All customers are encouraged to register so they are ready to use the full features of EFS-Web for Registered eFilers and Private PAIR.
For questions/comments or further assistance on any announcement below, please send an e-mail to ebc@uspto.gov or call the Patent Electronic Business Center at 1-866-217-9197 (toll-free) or 571-272-4100 from 6 a.m. to 12 Midnight Eastern Time, Monday - Friday.
| New Applications: | 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year |
| Follow-on Submissions: | 23 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year . Unavailable daily from 4:30AM - 5:30AM ET |
| Fee Payment (Stored Payment Method via USPTO Payment Page (Financial Manager)): | 23.5 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Unavailable daily from 12:01AM to 12:30AM ET |
eTerminal Disclaimer Quick Start Guide Update (23JAN2017)
For additional clarity the EFS-Web Quick Start Guide for eTerminal Disclaimers has been updated with the following language:
In accordance with MPEP 1490 V and 37 CFR 1.321, Terminal Disclaimers (including eTerminal Disclaimers) will only be considered in compliance with the requirements when filed into a PENDING Nonprovisional Utility application (including national stage and reissue) or PENDING Design application (including reissue). If an eTerminal Disclaimer is filed after payment of the issue fee but before the patent grant date, a request for Certificate of Correction must be filed requesting that the face of the patent be amended to state --This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
If you require assistance filing an eTerminal Disclaimer via EFS-Web please contact the Electronic Business Center at 1-866-217-9197 Monday through Friday, from 6AM-Midnight ET.
EFS-Web and EFS-Web Contingency Maintenance (31OCT2016)
EFS-Web and EFS-Web Contingency will undergo maintenance and will be unavailable beginning at 12:01 a.m., Saturday, November 5 and ending at 6 a.m., Sunday, November 6 ET.
If you need to file a new application, follow-on submission, or fees during the maintenance period, please use an alternative filing method.
NOTE: Saved submission packages created prior to this maintenance period may not work properly afterward. To avoid potential loss of saved data, please submit saved submissions before 12:01 a.m., Saturday, November 5. If you have any questions, please contact the Patent EBC at (866) 217-9197 or EBC@uspto.gov 6:00 a.m. to 12:00 midnight ET, Monday through Friday.
USPTO Systems Maintenance (18OCT2016)
Due to system maintenance in support of the new interim authentication method, EFS-Web, Private PAIR, and Digital Certificate Management tools will be unavailable Monday, October 24 starting at 12:01 a.m. ET, and ending by 6:00 AM ET.
When systems are available, notification will be posted on the USPTO Systems Status and Availability at http://www.uspto.gov/blog/ebiz/
EFS-Web Applicants
During the maintenance period, applicants may file new applications using EFS-Web for Unregistered eFilers or use an alternative filing method.
If you have questions, please contact the Patent EBC at 1-866-217-9197 or ebc@uspto.gov.
EFS-Web Payment System Update (17OCT2016)
All payments via EFS-Web will be processed using the "New USPTO Payment System". The legacy Payment System and old credentials (e.g., deposit account number and access code) have been removed. Deposit account customers must have Fee Payer permission to see their name on the list of authorized users. Learn more on the Fee Payment Quick Start Guide
Additional information is available in the EFS-Web Quick Start Guide to Fee Payments.
More information about Financial Manager can be found by visiting www.uspto.gov/financialmanager. For additional assistance, please send an email to feeshelp@uspto.gov or call 1-800-786-9199 and select option 3, then option 4.
EFS-Web: Interim Authentication Solution Update and Java Reminder (11OCT2016)
As a reminder, EFS-Web and Private PAIR users should have the latest Java 8 version, which is needed for the current authentication Java Applet.
On October 24th, a new interim authentication method using Java Web Start will be available to provide access to EFS-Web and Private PAIR. You must have Java 8 to use the new Java Web Start authentication method. The interim authentication solution provides a new, plug-in-free option for users to authenticate, and will expand browser options until a new permanent solution is in place. While you can continue to authenticate using the existing method (Java Applet), you will be given an option to utilize the new method.
This interim solution uses Java Web Start technology, allowing users to authenticate into EFS-Web and Private PAIR utilizing their current digital certificate. The new option will provide users more flexibility in browser choice as it reduces the dependency on the Java Applet plug-in. Digital Certificate Management (DCM) tools will also be supported on Java Web Start in a subsequent release.
A new permanent authentication method is currently under development. For additional information regarding these authentication methods, please visit EFS-Web/PAIR System Requirements.
