[Patentcenter] New Patent Center Bug?

Tue Nov 7 22:07:03 UTC 2023

I also have two issues that I didn’t see on the list but, maybe I missed them and my apologies if these are repeats.  They are more minor but still, would be helpful to have fixed.

  1.  At one point there was an opportunity to sort your uploaded documents into your preferred order.  It worked for a while and then they did a big update (was it March?) and now we can no longer put the docs in our preferred and organized manner.  Are they ever going to bring that feature back? It’s very annoying to have to load docs one at a time (like we had to do in EFS) if we want them in a particular order.  I thought part of the appeal for using Patent Center was that we can drag and drop or load several docs at once, but now when you do that, they have to be in whatever forced order Patent Center decides instead of the more organized manner you may want them to be in for reviewing before submission.

  1.  The preview screens in Patent Center aren’t very helpful in their current state.  If it’s a Word doc printed to PDF, and some simple USPTO forms (i.e. POA transmittal), the preview seems to generally work ok.  However, the ADS you have to download and can’t preview at all.  The SB-08 form, doesn’t load all the information on the form in the preview mode and some PDF docs come up looking half blank.  The few instances I’ve come across were foreign publications, in particular, publications from countries like CN, JP and KR.  You still have to “download all” to be able to proof anything that is loaded, so I’m not sure what good or how helpful the preview mode/screen are.  Also, it would be helpful if you could move the previewed document to another screen to proof against the biblio information in Patent Center but, you can’t. The doc has to be downloaded.  You just can’t rely or do much with the current preview option.  Hopefully this is being worked on?

Thanks all and good luck next week!
Victoria

From: Patentcenter <patentcenter-bounces at oppedahl-lists.com> On Behalf Of Alan Taboada via Patentcenter
Sent: Tuesday, November 7, 2023 4:36 PM
To: patentcenter at oppedahl-lists.com
Cc: Alan Taboada <ataboada at mtiplaw.com>
Subject: Re: [Patentcenter] New Patent Center Bug?

I looked through the Patent Center Trouble Ticket list and did not see this one.

In short, when filing a new application and uploading an ADS without the small entity size box being checked, Patent Center indicates that small entity is selected and defaults to small entity fees, which might be paid in error.
EFS-Web does not have same issue.

Background/details are as follows:

In preparation for being forced to use Patent Center, one of our staff was uploading a test provisional patent application and noticed that, although the small entity box was not checked in the ADS, the fees defaulted to small entity.
The fees page allowed us to click and select the undiscounted, large entity fees, but an unwary filer could inadvertenly pay the wrong fees if they are not paying close attention.

To confirm and test the issue, I went into Patent Center in a different computer and using a different browser and uploaded a new provisional patent application with an ADS and noticed the same error.
I also uploaded a new non-provisional patent application with a different ADS and noticed the same error again.
In both cases, the preview screen noted that small entity was claimed even though the small entity box was not selected in either ADS.

[side note: we also get the naming convention error because our docket system saves the ADS with an uppercase filename extension.]

This happened using Chrome and Firefox browsers on different computers and different users.

I downloaded the most recent ADS form from the USPTO and compared it to the sample form having the error and both are same version (PTO/AIA/14 (01-22)).

The ADS’s yielding the error were automatically filled using our docketing system (Foundation IP).
As a test, I manually typed sample information into the downloaded USPTO form and uploaded it to patent center.
The ADS with the manually entered data did not result in the same error.
Thus, perhaps the error is somehow related to the data being entered into and saved in the ADS by our docket system.

To be sure, this error does not occur (and has never occurred) using EFS-Web despite the docket system entering data into the ADS over the past several years.

Not sure if any others have seen this before, but it is something to be wary of.

