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What’s so great about ePCT?

A member of the PCT listserv asks:

Am I missing something about what is so great about preparing an PCT application package via ePCT?

For most all of my PCT applications, I have to file with the RO/US and elect the ISA/US. Thus, in such a situation, I understand that the only thing ePCT is good for is to prepare the Zip file as one has to use EFS-Web to file the Zip file, the application papers, and pay the fees.

To me, the ePCT interface is cumbersome, more so than the PCT-Safe software.

So, I don’t understand what is so great about ePCT… Can someone enlighten me?

My comments are below. Continue reading “What’s so great about ePCT?”

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Today is the day that PDX changes for Japan

It will be recalled that recently the USPTO announced that it will change the way that electronic certified copies of priority documents are transmitted between the USPTO and the Japanese Patent Office.  The change takes effect today.  Among other things, this will affect how you complete your Application Data Sheet to present a priority claim to a Japanese patent application.

You can read about it in my blog post from September 24, 2017.

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Getting a faxed Foreign Filing License from the USPTO

(Note that this article was posted in 2017.  The reader should bring himself or herself up to date before proceeding.  For example the MPEP now adds a different and supposedly “preferred” fax number.  And the amount of the government fee has changed.)

Many readers doubtless already know how to get a faxed Foreign Filing License from the USPTO.  But a recent posting on the EFS-Web listserv prompts me to post this article describing the Best Practice for such a request. Continue reading “Getting a faxed Foreign Filing License from the USPTO”

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Upcoming opportunities to learn about PCT

There are quite a few upcoming opportunities to learn about the Patent Cooperation Treaty.

Of course a very good way to learn of upcoming learning opportunities about PCT is to check the PCT Seminar Calendar at the web site of WIPO. WIPO updates this calendar frequently.

Upcoming programs include:

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SSL web site protection free of charge

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We know the many reasons why it is good for a web site to be SSL protected (see the padlock in the purple oval at right).  Reasons include:

  • an eavesdropper cannot see the information flowing back and forth
  • Search engines such as Google give higher page rankings

(I have blogged about the importance of SSL protection here and here and here.)  Why doesn’t everyone secure every web site with SSL?  One reason might be cost.  To secure a web site with SSL, it is necessary to obtain an SSL certificate from a Certificate Authority.  The company we have traditionally used for obtaining SSL certificates charges $56 per year for a basic SSL certificate.

I was astonished, however, to learn recently that there is a free-of-charge Certificate Authority!  Our firm operates quite a few web sites, and I am delighted that we will save some money in recurring costs by using the free-of-charge CA. Continue reading “SSL web site protection free of charge”