New Users

>> Learn about EFS Hands-on Training

The Patent Electronic Business Center (EBC) is a full-service, customer-care center assisting customers with all of their USPTO Patent e-business activities. At this site you will find software tools specifically designed to help users submit patent application documents and check the status of pending actions. As new electronic tools are developed, they will be made available here.

In order to ensure the security of these e-business activities, we require that users register for many of these tools.

Currently the following tools are available:

Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) provides customers direct secure access to their own patent application status information via Private PAIR. In addition, Public PAIR provides access to general patent information, file histories and IFW (image file wrapper) documents that are publicly available for published patent applications, and other convenient features and services.

>> Click here to read more about Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR)

---

Complete Private PAIR operation, including access to pending application status, requires user registration.

>> Click here to register for the PAIR system

---

Public PAIR maybe used without registration to search for specific patent numbers or publicly-available application numbers.

>> Click here to use PAIR without registration
>> Download Public PAIR Computer Based Training

---

OLD Electronic Filing System (EFS) supports secure electronic filing of Patent application documents via the Internet. EFS is a system for submitting New Utility Patent applications and Pre-grant publication resubmissions information in electronic publication-ready form. EFS also allows the submission of Computer Readable Format (CRF) Sequence Listings for pending paper biotechnology Patent applications.

>> Click here to read more about OLD EFS


---

EFS-Web (available 17 March 2006) is a web-based patent application and document submission solution that uses standard browser screens and prompts to enable users to submit a portable document format (PDF) document directly to the USPTO. Registered users (holder of a USPTO-issued Digital Certificate or an individual working under the direction of a holder of a USPTO-issued Digital Certificate) and unregistered users are able to file. All users may file new utility, provisional and National State applications under 35 USC 371, however, only registered users may file follow-on documents and/or fees for previously filed applications.

>> Register for Customer Number and Digital Certificate
>> Click here to read more about EFS-Web