If you have questions, please contact the Patent EBC at (866) 217-9197 or send an email to EBC@uspto.gov. To provide feedback, please email us at eMod@uspto.gov, or you can visit our eCommerce Modernization web page.
Upcoming Changes to EFS-Web Payments for Deposit Accounts and EFTs (13SEPT2016)
On Oct. 17, EFS-Web customers who use a deposit account or EFT for paying fees must be using Financial Manager to store the payment method and to manage user access to the payment method. Deposit accounts and EFTs that are not stored in Financial Manager as of Oct. 17 will no longer be viable payment options for customers. In addition, customers must have established a uspto.gov account and be set-up with the Fee Payer permission in order to use the payment method.
Starting Oct. 17, the USPTO will process all EFS-Web payments via the new USPTO payment page only. All deposit accounts and EFTs must be stored in Financial Manager and customers must have Fee Payer permission in order to make a payment.
Customers will see a phased approach to this change beginning on Sept. 19, when deposit account customers who are not assigned the Fee Payer permission on the deposit account being used for payment will no longer see their name on the list of authorized users. Customers impacted by this change should contact their deposit account Administrator to be added as a Fee Payer before Oct. 17, when the ability to pay with old credentials (i.e. deposit account number and access code) will be completely removed as an option in EFS-Web.
EFT users must also store their EFT in Financial Manager and/or be assigned the Fee Payer permission on that EFT before Oct. 17, to avoid losing access to use the EFT as a payment method.
Get Familiar with the New Payment Page
Today, you can select the option to pay with "New USPTO Payment System." Additional information is available in the Introduction to the New USPTO Payment Page.
More information about Financial Manager can be found by visiting www.uspto.gov/financialmanager. For additional assistance, please send an email to feeshelp@uspto.gov or call 1-800-786-9199 and select option 3, then option 4.
Migrate Existing Deposit Account and EFT Accounts
The deadline to move your existing USPTO deposit accounts and electronic funds transfers (EFT) to Financial Manager is Aug 5, 2016. Make sure your payment methods remain in good standing. If you'd like to speak with a help desk representative regarding Financial Manager, you can send an email to FeesHelp@USPTO.gov or call the USPTO Contact Center at 1-800-786-9199 (select option 3, then option 4). – More Info
Now Available (2June2016):
Customers can pay fees from EFS-Web using the USPTO’s new stored payment system, Financial Manager. With an uspto.gov account, you can save your credit/debit card, EFT, and/or deposit account info as a stored payment method, avoiding the need to enter detailed information for each transaction. Please visit the Financial Manager page to learn more about getting started.
NOTE: The existing EFS-Web payment process will continue to be available in the short-term to allow customers to transition to the new payment system, but will eventually be phased out. Additional details about retiring the existing EFS-Web payment process will be posted when available.
For guidance on how to pay fees from EFS-Web using a stored payment method through USPTO’s Financial Manager, please see the Quick Start Guide.
Advisory (09FEB2016):
Oracle recently announced that the Java plugin will be deprecated in version 9 of Java. Java 9 will be released in March 2017 with the Java plugin functionality still available. Users will be able to authenticate in EFS-Web and Private PAIR until Oracle removes the Java plugin in a future release. The USPTO is committed to ensuring that EFS-Web and Private PAIR are accessible to users. The USPTO is actively pursuing an alternative authentication technology that will not use the Java plugin.
If you have any questions, please contact the Electronic Business Center at 1-866-217-9197 or at ebc@uspto.gov.
USPTO has implemented the following new features in EFS-Web based on user feedback:
(1) Corrected Web-based Application Data Sheet (Corrected Web ADS) -- Registered eFilers may use this option to provide a Corrected/Updated ADS per 37 CFR 1.76(c)(2), where changes will be identified with underlining for insertions and strike-through for text removal. EFS-Web will generate and attach the Corrected ADS PDF. See Quick Start Guide.
(2) Enhanced Initial Web-based Application Data Sheet (Web ADS). EFS-Web eFilers who have been granted power of attorney may retrieve Inventor Information, Domestic Benefit/National Stage data, and/or Foreign Priority data from a parent application when completing their Web ADS submission. See Quick Start Guide.
Import Data for ADS (14DEC2015):
Due to a change in the Adobe software used to create PDF fillable forms, the "Import Data" function is unavailable in the new ADS PDF fillable form. We are working with the vendor to troubleshoot this problem and apologize for any inconvenience.
Web-ADS Saved Submissions (25NOV2015):
EFS-Web will use a revised Web-ADS starting on November 30, 2015 to facilitate applicant's authorization of access to unpublished U.S. patent applications by foreign intellectual property offices. If you saved a Web-ADS form prior to November 30 and retrieve it on or after November 30, your Web ADS saved submission will display in the revised Web ADS version.
