<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
  <head>
    <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8">
  </head>
  <body>
    <p>Again to state this as clearly as possible ... the USPTO's bait
      to try to trick you into filing with DOCX is that you will have an
      "ongoing safeguard" because of the AUX-PDF file that the USPTO
      promised to preserve for twenty years.  Bu if what Randall reports
      is what the USPTO really does, then the USPTO is failing to
      preserve the AUX-PDF, thus eviscerating the supposed "ongoing
      safeguard", thus greatly increasing the malpractice risks of
      filing in DOCX. <br>
    </p>
    <div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 12/19/2024 1:15 PM, Rick Neifeld via
      Patentpractice wrote:<br>
    </div>
    <blockquote type="cite"
cite="mid:CA++DgCa+EM-vPwtGExytN4Ws6dgm+9Y6qy8Rdv0WFn4fevCh7A@mail.gmail.com">
      <div dir="ltr">
        <div dir="ltr">
          <div dir="ltr">Thank you for noting that "<span>The USPTO only
              allows one </span><span>AUX.pdf</span><span> submission
              per application, and each subsequent one you file
              overwrites the previous one."</span></div>
          <div dir="ltr"><span><br>
            </span></div>
          <div><span>That processing <u>contradicts the PTO's public
                statements</u> in its Notice at "</span>Patent and
            Trademark Office [Docket No.: PTO\u2013P\u20132022\u20130002] Filing Patent
            Applications in DOCX</div>
          Format," at 82 FR 25226, and in its notice at "Extension of
          the Option for Submission of a PDF With a Patent Application
          Filed in DOCX Format," 88 FR 37036.  
          <div dir="ltr">
            <div dir="ltr"><br>
            </div>
            <div> See 87 FR 25227, left column:</div>
            <div><br>
            </div>
            <div>The USPTO continues to work with <br>
              its stakeholders to transition to the <br>
              DOCX format. Through this notice, the <br>
              USPTO is providing applicants with the <br>
              option to submit an applicant-generated <br>
              PDF of the application along with the <br>
              validated DOCX file(s) when filing an <br>
              application in Patent Center, from the <br>
              effective date of this notice through <br>
              December 31, 2022 (the temporary <br>
              period). This option will not be <br>
              available for applications filed via EFS- <br>
              Web. This will allow applicants to gain <br>
              confidence in the reliability and <br>
              accuracy of the USPTO system when <br>
              filing applications in DOCX format, and <br>
              safeguard the applicant should any <br>
              conversion discrepancies have taken <br>
              place.<br>
            </div>
            <div><br>
            </div>
            <div>and see  88 FR 37036, at 37036 (Duration)</div>
            <div><br>
            </div>
            <div>The option to submit <br>
              an applicant-generated PDF of a patent <br>
              application along with the validated <br>
              DOCX file(s) when filing an application <br>
              in Patent Center, as discussed in this <br>
              notice, is being extended until further <br>
              notice.</div>
            <div><br>
            </div>
            <div> and at 37037, left column:<br>
            </div>
            <div><br>
            </div>
            <div>In April 2022, the USPTO announced <br>
              that, for a period of time ending <br>
              December 31, 2022, it was providing <br>
              patent applicants with the option to <br>
              submit a back-up, applicant-generated <br>
              PDF version of the application along <br>
              with the DOCX file(s) when filing an <br>
              application in Patent Center. See Filing <br>
              Patent Applications in DOCX Format, <br>
              87 FR 25226 (April 28, 2022) (April <br>
              2022 Notice). The goal of providing <br>
              such an option was to encourage more <br>
              applicants to begin filing patent <br>
              applications in DOCX format. In <br>
              particular, the USPTO anticipated that <br>
              allowing applicants to submit a back-up <br>
              PDF version of the application\u2014without <br>
              incurring additional fees\u2014for a <br>
              temporary period would encourage <br>
              applicants to file in DOCX while <br>
              ensuring that if any discrepancies were <br>
              discovered, the back-up version could <br>
              be used to correct the discrepancies.</div>
            <div><br>
            </div>
            <div> <br>
            </div>
            <div>and at 37037 spanning left and center columns:</div>
            <div><br>
            </div>
            <div><br>
            </div>
            <div>However, in view of stakeholder <br>
              requests, the USPTO will now keep <br>
              copies of the applicant-generated PDF as <br>
              part of the permanent record, regardless <br>
              of whether a petition is filed. For <br>
              example, for granted patents, the <br>
              USPTO will keep copies of the <br>
              applicant-generated PDF for at least 25 <br>
              years after the patent grant before <br>
              transferring it to the National Archives <br>
              and Records Administration. <br>
              With the changes detailed above, <br>
              patent applicants choosing to submit an <br>
              applicant-generated PDF with the <br>
              validated DOCX file(s) when filing an <br>
              application in Patent Center will have <br>
              an ongoing safeguard should any <br>
              unexpected conversion discrepancies<br>
            </div>
            <div>occur during the filing process. ...<br>
            </div>
            <div>As discussed in the April 2022 <br>
              Notice, patent applicants who choose to <br>
              submit an applicant-generated PDF with <br>
