By Christopher P. Singer --
An e-Commerce e-Alert sent out today by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office contained information regarding the upcoming release of new EFS-Web 1.3 enhancements; the availability of all M.P.E.P . Editions; EFS-Web indexing hints for provisional application cover sheets; and tips for submitting images in EFS-Web.
New EFS-Web 1.3 Enhancements
EFS-Web 1.3 is scheduled to be released during the week of February 17th and will include new features, several of which are based on EFS-Web user requests. The enhanced features include a new auto-process petition, which will allow a filer to submit an age-based Petition to Make Special that will be electronically processed; and form-fillable PDF documents that are compatible with Adobe version 8.1.1. A complete list of the enhancements associated with EFS-Web 1.3 can be found here.
All Editions of M.P.E.P. Available in PDF Format
As previously reported by Patent Docs and others, the USPTO has made all prior editions and revisions of the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure (M.P.E.P.) available in PDF format. Early versions (pre-6th Ed.) which had been available only on microfilm have been converted to PDF format and are now available here.
EFS-Web Indexing: Provisional Cover Sheet Document Description
For practitioners filing Provisional Patent Applications using EFS-Web, the PTO and Electronic Business Center (EBC) ask that, when filing, you index the cover sheet using the document description "Provisional Cover Sheet (SB/16)." Of course, as an alternative to (or in addition to) the provisional cover sheet, an applicant can file an Application Data Sheet (ADS). However, if you do file with a cover sheet, the PTO asks that you do not select "Transmittal of a New Application" as the document description, as this is an incorrect document description that will cause delays in processing the application.
Submission of Images in EFS-Web
Interestingly, the Office announced (or reminded us?) that PAIR is only capable of displaying portrait orientation and grayscale images. Consequently, EFS-Web users should avoid submitting landscape-oriented drawings by EFS-Web. Evidently, PAIR automatically converts the image to portrait and grayscale, which can cause the landscape/color images to be distorted upon viewing. The only exception to this in EFS-Web based filings is for submission of color images for Design applications.
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