Filing Patents Online

Niazi, Sarfaraz K.

Chapter 1 -- The Patent Filing Systems -- Introduction -- A Brief History of the Internet -- U.S. Laws and Systems -- International Patent Laws, Processes, and Systems -- The Paris Convention -- Patent Cooperation Treaty -- European Patent Convention -- Online and Electronic Filing Requirements -- Chapter 2 -- Patent Application Essentials -- Introduction -- Key Definitions -- Misconceptions -- Introduction to Patent Practice -- Purpose of Patent -- Laws Governing Patents -- Important Dates -- Parts of a Patent -- Drawings (35 USC 113) -- Specification (35 USC 112) -- 112 f1 Requirement: Description, Enablement, and Best Mode -- 112 |2 Requirement: Parts of a Claim -- Reading a Claim -- Punctuation of Claim -- Definiteness of Claim -- Narrowing of Claim -- Dependent Claims (§112 f3-4) -- Multiple Dependent Claims (§112 |5) -- Dominant-Subservient Claims -- Means-Plus-Function Clauses (§112 |6) -- Process Claims -- Step-Plus-Function Clauses -- Ranges -- Negative Limitations -- Relative and Exemplary Terminology -- Markush Group -- Markush Alternates -- Jepson-Type Claims, Improvement Claims -- Mixed-Class Claims -- Product-by-Process Claims -- Novelty and Loss of Right to Patent: §102 -- Date of Invention -- Status of Invention -- Types of §102 Events -- §102(a) -- §102(b) -- §102(c) -- §102(d) -- §102(e) -- §102(f) -- §102(g) -- §102 Special Forms -- Obviousness /Nonobviousness (§103) -- §103(a) -- Manner of Invention -- Graham v. John Deere: Fundamental Inquiry -- Prima Facie Obviousness -- Prima Facie Requirements -- §102(e), (f), and (g) Events as §103 Prior Art -- Admission as Prior Art under §103 -- Rights and Procedures under the Patent Cooperative Treaty (PCT) -- Definitions -- Strategies -- PCT Process -- PCT Application -- Significant §102(e) Issues -- Pre-AIPA (Filed November 29, 2000 or Earlier) -- Post-AIPA (Filed November 29, 2000 or Later) -- Chapter 3 -- Online Patentability Search -- Introduction -- Anatomy of a Patent -- Patentability Search Online -- Patent Office Resources -- The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office -- Keyword Selection and Searching -- Patent Images -- Published Application Search -- Patent Classification Search -- Searching with Classification -- Patent Classification Example -- Searching the Gazette -- The European Patent Office -- The World Intellectual Property Organization -- Canadian Patent Office -- Internet Search Engines -- Technical Databases -- Patent Searches and IP Services -- Patent Copies and Search Facilities -- Chapter 4 -- Online Filing Basics -- Introduction -- USPTO -- Obtain a Customer Number -- Associate Customer Number with Patent Application(s) -- Request a Digital Certificate -- Obtain Access Codes -- Set Up the Software -- WIPO -- PCT-EASY Registration -- PCT-EASY Installation -- PCT-SAFE -- EPO -- Chapter 5 -- USPTO EFS Overview -- EFS Purpose -- EFS Software Overview -- What EFS Supports -- What EFS Does Not Support -- Basic Steps to Using EFS -- Getting Started -- Word Processing and Imaging Programs -- File Preparation -- Obtain Specification Authoring Tools -- Obtain Submission Software -- Obtain PTO Direct Security™ -- Technical Issues -- Setup -- EFS Software on Multiple Computers -- Use of EFS Software on a Network -- File Management -- Web Browser -- Operational Issues -- General -- Specification Authoring -- Figures, Drawings, Chemical Structures, and Mathematical Equations -- Additional Application Data -- View /Print -- Transmitting to the USPTO -- Receipt of Filing -- Fees /Payment -- Troubleshooting /Errors -- Chapter 6 -- USPTO EFS Scenarios -- Introduction -- Terminology -- Patent Application Publication Process and EFS Submissions -- New Utility Application -- The Applicant -- The USPTO -- Preparation for Authoring -- Specification -- Viewing -- Submission Folder -- Submission -- Notes -- EFS Filing Scenario with Compact Disc -- The Applicant -- The USPTO -- New Utility Application with Assignment -- Provisional Application -- 18-Month Publication -- The Applicant -- The USPTO -- Voluntary Pre-Grant Publication -- Amended Publication as First Pre-Grant Publication by the USPTO -- Redacted Publication Submission as First Pre-Grant Publication -- by the USPTO -- Redacted Publication Submission after Initial Publication -- Corrected Publication Due to Error -- Computer Readable Format Biotechnology Sequence Listing -- for Pending Paper Application -- Filing an Assignment Recordation for a Previously Filed Patent -- Application Using EFS -- Application Data Sheet -- Case Study for a New Utility