              the validated DOCX file(s) when filing <br>
              an application in Patent Center will not <br>
              have to pay additional fees, such as an <br>
              application size fee, as a result of filing <br>
              the applicant-generated PDF and, on <br>
              petition, will be able to rely on the <br>
              applicant-generated PDF if a <br>
              discrepancy occurs during the filing <br>
              process.<br>
            </div>
            <div><br>
            </div>
            <div>There is no reasonable interpretation of this guidance
              that is consistent with your indication that that the PTO
              actually does is, with "<span>each subsequent one [SIC;
                AUX.pdf] you file [Patent Center] overwrites the
                previous one."  </span></div>
            <div><span><br>
              </span></div>
            <div><span>BR, Rick</span></div>
            <div><span><br>
              </span></div>
            <div><span><br>
              </span></div>
            <div><span><br>
              </span></div>
            <div><span><br>
              </span></div>
            <div><span><br>
              </span></div>
            <div><br>
            </div>
            <div><br>
            </div>
            <div><br>
            </div>
            <div><br>
            </div>
            <div> <br>
            </div>
            <br>
            <div class="gmail_quote">
              <div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Thu, Dec 19, 2024 at
                2:11\u202fPM Randall Svihla &lt;<a
                  href="mailto:rsvihla@nsiplaw.com" target="_blank"
                  moz-do-not-send="true" class="moz-txt-link-freetext">rsvihla@nsiplaw.com</a>&gt;
                wrote:<br>
              </div>
              <blockquote class="gmail_quote">
                <div>
                  <div lang="EN-US">
                    <div>
                      <p class="MsoNormal"><span>Hi, Rick</span></p>
                      <p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span></p>
                      <p class="MsoNormal"><span>You wrote:</span></p>
                      <p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span></p>
                      <p class="MsoNormal"><span>3.
                          <span> </span>Regarding <span>AUX.pdf</span>
                          submissions, whether Patent Center stores all
                          <span>AUX.pdf</span> submissions? <span> </span>That
                          is, whether subsequent submission with
                          document description "Specification" overwrite
                          or otherwise result in Patent Center
                          discarding prior "<span>AUX.pdf</span>'
                          submissions.</span></p>
                      <p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span></p>
                      <p class="MsoNormal"><span>The USPTO only allows
                          one
                          <span>AUX.pdf</span> submission per
                          application, and each subsequent one you file
                          overwrites the previous one.</span></p>
                      <p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span></p>
                      <p class="MsoNormal"><span>Best regards,</span></p>
                      <p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span></p>
                      <p class="MsoNormal"><span>Randall S. Svihla</span></p>
                      <p class="MsoNormal"><span>NSIP Law</span></p>
                      <p class="MsoNormal"><span>Washington, D.C.</span></p>
                      <p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span></p>
                      <p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span></p>
                      <div>
                        <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span>From:</span></b><span>
                            Patentpractice &lt;<a
href="mailto:patentpractice-bounces@oppedahl-lists.com" target="_blank"
                              moz-do-not-send="true"
                              class="moz-txt-link-freetext">patentpractice-bounces@oppedahl-lists.com</a>&gt;
                            <b><span>On Behalf Of </span></b>Rick
                            Neifeld via Patentpractice<br>
                            <b><span>Sent:</span></b> Thursday, December
                            19, 2024 12:48 PM<br>
                            <b><span>To:</span></b> For patent
                            practitioners. This is not for laypersons to
                            seek legal advice. &lt;<a
href="mailto:patentpractice@oppedahl-lists.com" target="_blank"
                              moz-do-not-send="true"
                              class="moz-txt-link-freetext">patentpractice@oppedahl-lists.com</a>&gt;<br>
                            <b><span>Cc:</span></b> Rick Neifeld &lt;<a
                              href="mailto:richardneifeld@gmail.com"
                              target="_blank" moz-do-not-send="true"
                              class="moz-txt-link-freetext">richardneifeld@gmail.com</a>&gt;<br>
                            <b><span>Subject:</span></b> Re:
                            [Patentpractice] Feedback document
                            mis-placing comments</span></p>
                      </div>
                      <p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span></p>
                      <div>
                        <div>
                          <p class="MsoNormal"><span>Follow-up on my
                              post below. </span></p>
                        </div>
                        <div>
                          <p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span></p>
                        </div>
                        <div>
                          <p class="MsoNormal"><span>Yesterday, I
                              received a Notice of Incomplete Reply to
                              the Notice To File Corrected Application
                              Papers.   And I filed a response to that
                              Notice of Incomplete Reply. </span></p>
                        </div>
                        <div>
