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

Mon Nov 13 22:05:36 UTC 2023

The answer may be seen at 
https://patentcenter-tickets.oppedahl.com/#CP139 .  Someone (me) opened 
an EBC ticket on this.

On 11/13/2023 2:32 PM, Judith S via Patentcenter wrote:
> I had the same experience with a POA a few days ago.
>
> The coversheet was entirely blank in preview, but filled in on download.
>
> What a load of hooey that it's a feature.
>
> On the other hand, has anyone contacted the developers?
>
> Judith
>
> On Mon, Nov 13, 2023 at 11:29 AM Jeff Lindsay via Patentcenter 
> <patentcenter at oppedahl-lists.com> 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> <mailto: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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>>>     the message to the intended recipient, you are hereby notified
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>>>
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>
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