Application -- Overview -- Background -- Preparation for Authoring the Patent Application Specification Document -- Authoring the Patent Application Specification Document -- Creating Necessary Transmittals and the Cover Sheet -- Tracking Down the Application -- Chapter 7 -- USPTO: PASAT -- Introduction -- Getting Started -- Creating New Specifications -- Importing Specifications -- Loading Specifications -- Interface Features -- Menus and Menu Options -- Toolbars -- Shortcut Keys -- Office Assistant -- Status Bar -- Disabled Microsoft Word Features -- Editing Specifications -- Changing Tag and Entity Display -- Using the Specification Map -- Managing Selections -- Managing Paragraphs -- Adding Paragraphs -- Splitting Paragraphs -- Deleting Paragraphs -- Renumbering Paragraphs -- Managing Claims -- Adding Claims -- Adding Claim-Text Elements -- Indenting Claim-Text Elements -- Splitting Claim-Text Elements -- Deleting Claim-Text Elements -- Splitting Claims -- Deleting Claims -- Renumbering Claims -- Managing Claim Dependencies -- Creating Claim Dependency References -- Redefining Reference Targets -- Deleting Claim Dependency References -- Formatting Text -- Copy, Cut, and Paste -- Paste Paragraphs -- Paste Claims -- Removing Double Emphasis Tags -- Nonbreaking Spaces and Hyphens -- Smart Quotes, Apostrophes, Fractions, and Double Hyphens -- Reversing Operations -- Managing Complex Work Units -- Converting Equations, Formulae, Symbols, and Tables -- to TIFF Images -- Changing the Browser Display Font -- Managing Tables -- Managing Figures -- Adding Figures -- Reordering Figures -- Removing Figures -- Managing Special Characters -- Inserting Custom Characters -- Replacing Unknown Symbols -- Deleting Special Characters -- Entering Biological Deposit Data -- Spell Check -- Spell Check in Real-Time -- Spell Check in Batch Mode -- Finding and Replacing Content -- Validating and Previewing Specifications -- Validate Specification -- Previewing Specifications -- Saving and Exporting Specifications -- Saving Specifications -- Exporting Specifications -- Chapter 8 -- USPTO TSA -- Introduction -- Macro Setup -- Template Setup Procedures -- Overview of WordPerfect XML Template -- The Template Environment -- EFS Toolbars -- Keyboard Shortcuts -- Overview of EFS Tagging -- The Display Codes View -- Copy and Paste from Text Files -- Paste and Tag Paragraphs -- Insert Special Characters -- Methods of Tagging -- Resolving Tagging Errors -- Correcting a Text Insertion Error -- Correcting a Missing Tag Error -- Correcting an Attribute Error -- Using Undo to Correct an Error -- Using Redo to Correct an Error -- Authoring a Specification -- Create a New Specification -- Select Specification Sections -- Add MPEP Recommended Section -- Remove MPEP Recommended Section -- Create a New Section -- Title of Invention (Required) -- Cross-Reference to Related Applications (Optional) -- Continuity Data -- Referenced Applications and Patents -- Copyright Statement (Optional) -- Federal Research Statement (Optional) -- Compact Disc Appendix (Optional) -- Background of Invention (Optional) -- Summary of the Invention (Optional) -- Brief Description of the Drawings (Conditional) -- Brief Description of Sequences (Conditional) -- Detailed Description of the Invention (Required) -- Deposit of Computer Program Listings (Optional) -- What Is Claimed (Required) -- Basic Claim Tagging -- Additional Claims -- Indented Sections -- Dependent Claim Reference -- Display Claims -- Abstract of the Disclosure (Required) -- Figures (Optional) -- Preparation for Attaching Figures -- Attaching Figures -- Formatting Images -- Deleting a Figure -- Authoring Wrap-Up -- Renumber -- Validation -- Correcting Validation Errors -- Character Mapping Error -- Data Not Allowed Error -- Element Not Allowed at This Point Error -- Required Element Not Found Error -- ID Is Not Unique Error -- Attribute Source Is Not a Data Entity Error -- Viewing the Submission -- Troubleshooting: Images Do Not Display -- Changes after Viewing -- Commonly Used Elements -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- and -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Troubleshooting -- Application Closes before Data Is Saved -- WordPerfect-Specific Keyboard Shortcuts Fail -- One or Both Toolbars Are Missing -- Assistant or Template Menu Is Missing -- Online Help -- Tooltips -- WordPerfect Help -- Chapter 9 -- USPTO PatentIn -- Introduction -- A Sequence Editor -- A Sequence Generator -- Getting Started: Sequence Screen -- Project Menu -- Viewing a Work File -- Viewing a Sequence Listing -- Viewing Error