                          <p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span></p>
                        </div>
                        <div>
                          <p class="MsoNormal"><span>The Notice of
                              Incomplete Reply asserted that the  Reply
                              to the Notice To File Corrected
                              Application Papers failed to include "a
                              clean version without markings."  </span></p>
                        </div>
                        <div>
                          <p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span></p>
                        </div>
                        <div>
                          <p class="MsoNormal"><span>My reply to that
                              Notice was a traverse, asserting that a
                              clean version without markings had been
                              filed as part of the Reply to the Notice
                              To File Corrected Application Papers, and
                              provided proof from the EAR of the name of
                              the file, and the SHA-512 hash value
                              associated with the name of the file.  And
                              that the file name included "CleanCopy"
                              and the transmittal letter and remarks
                              specified that file was the required clean
                              copy. And including the exact same DOCX
                              file identified by its unique Hash value,
                              as a submission, but with the Document
                              Description "Transmittal Letter."  And in
                              the filing process, I was given an option
                              to include an AUX.pdf, so I saved the DOCX
                              file as a pdf, and also submitted that as
                              (yet another) AUX.pdf.  And the EAR for
                              this filing shows, of course, a DOCX
                              document to which PatentCenter appended
                              "-DOCX" and the AUX.pdf document, to which
                              PatentCenter did nothing to the filename.</span></p>
                        </div>
                        <div>
                          <p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span></p>
                        </div>
                        <div>
                          <p class="MsoNormal"><span>Today, I called the
                              PTO, repeatedly, as shown in my
                              contemporaneous notes below (filename
                              "Troubleshooting_AgentRedacted_XXXXXX.txt"),
                              to obtain clarification, and to ensure the
                              PTO does not hold the application
                              abandoned, for failure to respond. I
                              raised some interesting questions that
                              neither EBC nor the ASU representatives
                              could answer.  And I await a call back
                              after the ASU agent confers with her
                              supervisor.  See my questions at the end
                              of the record below.  My real time notes,
                              the record of these calls, with the agent
                              names and my reference number redacted,
                              appears below:</span></p>
                        </div>
                        <div>
                          <p class="MsoNormal"><span>Filename:
                              [Troubleshooting_AgentRedacted_XXXXXX.txt]<br>
                              10:12 AM, Called EBC<br>
                              Agent ___, agent number 59<br>
                              Given case number 2-00092400.<br>
                              Agent indicates he cannot address whether
                              a marked up copy is present in the
                              official file in Patent Center for this
                              application.  <br>
                              Agent indicates only "Application
                              assistance unit: 571272400" can address my
                              questions.<br>
                              Agent transferred me to Application
                              assistance unit: 571272400<br>
                              Application Assistance Unit Agent ___,
                              given number 2-00092412<br>
                              Agent indicates he cannot see the
                              documents in Patent Center identified in
                              the "Documents &amp; transaction history",
                              "Documents" tab.<br>
                              10:31 AM, Agent has put me on hold.<br>
                              11:01 line has hung up (call ended).<br>
                              <br>
                              11:03 Calling back. 571272400, Agent ___,
                              answered.  Call dropped.<br>
                              <br>
                              11:06 Calling back. 571272400,<br>
                              11:07-11:08, approximately 2 minutes of
                              recorded voice message.<br>
                              11:08 Agent ___ answers, provides
                              reference 2-00092412<br>
                              11:09, agent placed me on hold while agent
                              reads notes from  2-00092412.<br>
                              Discussion with Agent, identify problem.<br>
                              11:15 Agent Response. I cited rule 1.121
                              requirements. Agent unclear regarding rule
                              requirement.  Agent places me "on hold".<br>
                              11:16 Discussing "clean copy"
                              requirements. Agent agrees there is no
                              rule requirement to place markings on the
                              "clean copy" of a substitute specification
                              stating it is a "clean copy."
