[Patentpractice] How to file office action responses / POAs without customer number

[Carl Oppedahl]

On 3/7/2025 1:43 PM, Justin Miller via Patentpractice wrote:
> I have left my previous law firm andam starting my own law firm. This 
> happened a bit faster than I had anticipated, so I was not quite ready.
>
> A number of clients with pending patent applications have transferred 
> their matters to my new firm. I need to respond to numerous office 
> actions, and need to update the POAs first.
>
> Based on conversations withthe AAU, my first step is to file a request 
> for customer number, PTO/SB/125A:
> https://www.uspto.gov/sites/default/files/documents/sb0125.pdf

You can get a customer number instantly in Patent Center.   It takes 
three mouse clicks.   No need to wait two weeks.  What a pity (and how 
unexpected) that the AAU would get this so terribly wrong.

> My understanding is this takes 2 weeks.
Nope.  2 minutes.
>
> I am told that I then need to file the Patent Electronic System 
> Verification Form, PTO‐2042a:
> https://www.uspto.gov/sites/default/files/documents/pto-2042a.pdf
>
> It seems that this form will connect the new customer number to 
> aUSPTO.gov login.
>
> I imagine that's going to take another 2 weeks.
How have you been logging in at MyUSPTO and other places (like Patent 
Center) for all these years?  That user ID and password are already 
linked to your practitioner registration number and are already 
"verified".  Just keep using that user ID and password.  If necessary, 
update the email address that you use on that user ID.
>
> My question is how to file the new POAs and office action responses 
> while I wait.
>
> I see that I can file a POA using contact information rather than a 
> customer number, but I cannot see how to file the POA electronically.
You just go to Patent Center, plug in the application number and 
confirmation number, and e-file the POA.  Same as you would e-file 
anything in any application.
>
> I created a new USPTO.gov login using my new email address, but it 
> does not appear to have permission to file into any existing patent 
> applications (I receive a 401 error).
I would stop trying to use that user ID and password.  As far as I can 
see it was wasted time to try to create that.
>
> I have access to my old USPTO.gov login, but of course it is 
> associated with the customer number of my previous law firm.
You are entitled to keep using that old login ID.  If need be, you 
update the email address associated with that old login ID.  And then it 
is only a matter of a few mouse clicks to get yourself un-associated 
with any old customer numbers that you should not be associated with any 
more.
>
> Am I stuck using fax (which seems slow based on what you have all 
> shared) or mail?
No.  And mail would be just as slow as fax, or slower.
>
> Sincerely,
> Justin P. Miller
> Distinct Patent Law
> Office: 727.513.4590
>
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