By Donald Zuhn --
PTAB Introduces New Patent Review Processing System
In a post on the USPTO's "Director's Forum" blog, the Chief Judge for the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB), David P. Ruschke, announced that the PTAB was transitioning from the Patent Review Processing System (PRPS) e-filing system to the Patent Trial and Appeal Board End to End (PTAB E2E) system. The new system, which is accessed via a web browser -- the Chief Judge indicating that Chrome was the preferred browser -- allows petitioners and patent owners to provide metadata and upload pdf documents, and also provides an interface to the USPTO's Next Generation financial system (FPNG) for paying fees. The Chief Judge also noted that the new features of the PTAB E2E system include:
• full text document search
• metadata search
• additional search filters
• a dashboard that includes the most recent document upload activity and status of filed cases
• an improved docket
• easier navigation of AIA review papers and exhibits
• filter search on the docket
The first three features will be available to all external users, and the last three features will be available to external users using a login email address.
The PTAB E2E system will initially be used for Inter Partes Reviews (IPR), Covered Business Method Reviews (CBM), and Post Grant Reviews (PGR), with Derivations (DER) to be migrated to the system later this year. Links to the PTAB E2E system, a user manual, FAQs, and a quick reference guide can be found at the PTAB webpage. The PTAB is also asking customers to provide feedback regarding the new system; comments can be sent to [email protected].
USPTO Promotes AIR
In a video posted on YouTube last month, the U.S. Patent and Trademark provides a brief introduction to the USPTO's Automated Interview Request (AIR) tool and encourages customers to schedule Examiner Interviews (including video interviews) using the tool. We previously reported on AIR here. The video also informs customers about the Office's interview specialists, who are subject matter experts in interview practices and policies.
USPTO Updates Certificate of Mailing Form
Earlier this month, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office announced that an updated version of the "Certificate of Mailing under 37 CFR 1.8" form was now available on the Office's Patents Forms webpage. The updated PTO/SB/92 form, entitled "Certificate of Mailing or Transmission under 37 CFR 1.8," can be used as a certificate of mailing, certificate of facsimile transmission, or certificate of EFS-Web transmission. As a result of the introduction of the new form, the Office has retired the Certificate of Transmission under 37 CFR 1.8 form (i.e., PTO/SB/97).
"The new system, which is accessed via a web browser -- the Chief Judge indicating that Chrome was the preferred browser..."
Michelle Lee worked for Google. Coincidence?
Posted by: Atari Man | August 01, 2016 at 01:41 AM