                              <br>
                              Agent states that, at the "top of" clean
                              copy of specification, pages must include
                              the phrase "clean copy" on each page,
                              upper top right corner, of each page. Upon
                              repeated requests for clarification, agent
                              specifies that should be in "a header" (as
                              opposed to inside the margins where text
                              of the specification resides.) <br>
                              11:19 Discussing "marke up copy"
                              requirements. Agent agent is unclear about
                              requirements for a "marked up copy". Agent
                              does not see the marked up copy in
                              [whatever she is looking at corresponds to
                              the Patent  Center] the official file.<br>
                              I identified to agent the name of the file
                              that is the marked up copy, as including
                              "MarkedCopy" in filename, as shown in the
                              EAR and in the actual file named
                              "2024-12-15_SubSpec_MarkedCopy_CSfiling2811USfiling_ANJA0024-SPEC.pdf"<br>
                              11:22 Agent places me on hold, again.<br>
                              11:__[??] Agent Clarified: The "marked up
                              copy" does not require any additional
                              marking showing it is the "marked up"
                              copy.<br>
                              Regarding questions about "Document
                              descriptions" for clean and marked up
                              copies of a substitute specification:
                              Agent stated that appropriate "Document
                              Description" in Patent Center submissions
                              for both clean copy of a substitute
                              specification, and for a marked up copy of
                              a substitute specification, is
                              "Specification."<br>
                              *******************</span></p>
                        </div>
                        <div>
                          <p class="MsoNormal"><span>After I identified
                              the markings in the submitted marked up
                              copy, Agent indicated she needed to speak
                              with a supervisor before providing advice
                              on how to resolve Patent Center's lack of
                              recognition of the presence of a marked up
                              copy.  <br>
                              I asked for clarification on the following
                              additional questions regarding file
                              format, and AUX pdf.
                              <br>
                              Regarding "DOCX" or "PDF" for clean and
                              marked up copy of substitute
                              specifications:<br>
                              1. What are the appropriate file formats
                              for a clean copy of a substitute
                              specification?<br>
                              2. What are the appropriate file formats
                              for a marked up copy of a substitute
                              specification?<br>
                              3. Regarding AUX.pdf submissions, whether
                              Patent Center stores all AUX.pdf
                              submissions? That is, whether subsequent
                              submission with document description
                              "Specification" overwrite or otherwise
                              result in Patent Center discarding prior
                              "AUX.pdf' submissions.
                              <br>
                              11:35 call continuing at this time.<br>
                              11:__[??] Call concluded. Agent stated she
                              intends to call me back within 24 hours.</span></p>
                        </div>
                        <div>
                          <p class="MsoNormal"><span>***********************************</span></p>
                        </div>
                        <div>
                          <p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span></p>
                        </div>
                        <div>
                          <p class="MsoNormal"><span>Rick</span></p>
                        </div>
                        <div>
                          <p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span></p>
                        </div>
                        <div>
                          <p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span></p>
                        </div>
                        <div>
                          <p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span></p>
                        </div>
                        <div>
                          <p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span></p>
                        </div>
                        <div>
                          <p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span></p>
                        </div>
                        <div>
                          <p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span></p>
                        </div>
                        <div>
                          <p class="MsoNormal"><span>  </span></p>
                        </div>
                        <div>
                          <p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span></p>
                        </div>
                        <div>
                          <p class="MsoNormal"><span>   </span></p>
                        </div>
                        <p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span></p>
                        <div>
                          <div>
                            <p class="MsoNormal"><span>On Tue, Dec 17,
                                2024 at 2:25\u202fPM Rick Neifeld &lt;<a
                                  href="mailto:richardneifeld@gmail.com"
                                  target="_blank" moz-do-not-send="true"
                                  class="moz-txt-link-freetext">richardneifeld@gmail.com</a>&gt;
                                wrote:</span></p>
                          </div>
                          <blockquote>
                            <div>
                              <div>
                                <p class="MsoNormal"><span>Agree. And I
                                    will break from ongoing work to add
                                    a couple comments and questions.</span></p>
                                <div>
                                  <p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span></p>
                                </div>
                                <div>
                                  <p class="MsoNormal"><span>First, I am
                                      concerned when I get a
                                      specification for filing that
                                      includes embedded image objects.