Reports -- Rename Sequence -- Message Dialog -- Project and Applicant Data -- Application Steps Menu -- Project Data -- Prior Application Information -- Applicant Data -- Sequences -- Selecting a Standard Organism -- Searching for a Sequence -- Adding a Sequence -- Importing a Sequence -- Format for Multisequence Data Files to Be Imported -- by PatentIn 3.x -- Format for Single Sequence Data Files to Be Imported -- by PatentIn 3.1 -- Importing Sequences from a Project -- Importing a 2.1 Project -- Copying a Sequence -- Reordering Sequences -- Validating Sequences -- Saving Sequences -- Reloading a Saved Project -- Adding Custom Codons -- Adding a Custom Organism -- Artificial Sequence or Unknown Organism -- Feature Data -- Sequence Features -- Feature Key Selection -- Additional Information Required for Modified_Base -- Additional Information on CDS -- Further Definition of “n” or “Xaa” -- Selecting an Amino Acid -- Additional Information for MOD_RES -- Publication Data -- Publication Data Screen -- Journal Publications Information -- Databases Publication Information -- Patents Publication Information -- Theses Publication Information -- Creating a Sequence Listing Project File -- Generating a Sequence Listing File -- Viewing a Sequence Listing File -- Copying the Sequence Listing to Disk -- Checker for Biotechnology Sequence Listing -- Checker Main Menu Window -- Checker Edit File Button -- Checker Process File Button -- Checker View Errors Button -- Checker View Report Button -- Checker Help Button -- Checker Exit Button -- Checker Properties Dialog Box -- About the Checker Dialog Box -- List of Acronyms -- Error Messages -- Chapter 10 -- USPTO ePAVE -- Overview -- Introduction -- User Interface -- Menus -- Toolbar -- Screens -- General Tab -- Filer Tab -- Creating a New Filer -- Changing Filer Data -- Deleting a Filer -- Forms Tab -- Adding a Form -- Removing a Form -- Completing an Application Data Form -- Application Details Tab -- Inventors Tab -- Publication Data-1 Tab -- Publication Data-2 Tab -- Representative Tab -- Continuity Data Tab (Optional) -- Foreign Priority Benefit Tab -- Plant Information Tab -- Fee Transmittal Form Tab -- Attachments Tab -- The Embedded Folder -- Attaching a File -- Removing a File -- Validation Tab -- Comments Tab -- Submit Tab -- Saving Submissions in Progress -- Opening a Previously Created Submission -- Templates -- Saving Templates -- Creating a Template -- Using a Template -- Printing -- Printing Data Entry Screens /Submission -- Viewing and Printing Submission -- Printing Forms -- Information Disclosure Statement Form -- New Application -- Citing a U.S. Patent on the IDS -- Citing a Published U.S. Patent Application on the IDS -- Including Remarks in the IDS -- Completing the IDS Certification -- Previously Filed Application -- Assignment Recordation Form -- Authoring Multiple Cover sheets -- Form Validating Required Data Elements -- Navigational Controls -- Assignment Fee Info -- Correspondence Data Tab -- Conveying Party Data Tab -- Receiving Party Data Tab -- Subsequent Patent Assignment -- Fee Transmittal Form -- Properties Tab -- Adding a Property -- Changing a Property -- Deleting a Property -- Signature Tab -- Adding an Attachment -- Removing an Attachment -- Rearranging the Attachments -- Delivery Method Tab -- Verifying Cover Sheets -- Viewing the Assignment Recordation Form -- Validation Tab -- Validating Submission -- Common Validation Errors -- Printing Identified Errors -- Validation Override -- Comments Tab -- Submit Tab -- Signing Your Submission -- Sending Your Filing to the USPTO -- Digital Certificate Profile Log-In -- Acknowledgment Receipt -- Filing Large Submissions on Compact Disc -- Saving Your Submission on CD -- Notes to Specific Application Types -- Provisional -- New Utility -- Publication Data-1 Tab -- Publication Data-2 Tab -- Continuity Data Tab -- Foreign Priority Benefit Tab -- Fee Calculation Tab -- Pre-Grant Publication -- Chapter 11 -- USPTO Direct -- Chapter 12 -- WIPO PCT-EASY -- Background -- Online Filing Overview -- Starting PCT-EASY -- Creating a New Request Form -- Templates -- Right Mouse Button -- Request Form Notebook Pages -- Validation Function -- Address Book -- Previewing and Printing a Draft or Duplicate Request Form -- Saving Forms before Submission -- Preparing Requests for Submission -- Fee Reduction -- Filing a PCT Application Using PCT-EASY -- PCT-EASY Software -- Registration -- PCT-EASY Installation -- Creating a PCT International Patent Application -- Request -- Description, Claims, Abstract, Drawings -- PCT-EASY Diskette -- Nucleotide