December 06, 2002
#02-71
USPTO to Begin Electronic Processing of Patent Applications
USPTO TO BEGIN ELECTRONIC PROCESSING OF PATENT APPLICATIONS
PRESS RELEASE
The U.S. Department of Commerce’s United States Patent
and Trademark Office (USPTO) this week launched a prototype to
test replacing its standard paper processing of patent
applications with electronic processing. The prototype will
include front-end administrative processing of selected new
applications, as well as processing and examination of pending
applications in three art units that handle biotech and
semi-conductor inventions. The paper documents in the
application files assigned to the prototype will be scanned
into electronic image files including the specification; oath
or declaration; drawings; information disclosure statements;
amendments; examiner decisions; and file jacket notations.
Processing and examination of these applications will then be
performed with the electronic files by the examiners, technical
support staff and all other USPTO professional staff during the
prototype.
“Automating the patent examination process is another
example of the ongoing efforts of USPTO and the Bush
Administration to create a quality-focused, market-driven,
e-commerce based organization that rapidly responds to the
demands of the national and global marketplaces,” noted
James E. Rogan, Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual
Property. “This prototype is a major component of the
agency’s 21st Century Strategic Plan and efforts to
efficiently deliver high quality products through implementing
electronic patent processing by the end of 2004.”
The electronic image-based processing system being used in the
prototype was designed with core software developed by the
European Patent Office. USPTO will incorporate the experience
and lessons learned from this prototype into a production
system for all patent applications.
For more information go to
http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/pac/dapp/opla/preognotice/phoenix.htm
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