                                      Those objects normally include non
                                      ascii characters, and
                                      unconventional symbols.  For
                                      example, for communications
                                      modulation schemes  or quantum
                                      computing algorithms.  I cannot
                                      easily reproduce those
                                      things within a page, in case of a
                                      requirement to correct a portion
                                      of the specification.   </span></p>
                                </div>
                                <div>
                                  <p class="MsoNormal"><span>I get that
                                      sort of stuff from foreign
                                      colleagues. So I have notified my
                                      foreign colleagues. Hopefully they
                                      will teach their clients to do a
                                      better job at providing patent
                                      easy-to-use disclosures.  But I
                                      doubt it.</span></p>
                                </div>
                                <div>
                                  <p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span></p>
                                </div>
                                <div>
                                  <p class="MsoNormal"><span>Second, I
                                      recently had to respond to a
                                      Notice of informalities requiring
                                      me to formally revise the Figs and
                                      spec.   </span></p>
                                </div>
                                <div>
                                  <p class="MsoNormal"><span>I found the
                                      process of responding to be more
                                      complex and time consuming than in
                                      the past, prior to Patent Center
                                      and the DOCX coercion. And as to
                                      the process, I solicit input on
                                      what I did right, and what I did
                                      wrong, and what I did that was
                                      inconsequential (but perhaps made
                                      me feel better), in response to
                                      the Notice. </span></p>
                                </div>
                                <div>
                                  <p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span></p>
                                </div>
                                <div>
                                  <p class="MsoNormal"><span>An  issue I
                                      am concerned with is compliance
                                      with rule 121, substitute
                                      specification, in this situation,
                                      given Patent Center's filing
                                      constraints.  By rule, the markup
                                      is the de jure substitute spec.
                                      The clean copy is for the
                                      convenience of the examiner. That
                                      is what the rule states, right?. 
                                      So how do you describe, and which
                                      form of file, is a best practice,
                                      for complying with the rules for
                                      the substitute specification and
                                      marked up copy, within the
                                      constraints of Patent Center
                                      submissions?</span></p>
                                </div>
                                <div>
                                  <p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span></p>
                                </div>
                                <div>
                                  <p class="MsoNormal"><span>In this
                                      case, I had filed the original
                                      application in pdf format, for
                                      both spec and figs.  However, I
                                      had in my possession the original
                                      DOCX from which the pdfs were
                                      created. So I had options.  What I
                                      ended up filing in response to the
                                      Notice were:</span></p>
                                </div>
                                <div>
                                  <p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span></p>
                                </div>
                                <div>
                                  <p class="MsoNormal"><span>Replacement
                                      drawing sheets (figures) in DOCX
                                      format, with document description
                                      "Drawings, other than black and
                                      white line drawings" (At my end
                                      pdfs generated by conversion from
                                      a DOCX are not fuzzy, like what
                                      you see on the PTO side, after
                                      filing a pdf via Patent Center.)</span></p>
                                </div>
                                <div>
                                  <p class="MsoNormal"><span>Marked Up
                                      copy of the substitute spec, in
                                      pdf format, with document
                                      description "Specification".  (I
                                      found no document description for
                                      "substitute specification.")</span></p>
                                </div>
                                <div>
                                  <p class="MsoNormal"><span>Clean Copy
                                      of the substitute spec, in DOCX
                                      format, with also with document
                                      description "Specification".</span></p>
                                </div>
                                <div>
                                  <p class="MsoNormal"><span>But then
                                      also a Clean Copy of the
                                      substitute spec, in PDF format, as
                                      the AUX.PDF. (Because you get this
                                      option when you upload a DOCX and
                                      select document description
                                      "specification", even after the
                                      application and its specification