From: Patentcenter <patentcenter-bounces at oppedahl-lists.com<mailto:patentcenter-bounces at oppedahl-lists.com>> On Behalf Of Doreen Trujillo via Patentcenter
Sent: Tuesday, November 7, 2023 3:26 PM
To: patentcenter at oppedahl-lists.com<mailto:patentcenter at oppedahl-lists.com>
Cc: Doreen Trujillo <DTrujillo at vlplawgroup.com<mailto:DTrujillo at vlplawgroup.com>>
Subject: Re: [Patentcenter] LMAO! - November 15th

From the blog:

“We’re not stopping here. Since its launch six years ago, we’ve rigorously tested Patent Center and made improvements based on your feedback. We will continue to use your input to enhance the system’s functionality. If you have a suggestion or an idea for new functionality or performance improvement send them to emod at uspto.gov<https://protect-us.mimecast.com/s/Yn0zCR6j9WtN67NF9efyJ?domain=link.edgepilot.com/>. We review these ideas weekly.

Retiring our legacy EFS-Web and Private PAIR systems ensures that we are better protecting confidential application materials and investing patent user fees responsibly. Maintaining these legacy systems during the development and testing of Patent Center made sense to ensure there was no interruption in service. Patent Center is now ready to become the sole system, and it is time to turn off the legacy systems so we can reinvest recovered resources into developing your ideas for new functionality and performance improvements.”

Doreen

[cid:image001.png at 01DA119A.4C7012E0]
Doreen Y. Trujillo
Partner | VLP Law Group LLP
Southeastern Pennsylvania| Blue Bell, PA
Office: +1 (267) 358-6839
Email: dtrujillo at VLPLawGroup.com<mailto:dtrujillo at VLPLawGroup.com>

From: Patentcenter <patentcenter-bounces at oppedahl-lists.com<mailto:patentcenter-bounces at oppedahl-lists.com>> On Behalf Of Suzannah K. Sundby via Patentcenter
Sent: Tuesday, November 7, 2023 3:17 PM
To: patentcenter at oppedahl-lists.com<mailto:patentcenter at oppedahl-lists.com>
Cc: Suzannah K. Sundby <suzannah at canadylortz.com<mailto:suzannah at canadylortz.com>>
Subject: [Patentcenter] LMAO! - November 15th

Aha aha hee ah hee ha.

Like in SIX business days, the USPTO is going to actually fix all the problems with PatentCenter (of course, without breaking other things… as is the usual SOP)…

Suzannah K. Sundby<https://protect-us.mimecast.com/s/vi0tCVOn61HMJOMszITs3?domain=link.edgepilot.com/> | Partner
canady + lortz LLP<https://protect-us.mimecast.com/s/iyNYCW6o42t0El0sKUBmK?domain=link.edgepilot.com/>
1050 30th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20007
T: 202.486.8020
F: 202.540.8020
suzannah at canadylortz.com<mailto:suzannah at canadylortz.com>
https://link.edgepilot.com/s/2cf14686/EqJTwkR6nkSLie7YBNzt3A?u=http://www.canadylortz.com/<https://protect-us.mimecast.com/s/iyNYCW6o42t0El0sKUBmK?domain=link.edgepilot.com/>
Confidentiality Notice:  This message is being sent by or on behalf of a lawyer.  It is intended exclusively for the individual or entity to which it is addressed.  This communication may contain information that is proprietary, privileged or confidential, or otherwise legally exempt from disclosure.  If you are not the named addressee, you may not read, print, retain, copy, or disseminate this message or any part.  If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender immediately by e-mail and delete all copies of the message.

From: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office <subscriptioncenter at subscriptions.uspto.gov<mailto:subscriptioncenter at subscriptions.uspto.gov>>
Sent: Tuesday, November 7, 2023 3:04 PM
To: Suzannah K. Sundby <suzannah at canadylortz.com<mailto:suzannah at canadylortz.com>>
Subject: Update: November 15 new transition date for Patent Center replacing legacy systems EFS-Web and Private PAIR

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page<https://protect-us.mimecast.com/s/PNHBCXDp43tmQpmhkRTTk?domain=link.edgepilot.com>.

[https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/fancy_images/USPTO/2022/10/6650664/qa_original.png]

Patent Alert
[US Patent and Trademark Office]

Update: November 15 new transition date for Patent Center replacing legacy systems EFS-Web and Private PAIR

As we announced in September, as part of our modernization efforts to provide more extensible technology and functionality, the EFS-Web and Private Patent Application Information Retrieval (Private PAIR) tools are being retired after their decades of use as electronic filing and application management systems for our Patents customers.

