[Patentcenter] Previewing an uploaded IDS form in Patent Center hides identifying information, unlike EFS-Web

Mon Nov 13 20:12:58 UTC 2023

Hello Jeff.  Thank you for posting.  Can you look please at 
https://patentcenter-tickets.oppedahl.com/#CP139 and see if this is the 
same as what you are reporting?

On 11/13/2023 12:28 PM, Jeff Lindsay wrote:
> While filing an IDS on Saturday using the USPTO’s IDS 
> form,  PTO/SB/08a (02-18), when I previewed the uploaded file using a 
> Mac (the problem occurs both in Chrome and Firefox browsers), the 
> fields with identifying information in the upper right hand corner of 
> the IDS form appeared completely blank. I checked the file, uploaded 
> it again, and had the same result. I was about to redo it in EFS-Web 
> but recalled something related in listserv comments, so instead of 
> using the ‘Preview” feature, I downloaded the file I had uploaded and 
> saw that what the USPTO had was OK. Still a time-waster and definitely 
> not a confidence builder.
>
> I called the EBC to ask about this today. They said it’s not a bug but 
> a feature. The “feature" is that preview in PatCenter allegedly 
> provides the PUBLIC view, so it’s necessary to hide confidential 
> information like names. Such information hiding is not consistently 
> applied to other forms such as a power of attorney or a provisional 
> cover sheet. Why would IDS info be treated this way?
>
> I told the EBC customer service rep that the EFS does not hide 
> information on a document a patent practitioner has just uploaded. 
> Forcing a public view filter seems improper. Preview should let us 
> quickly confirm that what was uploaded looks OK. It’s a useful feature 
> of EFS that is not properly implemented in the Patent Center. I asked 
> if the public view is applied to other documents. The customer service 
> rep told me they did not know and that I would have to contact the 
> developers (emods at uspto.gov) to learn more. I politely asked how can 
> the USPTO claim 100% of EFS-Web functionality is provided if the 
> Patent Center doesn’t provide a properly working preview feature found 
> in EFS-Web. Again, I was told I would need to contact the developers.
>
>
> Jeff Lindsay
> jeff at jefflindsay.com
> +1 920-257-7347
>
>
>
>
>
>> On Nov 9, 2023, at 1:49 PM, Carl Oppedahl via Patentcenter 
>> <patentcenter at oppedahl-lists.com> wrote:
>>
>> And if we can please memorialize them in a place where our listserv 
>> people can do some cluster analysis on it.  You will see some of the 
>> CP tickets where an EBC ticket number is included in a CP ticket text 
>> description.  Can people please look to see if your situation that 
>> prompted you to call the EBC happens to match an existing CP ticket.  
>> If so, then please post to ask one of the editors to add your EBC 
>> ticket number to the existing CP ticket.
>>
>> If there is no existing CP ticket for your situation, then please 
>> post to ask one of the editors to create a new CP ticket, and add 
>> your EBC ticket number to the new CP ticket.
>>
>> On 11/9/2023 11:14 AM, James E. Lake via Patentcenter wrote:
>>> As we continue to encounter the infuriating, frequent errors in PC, 
>>> it seems in our best interest to document a body count with the EBC 
>>> that these errors are occurring. Below please find an example.
>>> One of the justifications for inaction by the PTO has been something 
>>> like, “most users find that PC works just fine” or “we do not have 
>>> reports of errors.” Well, most users encountering errors find a way 
>>> to get their work done by signing out then logging back in, 
>>> switching browsers, restarting the computer, clearing the cache, 
>>> waiting 30 minutes, etc. etc. etc. This mode of operation appears to 
>>> be completely acceptable to PTO and perhaps even expected under 
>>> NWOW. It is “unfreakingbelievable” (thanks Suzannah) that users are 
>>> subjected to such disdain and spend double, triple, or quadruple the 
>>> time to complete the final administrative step in PTO submissions.
>>> Yes, it is a royal pain to make error reports, but it will be more 
>>> of a royal pain for the present mode of operation to continue for 
>>> years. Developers keep saying they cannot duplicate the errors. 
>>> Maybe if they have stacks of thousands of well-documented error 
>>> reports they will finally drop their lame excuse. I doubt the EBC 
>>> will timely reply or send any useful info, but the point is to 
>>> create a body count of real, continuing errors. Report an error 
>>> especially if you are forced to file by fax or mail. Learn how to 
>>> take screenshots (shift+command+s in Windows) and paste the 
>>> screenshot into the email. (Tip: decreasing the window size before 
>>> the screenshot helps the image fit better.)
>>> James
>>> *From:*James E. Lake
>>> *Sent:*Thursday, November 9, 2023 9:12 AM
>>> *To:*'ebc at uspto.gov'<ebc at uspto.gov>
>>> *Subject:*Blank page Patent Center
>>> I am currently unable to open Patent Center in MS Edge or Firefox or 
>>> Google Chrome. After authenticating into MyUSPTO and selecting 
>>> Patent Center from the menu, the web page opens with the correct URL 
>>> identified in the tab, but the page is completely blank. Reloading 
>>> the page does not change it.
>>> Suggestions?
>>> Screen shots attached.
>>> <image002.png>
>>> <image003.png>
>>> Tried again and received this error
>>> <image004.png>
>>> <image001.png>*/James E. Lake/*
>>> Shareholder, Randall | Danskin
>>> +1 (509) 747-2052 <tel:5097472052>
>>> www.randalldanskin.com 
>>> <http://www.randalldanskin.com/>;www.linkedin.com/in/james-lake-1318b84 
>>> <http://www.linkedin.com/in/james-lake-1318b84>
>>> _________________________________________________
>>> CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE:
>>> This message and any attachments are intended only for the 
>>> individual or entity to which it is addressed and may contain 
>>> information that is privileged, confidential and exempt from 
>>> disclosure under applicable law. If you are not the intended 
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>>> immediately by telephone at (509) 747-2052 or by return email, and 
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>>>
>> --
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