USPTO Announces Interim Authentication Method for EFS-Web and Private PAIR
On September 13, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office announced via a Patent Alert e-mail that a new authentication option for EFS-Web and Private PAIR users will be made available next month. The interim authentication solution will provide a plug-in-free option for users to authenticate when using the EFS-Web or Private PAIR. By reducing the dependency on the Java Applet plug-in, the interim authentication method will provide users with more browser options until the Office can implement a permanent solution. EFS-Web and Private PAIR users who wish to authenticate with the new authentication option, which relies on Java Web Start technology, must have version 8 of the Java Runtime Environment (JRE) software installed.
USPTO to Offer New PAIR Download Features
Earlier this summer, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office announced via a Patent Alert e-mail that new download features will be offered within Private PAIR under the Image File Wrapper (IFW) tab, the View Outgoing Correspondence Search, and View e-Office Action Notifications. The new download features, which are part of the Office's eMod Project, will provide stakeholders with XML and DOCX download options. Additional information regarding the eMod Project can be found here.
USPTO Provides PAIR Access to Global Dossier
In June, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office announced via a Patents Alert e-mail that stakeholders can now access the Global Dossier through Public and Private PAIR via a Global Dossier hyperlink. The Office noted that the hyperlink will only be available when viewing a publicly available utility application filed under 35 U.S.C. § 111(a) or a publicly available national stage application submitted under 35 U.S.C. § 371. Additional information regarding the Global Dossier can be found here.
USPTO Sends Reminder Regarding Corrected Web-ADS and Enhanced Initial Web-ADS
Earlier this summer, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office distributed a Patents Alert e-mail reminding stakeholders about the Corrected Web-ADS and Enhanced Initial Web-ADS features that were implemented in December 2015. Both features are available via the EFS-Web. The Office noted that since the features were implemented, more than 8,000 ADS submissions have been submitted using the Enhanced Web-ADS feature and more than 5,000 Corrected ADS submissions have been submitted using the Corrected/Updated Web-ADS feature.
The Corrected Web-based Application Data Sheet (Corrected Web ADS) feature allows registered eFilers to submit a corrected/updated ADS pursuant to 37 C.F.R. § 1.76(c)(2), in which changes will be identified with underlining for insertions and strike-through for deletions. Using this feature, an eFiler can readily generate and attach a corrected/updated ADS PDF to an EFS-Web submission. A Quick Start Guide for this feature can be found here.
The Enhanced Initial Web-based Application Data Sheet (Web ADS) feature provides eFilers with the option to import Inventor information, Domestic Benefit/National Stage data, and/or Foreign Priority data from one or more parent applications when completing ar Web ADS submission. A Quick Start Guide for this feature can be found here.
