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UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE PUBLIC SEARCH FACILITY (PSF)
SEARCHING PATENTS AND TRADEMARKS
VOL. IX No. 4, December 2008
Public User Meetings are held the third Wednesday of every month at 2 p.m. Meeting notices and minutes are available by linking to Products and Services from the USPTO home page at www.uspto.gov. Send topic suggestions for future newsletters to psf@uspto.gov.
Search Facilities
- Operations
- News
- Personnel
NEW ELECTRONIC DIGITAL SIGNAGE SYSTEM
The Public Search Facility (PSF) is now using a new state-of-the-art Electronic Digital Signage System to keep public users updated on Universal Public Workstation (UPWS) operations and other information. It is located to the left of the General Reference Desk on entering the Public Search Facility. Check out the new and latest update information in the Public Search Facility every day!!
FREE PUBLIC TRAINING COURSES AVAILABLE MONTHLY
Training is recommended before using the on-line examiner search systems such as Trademark X-Search, Patent Examiner Assisted Search Tool (EAST) and Patent Web-based Examiner Search Tool (WEST). To find out when the training courses are offered each month or to register for a public training course, please visit the Public Search Facility Reference Desk or call 571-272-3275. Training course information is also available at http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/ac/ido/pssd/#enroll. As of January 2009 training courses will be offered at no cost.
PUBLIC SEARCH FACILITY CUSTOMER SATISFACTION SURVEY
Survey results are available at the Public Search Facility's General Reference Desk.
USPTO PUBLIC USER ACCESS BADGE RENEWAL
USPTO Security asks that public users with building access Ids renew their badges during the month of December. Badge renewal forms are available at the security desk located at the Public Search Facility entrance. For further information, please contact USPTO Security Services at 571-272-8000.
Search Collections
- Digital
- Microfilm
UPDATE ON "GILSON ON TRADEMARKS”
The November 2008 update of “Gilson on Trademarks” (release 68) has been received and interfiled in the PSF copy. Topics include a new chapter (2B) which discusses state right of publicity laws, their typical elements, what symbols a celebrity may protect under these laws, and First Amendment and inheritability restrictions on celebrity claims. Also discussed are the use of meta tags in ranking trademark search results, the doctrine of foreign equivalents and the new UPSTO Examination Guide 2-08 covering trademark descriptions.
TECHNICAL REFERENCES
Unabridged dictionaries are now located on bookstands throughout the search facility for your convenience. Also, PSF reference books on the shelves near the staircase have been rearranged. All the books are still available and still organized by subject: general, intellectual property, pure science, and engineering (including inventions). If you have any difficulty finding your favorite books, please ask a staff member. We will be adding new titles in the upcoming months.
ELECTRONIC TRADEMARK OFFICIAL GAZETTE
The electronic collection of Official Gazette Trademarks (TMOG) accessed via http://www.uspto.gov/web/trademarks/tmog/ has been expanded from the most recent 5 weeks to the most recent 52 weeks. A complete set of paper copies is also maintained in the Public Search Facility.
Search Interfaces
- Structure
- Capabilities
- Modules
SAVED WORKSPACES ON EAST
Public users who routinely use patent search application “EAST” need to remember that the software will not allow you to save additional search result workspaces once you exceed one of the two system storage space limits. Each user is limited to a total of 50MB of system storage space. The second system limit is that each user can only create and save up to 199 workspaces. If one of the storage space limits is exceeded the option to save newly created workspaces will not be displayed when the user exits the EAST patent search application. To avoid exceeding storage limits try to refine your search queries by limiting the use of truncation, plurals and “OR” terms together.
RENEW YOUR USPTO PUBLIC USER UPWS ONLINE ACCESS CARD
During January 2009 users will have the opportunity to renew their existing UPWS online access badge prior to the designated 2009 online access card expiration date. A public notice will be posted during January with additional details.
Search Topics
- Hints
- Results
- Reminders
CERTIFICATION REQUEST DROP-OFF LOCATION AT CARLYLE
The Public Records Division maintains a Certification Request drop-off location on the main USPTO campus for the convenience of their public customers. The drop-off location is at Carlyle Townhouse Building, 551 John Carlyle Street. The Carlyle Townhouse building is adjacent to the East Parking garage.
Public Information Services
United States Patent and Trademark Office
P. O. Box 1450
Alexandria, VA 22313-1450
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