Application Data Sheet (ADS) Form PTO/AIA/14 Revision (16NOV2015):
The Application Data Sheet (ADS) form PTO/AIA/14 has been revised and is now posted on the USPTO patents forms page for submission on or after November 30, 2015. The changes to the ADS form were announced in the Federal Register. See Changes to Facilitate Applicant’s Authorization of Access to Unpublished U.S. Patent Applications by Foreign Intellectual Property Offices; found on http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2015-10-27/pdf/2015-27335.pdf Final Rule (October 27, 2015).
Applicants are no longer required to select an opt-in check box on the ADS form to provide the USPTO with authorization to permit a foreign intellectual property office participating in the priority document exchange (PDX) program access to a U.S. priority application. Instead, the revised ADS form contains by default the authorization to permit access to the U.S. priority application via the PDX program. Including a properly signed ADS form on filing will provide applicant’s authorization for the PDX program. Should applicant wish not to provide authorization for the PDX program, applicant can select the opt-out check box for this authorization on the ADS form. The revised ADS form also contains by default the authorization to permit access to the search results from a U.S. priority application by the European Patent Office (EPO). Like the PDX program, should applicant wish not to provide the EPO access to the search results, applicant can select the opt-out check box for this authorization on the ADS form.
Please note that a revised ADS form submitted after the filing of an application CANNOT be used to provide or revoke any of the authorizations to permit access discussed above. Instead, forms PTO/SB/39 and PTO/SB/69, as applicable, should be used to provide or revoke these authorizations to permit access after the filing of an application.
New Feature (27SEPT2015):
Based on user feedback, registered patent practitioners granted power of attorney in an application now have a new option when submitting the Issue Fee Transmittal (PTOL/85b) to pay their issue fee. This new Web 85b feature offers the ability to complete and generate the 85b transmittal form using our Electronic Filing System (EFS-Web). In conjunction with this new filing option the following automated processes have been included:
- Change of Correspondence Address,
- Change of Fee Address, and
- Change in Entity Status
These changes are updated immediately upon successful submission.
The Web 85b feature is available in EFS-Web for Registered eFilers, in the Main Functions menu under “Existing application/patent/proceeding”, “eProcessing”, “Web Based Issue Fee Payment (Web 85b)”.
For more information, see Quick Start Guide for EFS-Web Issue -Fee Transmittal (Web 85b).
For assistance with filing Web 85b or to suggest improvements, please call the Patent Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free) or send an email to EBC@uspto.gov.
Advisory (03SEPT2015):
In response to user feedback, the Web-based ePetition to Make Special based on Age (37 CFR 1.102) is now available for both Registered and Unregistered EFS-Web filers. This feature can be accessed from the Main Functions menu by selecting "Existing application/patent", "ePetition", and "Petition to make special based on age" under the Web-based ePetitions section. Information for this ePetition is entered into a secure Web interface, so petitioners are not required to download, complete, and attach the SB/130 PDF form. Submitted ePetitions are automatically processed and immediately granted upon submission if all requirements are met.
The PDF-based "ePetition to Make Special based on Age" remains available.
If you have questions about filing this ePetition, please contact the Patent EBC at (866) 217-9197 or send an email to EBC@uspto.gov.
For users who are updating their operating systems to Windows 10, please be aware that Windows 10 comes installed with a new web browser, Microsoft Edge, that does not support plug-ins and will not run Java. Because Java is required for authentication to EFS-Web and Private PAIR, this impacts your ability to access EFS-Web and Private PAIR via Microsoft Edge.
To access EFS-Web and Private PAIR using Windows 10, Oracle is recommending the use of alternative browsers such as Firefox and Internet Explorer. IE11 will also be available on Windows10. For additional information regarding Java compatibility and instructions on how to access IE11 on Windows 10, please visit: http://www.java.com/en/download/faq/win10_faq.xml
The USPTO is working on a longer term plan to improve the overall authentication process. For USPTO updates regarding this issue please visit either of our Announcements pages:
• EFS – Web Announcements: http://www.uspto.gov/patents-application-process/applying-online/efs-web-announcements
• PAIR Announcements: http://www.uspto.gov/patents-application-process/checking-application-status/pair-announcements
If you need assistance with this matter, or have questions on any eFiling topic, please visit the Patent Electronic Business Center webpage: http://www.uspto.gov/learning-and-resources/support-centers/patent-electronic-business-center for comprehensive contact information, FAQ’s, and other eFiling resources.
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