[Patentcenter] USPTO timestamp

[Neil R. Ormos]

Randall Svihla wrote:
> [Watt, Rachel S. wrote:]

>> I'm filing an application in docx
>> format. Looking at the USPTO feedback document,
>> their timestamp on their comments is 5 hours
>> ahead (I'm in EST).

>> Is this an issue? What if I was filing at 11:00
>> pm EST?

> Obviously they are using GMT.  Why are they
> using GMT?  The system they are using to check
> the DOCX document for errors must be running on
> GMT.  Maybe it's in the UK or Ireland?  Although
> I would think foreign export laws would prevent
> that.  

To the extent the PTO displays or prints its local time in other contexts, and to the extent the official time at the USPTO is some form of Eastern Time, it would be reasonable for the PTO to indicate the time zone next to any time it renders that does not conform to Eastern Time.  (Well, actually, the PTO should provide the time zone next to every time it renders, since the cost of doing so is zero and there's at least some benefit in eliminating ambiguity.)

> As far as how does it affect the filing
> date, who knows?  Call the EBC and ask them.

How could anything the EBC might say help a filer?