USPTO News: USPTO e-Commerce Update

    By Christopher P. Singer --

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office sent out an e-Commerce update on June 26, 2008 that provided information regarding the release of enhancements to Private PAIR and Public PAIR, the indexing of request documents for the Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH), and access to design patent applications using the Priority Document Exchange (PDX).

Private and Public PAIR Enhancements

The USPTO plans to release Private PAIR 7.3/7.4 and Public PAIR 3.1 on July 4, 2008.  The enhancements include several updates such as e-Office Action Pilot Program improvements to the e-mail notifications, which will now list the IFW document code and mailroom date, in addition to the application number and Attorney Docket Number.  This, of course, is only meaningful to participants in the e-Office Action Pilot Program.  You can register for the e-Office Action Pilot Program by e-mailing your request to participate and Customer Numbers to the PAIR team at [email protected].  Improvements are also being made to National Stage Entry Application and Status Data, PAIR Text Messages that will notify users regarding urgent messages, and a new PAIR Announcement Tab for easy reviewing of recent PAIR-related announcements.  More information relating to the PAIR enhancements can be found here.

Indexing Patent Prosecution Highway Request Documents

When submitting a Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) Request, all documents should be indexed as "Petition to Make Special under Patent Pros Hwy," with the exceptions of preliminary amendments and information disclosure statements (IDSs), which should be indexed as usual.  More information about PPH can be found here.

Priority Document Exchange (PDX)

The Priority Document Exchange (PDX) program does not include design patent applications.  Japanese and European design applications are located in electronic systems separate from the utility applications, which are not accessible via PDX.

The EBC Customer Service Center is also available to answer your specific questions about EFS-Web, PAIR, PKI, or any other aspect of the e-Commerce initiative.  You can contact the EBC by phone at 866-217-9197 (toll-free) or 571-272-4100 or by an e-mail at: [email protected].