grant of a PPH petition, to receive a first Office Action.

We’ve tracked such pendency over many hundreds of PPH cases on our docket. I’ll try to answer the reader’s question and offer some practice tips.

Continue reading “Time to first Office Action in PPH?”

November 26, 2017

ePCT webinar Tuesday

This coming Tuesday is the third of a four-part series of webinars about ePCT.

Part 3. Follow-on filings.

Best Practice for doing a 92bis change as an Action.

Best Practice for doing an Article 19 Amendment as an Action.

Best Practice for filing a Demand.

For more information or to register, click here.

November 20, 2017

A chance to save a little money on PCT search fees

Readers will recall (perhaps from my blog post of October 13) that the search fee for ISA/EP will increase (for US filers) on December 1, 2017. This offers an opportunity to save a little money. If your client is planning to file a PCT application in the next week or two, and is planning to pick ISA/EP, consider filing it on November 30 rather than December 1. This will save $139 in search fees.

November 14, 2017

Imminent opportunities to learn about ePCT

The first of four webinars about ePCT will take place starting in about eight hours. Here are the dates and topics: Continue reading “Imminent opportunities to learn about ePCT”

November 14, 2017

Brazil will soon join DAS

On December 1, 2017, Brazil will join the DAS system. Brazil’s participation will be as a “depositing Office”. Here is an example of how this participation will benefit patent applicants. Continue reading “Brazil will soon join DAS”

November 8, 2017

Attorney client privilege and the US patent process

In a refreshing bit of clarity, the USPTO published a final rule yesterday settling the status of persons who represent clients before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board.

Continue reading “Attorney client privilege and the US patent process”

November 7, 2017

Webinars to learn about ePCT

Those who handle pending US patent applications are well aware that it is impossible to carry out one’s work competently without knowing how to use Private PAIR to view pending US patent applications and to check the status of such applications. Likewise one needs to know how to use EFS-Web to file new patent applications and to file follow-on papers.

ePCT is the mechanism for viewing pending PCT applications and for checking the status of such applications. ePCT is an important part of the filing of new PCT patent applications and is a crucial part of the filing of follow-on papers in PCT applications.

It is thus extremely important to learn how to use ePCT. ePCT is extraordinarily feature rich. Here are four webinars which together will explore the 20% or so of the ePCT features which you will use 80% of the time. Continue reading “Webinars to learn about ePCT”

November 5, 2017

Time returns to normal for WIPO filings

As I reported a week ago, the usual autumn thing happened with time zones. A week ago Europe “fell back” with daylight saving time.

Now today the US also “fell back”.

For the past week, US filers had an extra hour available to get a same-day filing date for filings at WIPO. A US filer could file as late as 5PM (Mountain Time) instead of the usual 4PM, and get a same-day filing date.

Now it is back to normal. The time of day to keep in mind is once again 4PM Mountain Time.