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

Tue Nov 14 21:48:01 UTC 2023

Yes, I had this happen the other day and it's happening as we speak. Very
disconcerting. Reported to EBC.
Tim Ackermann
The Ackermann Law Firm

E:  tim at ackermannlaw.com
P:  817.305.0690
F:  214.453.0810
W: ackermannlaw.com
O: 1701 W. Northwest Hwy. Ste. 100
     Grapevine TX 76051

On Tue, Nov 14, 2023 at 1:43 PM Richard Schafer via Patentcenter <
patentcenter at oppedahl-lists.com> wrote:

> This happens with provisional cover sheets, too, according to a post I
> just saw on Ideascale:
>
> After uploading a form-fillable provisional patent application cover sheet
> and clicking on the preview button, the circle bullet indicating the choice
> of customer number, government sponsorship, small entity status were not
> correctly viewable, yet upon the downloaded PDF, they were correctly
> viewable.
>
> “Sanitized for your protection.”
>
>
>
> Best regards,
> *Richard A. Schafer | Schafer IP Law*
> P.O. Box 230081 | Houston, TX 77223
> M: 832.283.6564 | richard at schafer-ip.com
>
>
>
> *From:* Patentcenter <patentcenter-bounces at oppedahl-lists.com> *On Behalf
> Of *Carl Oppedahl via Patentcenter
> *Sent:* Monday, November 13, 2023 4:06 PM
> *To:* patentcenter at oppedahl-lists.com
> *Cc:* Carl Oppedahl <carl at oppedahl.com>
> *Subject:* Re: [Patentcenter] Previewing an uploaded IDS form in Patent
> Center hides identifying information, unlike EFS-Web
>
>
>
> 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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