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<div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">There is another way to publicly access the file wrapper of published applications. It is more awkward to use than patent center, at least with the current interface for my purposes, but it doesn't require login. It seems to work better with some browsers than others, but I haven't worked with it much yet.</div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">Links: </div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><a href="https://data.uspto.gov/patent-file-wrapper/search" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://data.uspto.gov/patent-file-wrapper/search</a></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><a href="https://data.uspto.gov/home" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://data.uspto.gov/home</a></div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">You might consider sharing the links with your foreign associates, most of them want to be able to see files electronically too. </div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">-Dana</div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><br></div></div><div id="ydpf279fc28yahoo_quoted_9934908018" class="ydpf279fc28yahoo_quoted">
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<div><b>From:</b> david--- via Patentpractice <patentpractice@oppedahl-lists.com></div><div><b>To:</b> Dan Feigelson <djf@iliplaw.com></div><div><b>Cc:</b> david@hricik.com <david@hricik.com>; "patentpractice@oppedahl-lists.com" <patentpractice@oppedahl-lists.com></div><div><b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, September 30, 2025 at 08:22:38 AM MDT</div><div><b>Subject:</b> Re: [Patentpractice] Patent Center change</div><div><br></div>
<div><div id="ydpf279fc28yiv9233329649"><div>I thought about that route (provisional). It does seem to be likely to be unlawful but I need to read the statutes. There\u2019s no more physical shoes where you can search prior art,and I assume those had been statutorily required. <div><br></div><div>Don\u2019t get me started on the rest. <br><div><div dir="ltr">David Hricik<div>151 Country Creek Rd.</div><div>Macon, GA 31220<br><div><br></div></div></div><div dir="ltr"><br><blockquote type="cite">On Sep 30, 2025, at 9:07\u202fAM, Dan Feigelson <djf@iliplaw.com> wrote:<br><br></blockquote></div><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr">\ufeff<img width="1" height="1" src="https://gcfagjf.r.af.d.sendibt2.com/tr/op/c8tChV9YcTF18w_hkJG2835TCrRS00DWQgqmAZ85NT8skDbvPeOUJlzYGX8N_oXYFzW0O00k5M2lRL0nMPr7kb7DKAdE6nNT8Jx83PGMQYKwqTccZRGUOgq24H4v7AjfdWmQMSdC2UipK5lBozJwbpvtdCD8_yD3cAKkjSSCdVvg3w1yo8HN3Ni8zBg6J7oy_Y16zgqtWOjeWw" data-inlineimagemanipulating="true"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div>David, I have not looked at the form for verifying one's identity via paper since getting a USPTO account many years ago. So in response to your email, I looked at what the USPTO has to say about using PatentCenter, and found that the <a href="https://gcfagjf.r.af.d.sendibt2.com/tr/cl/RG5kATAGQJxrnW1-ouDyea13AEap9uuOfvVtEDPXIW_LiBnKHPMM2NdkmX27ZnZ_ussJJRU1GuLbpkixX7BPr3y3WY97h99caerCZDSud_BSdG1DZ-TGH0dx2PiblyRCy4fLwPUw-BESQVHlQiYKU7JTq79l9OYRkN7sMCEuEWuXdFl5ykQIolp_-mnR_MUk6MB5VXHbPwe0zTNds29iEocTiS0yfpqWuOs64m4SuCPSy8XU89MhcT0QxSTIjM4Pmw8BFYbfTkXxx5_VNEJiKwac9QaOMU2ZB0FjURncuAOPH6RaRKwLLOGsLd0SLltSzbeTkMGGxuyOLBoA-w" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">instructions for new users</a> are themselves confusing. I also found that you appear to be correct: the <a href="https://gcfagjf.r.af.d.sendibt2.com/tr/cl/3EBu7EYo0Y10ibZZEuZzUEOP4uEl1HDVUXKaGerr81GHDWmlMCgZ9v3ZPwAoMKvRId4cqf-DSRRzwoJ_r2AQwDVe4_2AbbPQb7Xye9LPrNW3DRv7pnIn1mcd0rv7hYgZrmwxvJI5Pq7y_6QXmLNs0Zb21NNu7GOGfS_9IilEM7icJm9_nxJa7xb9N1EW2jkH_3qMRRSZHn1Gz9CCmfDuaiZmWnZIdB0fYvujt3W4TwODWdOaoqWDgTb5JkwKnKw4g-57FPebOiFFnR4H8eU79UKXIcgv-ovDIqPhY8ESOMJIiUbwX-hVEApQyUfrxTr6GlGp" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">paper form</a> for verifying one's ID with the PTO requires that one be a licensed practitioner, or a limited recognition practitioner, or a pro se inventor. If you're not one of those, you're not entitled to look at the USPTO records. Not only is that unbelievably stupid policy, but I'm certain that that position violates some federal statute, and even if allowed by statute, did not go through notice-and-comment rulemaking.</div><div><br></div><div>You could sue the PTO, but I suggest a cheaper course of action: think up a dumb idea that may be (but more likely is not) patentable, write a one-page description of that idea that includes at least one patent-type claim on the idea, and file the one-pager as a provisional patent application, listing yourself as inventor. That will make you a pro se inventor, which will allow you to register as a PatentCenter user under the PTO's current (indefensible) rules. I suggest filing a provisional because (a) it's a low fee compared to a non-provision and (b) with a provisional, there's no requirement for an oath/declaration averring that you consider yourself to be the original inventor of what is claimed.</div><div><br></div><div>Finally, I'm thinking it must be really nice to be someone like Kathi Vidal, on whose watch they decided to destroy private and public PAIR. You FUBAR the agency you're the head of and the people who need that agency, then leave for a nice private-sector gig without any repercussions for the mess you created. Nice work if you can get it.</div><div><br></div><div>Dan </div><br></div><br><div class="ydpf279fc28yiv9233329649gmail_quote ydpf279fc28yiv9233329649gmail_quote_container"><div dir="ltr" class="ydpf279fc28yiv9233329649gmail_attr">On Tue, Sep 30, 2025 at 1:17\u202fAM David Hricik via Patentpractice <<a href="mailto:patentpractice@oppedahl-lists.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">patentpractice@oppedahl-lists.com</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex;" class="ydpf279fc28yiv9233329649gmail_quote"><div>Hi, all,<div><br></div><div>I doubt many of you need to use it, but the PTO recently (start of the month) changed patent center to only practitioners or \u201cindependent inventors\u201d can have permission to access it. For patent litigators or a lot of other people, that\u2019s not a good development. Anyone know why the change?</div><div><br></div><br>
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