Starting November 15, 2023, the Patent Center system will fully replace EFS-Web and Private PAIR. Please read our latest blog<https://protect-us.mimecast.com/s/UHwqCZ6rj5tz6OzSPW7qy?domain=link.edgepilot.com> from Commissioner for Patents Vaishali Udupa for more information.

We are postponing the original transition date (previously November 8) to better respond to and incorporate additional valuable stakeholder feedback into the Patent Center system. Specifically, we are working to increase usability for sponsored accounts with large amounts of customer numbers and address any related issues. We are also ramping up coverage to our Electronic Business Center to respond to questions in real time and help ensure a smooth transition for our stakeholders.

Making this transition to Patent Center is essential to ensuring that our tools evolve, that we stay up to date on the latest digital capabilities, and that we continue to deliver excellent customer service to meet your needs.

You can access instructional guides, resources, our on-demand webinar, a list of top 25 questions and answers from previous training sessions, and contact information for technical assistance all on the Patent Center information webpage<https://protect-us.mimecast.com/s/Q5jrC1w3R5t84v8hyA-gL?domain=link.edgepilot.com>.

[facebook]<https://protect-us.mimecast.com/s/o4NuC2kDV6c7Yn7s0FxO7?domain=link.edgepilot.com>[twitter]<https://protect-us.mimecast.com/s/RiHYC31VW7tZkLZsOh6TR?domain=link.edgepilot.com>[youtube]<https://protect-us.mimecast.com/s/IDqLC4xGXgHrVLrtXr1mP?domain=link.edgepilot.com>[linkedin]<https://protect-us.mimecast.com/s/pDHCC5yKYjfAJqAcji1NM?domain=link.edgepilot.com>

Stay connected with the USPTO by subscribing to regular email updates.

Visit our subscription center at https://link.edgepilot.com/s/100e70ab/2iG8eR5qc0i-WzVwYbqKsA?u=http://www.uspto.gov/subscribe<https://protect-us.mimecast.com/s/049HC73V4lhLg3LSEar4h?domain=link.edgepilot.com> to update or change your email preferences.

This email was sent from an unmonitored mailbox. To contact us, please visit our website https://link.edgepilot.com/s/23ef7d7a/pwEuPv598kSsPFm02bobSw?u=http://www.uspto.gov/about/contacts<https://protect-us.mimecast.com/s/ABEDC9rY4nS80o8hKfikp?domain=link.edgepilot.com>. To ensure that you continue to receive our news and notices, please modify your email filters to allow mail from subscriptioncenter at subscriptions.uspto.gov<mailto:subscriptioncenter at subscriptions.uspto.gov>.

[https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/fancy_images/USPTO/2022/10/6650733/yt_original.png]

________________________________
This email was sent to suzannah at canadylortz.com<mailto:suzannah at canadylortz.com> using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: United States Patent and Trademark Office ·600 Dulany Street · Alexandria , VA 22314
[GovDelivery logo]<https://protect-us.mimecast.com/s/JEdUCgJMzvU83V8hYcD_n?domain=link.edgepilot.com>

This message contains information which may be confidential and legally privileged. Unless you are the addressee, you may not use, copy or disclose to anyone this message or any information contained in the message. If you have received this message in error, please send me an email and delete this message. Any tax advice provided by VLP is for your use only and cannot be used to avoid tax penalties or for promotional or marketing purposes.

Links contained in this email have been replaced. If you click on a link in the email above, the link will be analyzed for known threats. If a known threat is found, you will not be able to proceed to the destination. If suspicious content is detected, you will see a warning.
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://oppedahl-lists.com/pipermail/patentcenter_oppedahl-lists.com/attachments/20231107/13b7a77c/attachment.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image001.png
Type: image/png
Size: 4039 bytes
Desc: image001.png
URL: <http://oppedahl-lists.com/pipermail/patentcenter_oppedahl-lists.com/attachments/20231107/13b7a77c/attachment.png>