and Amino Acid Sequences -- Language -- Filing a PCT International Patent Application -- The EASY File Manager -- Creating New PCT Forms -- What Are Categories? -- Accessing Categories Functionality -- Creating and Assigning Categories -- Disassociating and Deleting Categories -- Saved PCT Forms -- Templates -- PCT-EASY Central Outbox -- Copying an Application to Diskette -- Viewing an Application in the Outbox -- Deleting Forms from the Outbox -- Correcting an Error or Omission -- EASY Central Stored Forms -- Viewing an Application in the Stored Forms Folder -- Adding International Application Number and Date -- Recopying an Application to Diskette -- Printing Duplicates of the Forms Printed during Submission -- Correcting an Error or Omission from an Application Prepared for Submission or Transmitted -- to the Receiving Office -- Archiving Forms from the Stored Forms Folder -- Deleting Files from the Stored Forms Folder -- Address Book -- Adding an Address to the Address Book -- Viewing Address Book Contents -- Importing and Exporting Entries -- Archiving Files from the EASY Mail Directory, Stored Forms -- Folder -- PCT Fee Maintenance Tables -- Reviewing Amounts -- Using PCT Fees -- Fee Template -- Other File Manager Functionality -- PCT-EASY Electronic Request Notebook -- Speed Buttons -- PCT-EASY Menu Bar Functions -- PCT-EASY Master Table Functions -- Request -- States -- Names -- Priority -- Biology (Indications Relating to Deposited Microorganism -- and Other Biological Material) -- Contents -- Fees -- Payment -- Annotate -- Abstract Editor Guidelines -- Furnishing an Abstract -- Filling in the Text of the Abstract from an External Source -- Submission Process -- Preparation for Submission -- Starting the Submission Process -- Confirmation -- Submission Log -- Signature -- PCT-EASY Generated Request Form and Other Forms -- Creation and Copying of the PCT-EASY Generated Zip File -- to Diskette -- Copying to Diskette Later -- Correcting an Error or Omission from an Application -- Prepared for Submission -- Stored Forms -- Extended Export /Import Functionality -- Data Formats -- Easy Forms and Templates Export -- User Management -- EASY Address Book Export -- EASY Forms Import -- Address Book Import -- PCT-EASY IFF Functionality -- Exporting Data to an IFF File -- IFF File Structure -- Chapter 13 -- WIPO PCT SAFE -- Introduction -- Terminology -- Summary Standards -- E-PCT Format and Submission Structure -- Types of Files -- XML -- ASCII -- PDF -- Image Formats -- Tagged Image File Format (TIFF) -- JPEG File Interchange Format (JFIF) -- Submission Structure -- Electronic Signature -- Facsimile Signature -- Text String Signature -- Click-Wrap Signature -- Enhanced Electronic Signature -- Documents Packaging -- Non-PKI-Based Package -- PKI Package Types -- Signed and Encrypted Package (SEP) -- Transmission -- Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) -- PCT PKI Standards -- Digital Certificates -- Inspection -- Communication -- Applicant-Office (International Phase) Sector -- ISA Sends International Search Report (ISR) with Cited -- Documents to Applicant -- RO Receives WASP or SEP -- RO Validates Certificate and Signature -- RO Performs Automated Formalities Examination on Purported -- Application -- RO Time-Stamps Application -- RO Stores Application -- Offline Transaction Using SEP, WASP, or WAD Packaging -- on Physical Media -- Applicant Sends Documents to RO -- Filing Amendments -- Applicant-Office (National Phase) Sector -- Office to Office Communication -- Chapter 14 -- EPO epoline® -- Introduction -- Filing Online -- Overview -- Step 1: Create Patent Application Using epoline Online Filing -- Step 2: Add All Required Documents -- Step 3: Select “Submit Application” -- Step 4: Complete the List of Signatories -- Step 5: Check that All Documents Are Added -- Step 6: Insert Smart Card in the Card Reader -- Step 7: Select a User Certificate -- Step 8: Enter a PIN Number -- Step 9: Send Application Online -- Step 10: Submission is Completed -- Step 11: Receipt Is Returned from the EPO -- Resending a Patent Application -- Contacting epoline Customer Services -- Troubleshooting FAQs -- PDF Hints and Tips -- Fonts in PDF Documents -- Linking Fonts -- Embedding Fonts -- Identification of Possible Problem Areas -- Which Tool Might Be the Best? -- How to Verify that a PDF File Is Self-Contained -- Paper Size -- Additional Remarks -- Acrobat Upgrades -- Postscript Printer -- Ghostscript and Ghostview -- Generating PDF Documents Using a Scanner -- Online File Inspection -- Appendix -- Glossary of Common Terms -- Index.