                                      has been filed on some prior day.)</span></p>
                                </div>
                                <div>
                                  <p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span></p>
                                </div>
                                <div>
                                  <p class="MsoNormal"><span>I also
                                      determined the SHA-512 for
                                      theAUX.PDF and included that value
                                      in my transmittal letter (Yes, I
                                      still file transmittal letters
                                      listing what I am filing.)</span></p>
                                </div>
                                <div>
                                  <p class="MsoNormal"><span>I also
                                      included this note in the
                                      Transmittal Letter</span></p>
                                </div>
                                <div>
                                  <p class="MsoNormal"><span>"The
                                      applicant notes that the USPTO
                                      server may revise and replace DOCX
                                      files the applicant uploads, with
                                      revised files, prior to entering
                                      them into the official file for
                                      this application.</span></p>
                                </div>
                                <p class="MsoNormal"><span>The applicant
                                    notes that the USPTO has not
                                    specified exactly how the USPTO
                                    server does this, and does not
                                    always clearly specify what those
                                    changes are."</span></p>
                                <div>
                                  <p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span></p>
                                  <div>
                                    <p class="MsoNormal"><span>In my
                                        response, at the end, I included
                                        this DOCX centric statement:</span></p>
                                  </div>
                                  <div>
                                    <p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span></p>
                                  </div>
                                  <div>
                                    <p class="MsoNormal"><span>" While
                                        the USPTO relies upon DOCX
                                        submission for the
                                        specification, there are in fact
                                        over 40 different versions of
                                        the "DOCX" specifications, and
                                        these file format specifications
                                        are generated and controlled by
                                        the Microsoft Corporation. See
                                        the publicly available
                                        specifications at "[MS-DOCX]:
                                        Word Extensions to the Office
                                        Open XML (.docx) File Format."  <br>
                                        Therefore, what the USPTO
                                        displays, or what the USPTO
                                        examiner interprets a
                                        specification to contain, based
                                        upon a document submitted having
                                        a DOCX file extension, may
                                        differ from what the applicant
                                        submits. Accordingly the
                                        examiner is encouraged to review
                                        the originally submitted
                                        specification, which was
                                        submitted in pdf format, and
                                        therefore is definite and
                                        reliable as to what the
                                        applicant's application, as
                                        originally filed, discloses,
                                        when the examiner examines this
                                        application."</span></p>
                                  </div>
                                  <div>
                                    <p class="MsoNormal"><span>   </span></p>
                                  </div>
                                  <div>
                                    <p class="MsoNormal"><span>   So,
                                        comments?</span></p>
                                  </div>
                                  <div>
                                    <p class="MsoNormal"><span>Thanks,
                                        RICK    </span></p>
                                  </div>
                                </div>
                              </div>
                              <p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span></p>
                              <div>
                                <div>
                                  <p class="MsoNormal"><span>On Tue, Dec
                                      17, 2024 at 1:13\u202fPM Carl Oppedahl
                                      via Patentpractice &lt;<a
href="mailto:patentpractice@oppedahl-lists.com" target="_blank"
                                        moz-do-not-send="true"
                                        class="moz-txt-link-freetext">patentpractice@oppedahl-lists.com</a>&gt;
                                      wrote:</span></p>
                                </div>
                                <blockquote>
                                  <div>
                                    <div>
                                      <p class="MsoNormal"><span>On
                                          12/17/2024 10:48 AM, William
                                          Slate via Patentpractice
                                          wrote:</span></p>
                                    </div>
                                    <blockquote>
                                      <div>
                                        <p class="MsoNormal"><span>A
                                            comment read:
                                          </span></p>
                                        <p class="MsoNormal"><span>\u201cThis
                                            claim appears to not end
                                            with a period.\u201d</span></p>
                                        <p class="MsoNormal"><span>The
                                            area highlighted by the
                                            comment was a hard return
                                            between claims 7 and 8.
