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<p>What's really said about this is that I quite literally am unable
to know whether Alan's posting is an attempt at humor or is
perhaps a bit of news from someone who has more information than I
do.</p>
<p>I choose to assume it was an attempt at humor.</p>
<p>But recall the stretch of time a couple of weeks ago where
everyone at some agency (I think it was NIH) was abruptly told to
cease all external contact until further notice.</p>
<p>And recall the news yesterday that apparently some government
credit cards have had their spending limit abruptly reduced to one
dollar.</p>
<p>These kinds of events help to explain why I cannot rule out the
possibility that Alan might be reporting how things really are.<br>
</p>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 3/10/2025 1:51 PM, Alan Taboada via
Patentpractice wrote:<br>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span> DOGE switched the USPTO to a
minute-based calling plan to save money and this is
happening to employees that have hit their monthly minute
allotment.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span><b><span>From:</span></b><span>
Patentpractice
<a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:patentpractice-bounces@oppedahl-lists.com"><patentpractice-bounces@oppedahl-lists.com></a>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Carl Oppedahl via Patentpractice<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Monday, March 10, 2025 3:35 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> For patent practitioners. This is not for
laypersons to seek legal advice.
<a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:patentpractice@oppedahl-lists.com"><patentpractice@oppedahl-lists.com></a><br>
<b>Cc:</b> Carl Oppedahl <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:carl@oppedahl.com"><carl@oppedahl.com></a><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [Patentpractice] Unable to connect to
any USPTO phone numbers</span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">On 3/10/2025 1:14 PM, Carl Oppedahl
wrote:</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
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<p class="MsoNormal">On 3/10/2025 12:49 PM, Michael Dryja
via Patentpractice wrote:</p>
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<blockquote>
<p class="MsoNormal">Is anyone having this issue? As of
11:47 am PT on Monday, March 10, for the past hour when
I\u2019ve tried calling any Examiner it either gives me three
fast beeps (using my T-Mobile cell phone) or rings and
rings and rings and hangs up (using my <a
href="https://link.edgepilot.com/s/3f20cc65/LKcQSuiBs0mzPIMNg7bmOA?u=http://phone.com/"
moz-do-not-send="true">
Phone.com</a> Voip line). </p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
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<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"> - Mike Dryja.</p>
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</blockquote>
<p>Yes it's not just you. I have called an Examiner and the
Examiner's SPE.</p>
<p>From my office phone direct extension, the call to the SPE
rings and rings, and clicks to a different ring cadence,
(maybe migrating to voice mail?) and then hangs up on me.</p>
<p>From a personal phone number (VOIP), the call to the SPE
rings a while and then says "the number you are calling from
has been flagged as spam. If you believe this to be in
error, please press 1 to report the problem." I press 1 and
it hangs up on me.</p>
<p>I call from my cell phone and the recorded message is "the
number you have dialed has calling restrictions and so the
call cannot go through". And it hangs up on me.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>When I could not get through to the SPE, I dialed the
Director of the Tech Center. Nope. The call disconnects.</p>
<p>It is impossible to get through on the phone number for Coke
Morgan Stewart, the Director of the USPTO.</p>
<p> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br>
<br>
Links contained in this email have been replaced. If you click
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known threats. If a known threat is found, you will not be
able to proceed to the destination. If suspicious content is
detected, you will see a warning.</p>
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