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

Tue Nov 14 04:05:03 UTC 2023

A long time ago I was very persuaded by this list to use the PTO IDS and
ADS forms because the PTO uses them to auto-populate data. The phrase that
sold me was 'fat-finger.' I did not want the PTO to 'fat-finger' in data. I
trusted me and my team more than the PTO. I also thought using the tool the
PTO provided was the right thing to do.

But, these horror stories (yes PTO lurkers, we lose sleep over this $*$@)
have me thinking it is time to go back to non-PTO forms.

On Mon, Nov 13, 2023 at 5:06 PM Carl Oppedahl via Patentcenter <
patentcenter at oppedahl-lists.com> wrote:

> 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> <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 <5097472052>
>> www.randalldanskin.com; www.linkedin.com/in/james-lake-1318b84
>> _________________________________________________
>>
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