                                          </span></p>
                                        <p class="MsoNormal"><span>I
                                            found a period missing at
                                            the end of claim 9.</span></p>
                                        <p class="MsoNormal"><span>Will</span></p>
                                      </div>
                                    </blockquote>
                                    <p><span>Let's sort of summarize
                                        where we are on this.</span></p>
                                    <p><span>Anybody who chooses to
                                        (incur the risks of using) use
                                        DOCX as their filing method is
                                        putting himself or herself at
                                        the mercy of the USPTO's
                                        proprietary DOCX rendering
                                        engine.  Which as of some months
                                        ago was up to version 18,
                                        something like that.    </span></p>
                                    <p><span>What we see here is an
                                        example of that engine being
                                        flaky at application-filing
                                        time.  And yes I have seen many
                                        other instances of the DOCX
                                        rendering engine being flaky at
                                        application-filing time, in
                                        other ways.</span></p>
                                    <p><span>What stares me in the face
                                        is that this same engine is
                                        presumably the black box that
                                        will typeset the patent
                                        application for issuance, at
                                        some later time down the line. 
                                        By then it might be version 24
                                        or version 36.  And it might
                                        render a square root sign as a
                                        smiley face or might render a
                                        Greek letter mu as a "u".</span></p>
                                    <p><span>Meanwhile I imagine there
                                        are many practitioners who have
                                        been ducking the DOCX risks,
                                        assuming that the "ongoing
                                        safeguard" of the auxiliary PDF
                                        will somehow permit the
                                        practitioner to avert what would
                                        otherwise be a malpractice
                                        claim.  </span></p>
                                    <p><span>But see <a
href="https://blog.oppedahl.com/maybe-uspto-will-clarify-the-docx-safeguard/"
                                          target="_blank"
                                          moz-do-not-send="true"
                                          class="moz-txt-link-freetext">
https://blog.oppedahl.com/maybe-uspto-will-clarify-the-docx-safeguard/</a>
                                        .  The USPTO has not answered
                                        that letter yet, despite almost
                                        a year having passed.  I suggest
                                        that it would be a mistake,
                                        given the USPTO's deafening
                                        silence in response to questions
                                        about the "ongoing safeguard",
                                        to assume that the auxiliary PDF
                                        will protect against malpractice
                                        claims.</span></p>
                                    <p><span> </span></p>
                                  </div>
                                  <p class="MsoNormal"><span>--
                                      <br>
                                      Patentpractice mailing list<br>
                                      <a
href="mailto:Patentpractice@oppedahl-lists.com" target="_blank"
                                        moz-do-not-send="true"
                                        class="moz-txt-link-freetext">Patentpractice@oppedahl-lists.com</a><br>
                                      <a
href="http://oppedahl-lists.com/mailman/listinfo/patentpractice_oppedahl-lists.com"
                                        target="_blank"
                                        moz-do-not-send="true"
                                        class="moz-txt-link-freetext">http://oppedahl-lists.com/mailman/listinfo/patentpractice_oppedahl-lists.com</a></span></p>
                                </blockquote>
                              </div>
                            </div>
                          </blockquote>
                        </div>
                      </div>
                    </div>
                  </div>
                </div>
              </blockquote>
            </div>
          </div>
        </div>
        <div><br>
        </div>
        <div><br>
        </div>
        <span class="gmail_signature_prefix">-- </span><br>
        <div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature"
          data-smartmail="gmail_signature">
          <div dir="ltr">
            <div>Best regards</div>
            <div>Rick Neifeld, J.D., Ph.D. <br>
            </div>
            <div>Neifeld IP Law PLLC<br>
            </div>
            <div>9112 Shearman Street, Fairfax VA 22032</div>
            <div>Mobile: 7034470727<br>
            </div>
            <div>Email: <a href="mailto:RichardNeifeld@gmail.com"
                target="_blank" moz-do-not-send="true"
                class="moz-txt-link-freetext">RichardNeifeld@gmail.com</a>; <br>
            </div>
            <div>This is NOT a confidential and privileged
              communication.  If you are not the intended recipient,
              please delete this email and notify the sender you have
              done so.<br>
            </div>
            <div><br>
              <br>
            </div>
          </div>
        </div>
      </div>
      <br>
      <fieldset class="moz-mime-attachment-header"></fieldset>
    </blockquote>
  </body>
</html>