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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>I suspect it’s a part of their DEI initiative.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>John<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><i><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:teal'>John M. Hammond P.E.</span></i></b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'> <br></span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>Patent Agent</span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'> <br></span><b><i><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>Patent Innovations LLC</span></i></b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'> <br></span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black'>Livonia NY 14487-9630</span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><br><br></span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> Patentpractice [mailto:patentpractice-bounces@oppedahl-lists.com] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Richard Schafer via Patentpractice<br><b>Sent:</b> Monday, February 26, 2024 11:59 AM<br><b>To:</b> For patent practitioners. This is not for laypersons to seek legal advice.<br><b>Cc:</b> Richard Schafer<br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [Patentpractice] FW: Looking for a better understanding of how the patent system works?<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif";color:#1F497D'>For reasons I can’t understand or explain, a major goal of the PTO appears to be increasing pro se patent prep and pros. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif";color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:ZH-CN'>Best regards,<br><b>Richard A. Schafer | Schafer IP Law</b></span><span style='font-family:"Garamond","serif";color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:ZH-CN'><br></span><span style='font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif";color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:ZH-CN'>P.O. Box 230081 | Houston, TX 77223<br>M: 832.283.6564 | </span><span style='font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif";color:#1F497D'><a href="mailto:richard@schafer-ip.com"><span style='color:#0563C1'>richard@schafer-ip.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Goudy Old Style","serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'> Patentpractice <patentpractice-bounces@oppedahl-lists.com> <b>On Behalf Of </b>Dan Feigelson via Patentpractice<br><b>Sent:</b> Monday, February 26, 2024 10:40 AM<br><b>To:</b> For patent practitioners. This is not for laypersons to seek legal advice. <patentpractice@oppedahl-lists.com><br><b>Cc:</b> Dan Feigelson <djf@iliplaw.com><br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [Patentpractice] FW: Looking for a better understanding of how the patent system works?<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt'><img border=0 width=1 height=1 id="_x0000_i1025" src="https://gcfagjf.r.bh.d.sendibt3.com/tr/op/dJSDvfFSLnaBlc1CLUPXOrZhDAEMGoMZ7-HVcPhGSIg5RIwZM2v0qjBOc3jlCqTLMk6FudA-L9ZVzzIU1UVaebresuK58gS5fgyle3F-YmFP1ywbrDyLgabkVvq3uPZtyHxc2y58Bd3qjSzvJBLoV7jbbkmLDb8s2gaOPMo5lRiBMKMq895esioyTwTG9FCfUvFIDhflDimKz2RRf2lUa9WOLu9Le66qKy2u"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div><div><div><p class=MsoNormal>What do you find odd, the PTO thinking it's competent to give advice about the patent process? Seems to be par for the course with Vidal - focus on things the PTO isn't qualified to do (apart from saying *how the PTO itself examines cases*, the PTO has no business giving advice to anyone, too many factors to take into account), and ignore the important stuff (like electronic filing of patent applications and assignments).<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Dan<o:p></o:p></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><div><p class=MsoNormal>On Mon, Feb 26, 2024 at 6:13<span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> </span>PM Doreen Trujillo via Patentpractice <<a href="mailto:patentpractice@oppedahl-lists.com">patentpractice@oppedahl-lists.com</a>> wrote:<o:p></o:p></p></div><blockquote style='border:none;border-left:solid #CCCCCC 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 6.0pt;margin-left:4.8pt;margin-top:5.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt'><div><div><div><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'>See below. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'>From the Public Engagement Partnership page: <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'> <o:p></o:p></p><p style='margin-top:0in;background:white'><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif";color:#1B1B1B'>“Meetings will have their specific agendas providing opportunities to:</span><o:p></o:p></p><ul type=disc><li class=MsoNormal style='color:#1B1B1B;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3;background:white;box-sizing:border-box'><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"'>Learn about the patent system and the USPTO’s practices and policies</span><o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoNormal style='color:#1B1B1B;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3;background:white;box-sizing:border-box'><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"'>Participate in panel discussions</span><o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoNormal style='color:#1B1B1B;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3;background:white;box-sizing:border-box'><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"'>Learn how read a patent and its parts. </span><o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoNormal style='color:#1B1B1B;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3;background:white;box-sizing:border-box'><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"'>Learn how to submit third-party input on a patent application</span><o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoNormal style='color:#1B1B1B;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3;background:white;box-sizing:border-box'><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"'>Learn how to submit requests for reexamination of patents</span><o:p></o:p></li><li class=MsoNormal style='color:#1B1B1B;mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3;background:white;box-sizing:border-box'><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif"'>Learn how to challenge patents after they are issued</span><o:p></o:p></li></ul><p style='margin-top:0in;background:white;box-sizing:border-box;margin-bottom:1rem'><span style='font-size:10.5pt;font-family:"Segoe UI","sans-serif";color:#1B1B1B'>For more information about the USPTO's Public Engagement Partnership, <a href="https://gcfagjf.r.bh.d.sendibt3.com/tr/cl/M2uNOIlVB6WYa6WGewRFY3oxjUwCkQa2O3bn3MUyCCo_vU_sglsHG23eEMJHH45IPLdSyWxCcckQPA2c0cWMDbNkIzHSxKZAd8x9kjPZakv0YpEm69-OA5XZFRrXjxh3AsYIi9k-14jMiaM06fA0YRWHSfOaffgveuYH3rNmLa1niSOSKJzBwE0TkmhEj3vfyOW4iNGrOCioQhxdR2Vsva9dS8angmudMV_Z8peLSirA9Lel2jWrDH9k-vBlubb4S4FY8pYs7yH3CAdGwWkJD6E7gq5swSc0yaYnfUUBoQYOmPF_m9V_g_LuIbGgayTiMZgCqtyhVGDnrpeDyfLM1p4-6MLJEu82SWIX7KiT0tE5ETN8cSvR_CFx1KpqiBBDaxKYsWpUsb7EQRhHb0hUSsWKjItVSbiCeaK2pxhOs1B72r9LgL8jGz4J-YDBEGxG6ZYCyI5A5Pg5s2Slvg" target="_blank"><b><span style='color:#005EA2'>read the Federal Register Notice of Meetings</span></b></a>.”</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'>Typo aside, does this seem odd to anyone else?<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><o:p> </o:p></p></div></div></div></blockquote></div></div></div></body></html>