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Patent Electronic Business Center Overview Revised 03/15/02 Patent Electronic Business Center (EBC) Provides access to electronic business applications for patent customers Customer Number Registration forms Required for PAIR and EFS Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) Registration forms
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Patent Electronic Business CenterOverview Revised 03/15/02
Patent Electronic Business Center (EBC) Provides access to electronic business applications for patent customers • Customer Number Registration forms • Required for PAIR and EFS • Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) Registration forms • Security software to support electronic commerce • Required for PAIR and EFS • Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) • Access to application status and history via the internet • Electronic Filing System (EFS) • Filing of patent applications via the internet
How do I get there? Go to: www.uspto.gov Click on: Online Business Patent Electronic Business Center (EBC)
Click on: Patent Electronic Business Center Patent Electronic Business Center (EBC)
Patent Electronic Business Center (EBC) Is this your first visit to the EBC? Click On:New Users
United States Patent and Trademark Office Customer Number
Single Multiple Address Customer Number Assigned to multiple patent applications Customer Number What is a Customer Number?
OLD PROCESS NEW PROCESS Requires only one correspondence for all applications Requires one correspondence per application Customer Number Customer Number Changing addresses using Customer Number
How do I apply for a Customer Number? 1) Download the Customer Number Form 2) Fill in the form 3) Mail to: US Patent & Trademark Office Box EBC Washington, DC 20231 or Fax to:(703) 308-2840 Customer Number Correspondence Address Practitioners of Record Point of Contact
Barcode Labels • Initial supply of labels are issued to customers when the Customer Number is created • Labels should be used on correspondence with the USPTO in place of physical address or when listing practitioners of record (see previous slide) • An electronic version of the labels is available via request to the EBC to use with electronic forms • If you have inserted this into an electronic copy, fax or email a copy for us to verify that the barcode will scan properly • Contact the EBC Customer Support Center at (703) 305-3028; fax (703) 308-2840 Customer Number
Use Customer Number to Associate a Group of Attorneys Use Customer Number to Associate an Address Customer Number
How do I change the address on myapplications to my customer number? 1) Download the Customer Number Update Template 2) Fill in the Excel spreadsheet 3) Mail your disk to: US Patent & Trademark Office Box EBC Washington, DC 20231 4) You will receive an address update report from USPTO Customer Number Correspondence Address + PAIR Access
Customer Number Update Template Rules • Submit in format provided - no additional information needed (e.g., attorney docket numbers) • Provide cover letter with information including contact person’s name, telephone number and email address; must include the signature of one Registered Practitioner associated with the customer number • At least 2 of the following 4 columns must be included to upload successfully Patent Number Application Number Patent Date Filing Date • EBC staff will review addresses and will contact you regarding any discrepancies in correspondence address before completing the upload Customer Number
Customer Number What advantages does the Customer Number provide? 1) Access to PAIR 2) Necessary for EFS 3) Single paper provides address and attorney changes to all applications
PKI Customer Number Customer Number & PAIR Access The PKI certificate and Customer Number tie the person to the group of applications
United States Patent and Trademark Office Public Key Infrastructure (PKI)
Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) • Security of patent application and related data • U.S. National Patent Law, 35 USC 122 • E-Commerce interaction with customers requires: • Confidentiality • Authenticity • Access Control • Integrity • Non-Repudiation • USPTO serves as a Certificate Authority and issues digital certificates to our customers • Required for PAIR and EFS access
How do I apply for a PKI certificate? 1) Download the Certificate Action Form 2) Fill in the form 3) Mail to: US Patent & Trademark Office Box EBC Washington, DC 20231 Note: Document must contain an original signature and be notarized by a notary public 4) When you receive security keys from USPTO, download and setup Entrust software Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) X
AuthCode Ref Num E-mail Public Key Infrastructure (PKI)
NEW: Release 6.0 Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) Click to download USPTO Direct (PAIR) software
Install software • Double-click on download file • Follow instructions to complete installation • Icon will be placed on your desktop • Double-click on desktop icon • Follow instructions to set up profile using reference number and authorization code provided by the USPTO Electronic Business Center (EBC)
Electronic Business Center (EBC) • Each PKI certificate may be used by the certificate holder plus one person under the direction and control of the holder • Reference Number and Authorization Code can only be used to create your profile one time Attempting to reuse Reference Number and Authorization Code will disable your certificate
PKI Certificate Renewal • Certificate renews one year from date of issue • The renewal is automatic and is not noticeable unless the certificate has been copied onto multiple computers • If the certificate has been copied, it will be renewed on the first PC that logs into PAIR on the first day following the one year anniversary
FIREWALL Re-direct ProxyServer EntrustProxy NetscapeProxy PALM DATA SERVER Outside PTO Net Virtual Vault Private Public Inside PKI and PAIR
United States Patent and Trademark Office Patent Application Information Retrieval
PAIR Features • Quick, easy and secure access to Patent and Patent Application information via direct access to PALM information • 24 hr access to PALM information • Access to real-time information • Two ways to access PAIR • Public • Private
Public Private • Requires NO PKI software • Review Patented & Published Application Information • Prosecution History • Status and Location • Requires PKI software • Requires Customer Number • Review Pending & Patented Application Information • Prosecution History • Status and Location • Limited Bibliographic Data USPTO Employee Directory PAIR Features
PAIR Interface Private PAIR Requires Customer Number and PKI Certificate
PAIR Interface Application Number Search
PAIR Interface Continuity Data Parent and Child
PAIR Interface Customer Number Search Private PAIR
PAIR Interface Public PAIR
PAIR Interface MaintenanceFees Public/Private PAIR
USPTO Customer • Direct electronic information retrieval • Real-time tracking of application status • Provide better customer service • Permits USPTO staff to focus on application processing PAIR Benefits
How many Customer Numbers do I need? Each geographically dispersed office of one business can have its own customer number DC New York California 999999 999998 999997 Customer Number Details
How many Customer Numbers do I need? 999999 Multiple individuals at one location can each have their own customer numbers 999998 999997 Customer Number Details
How many Customer Numbers do I need? A firm can have different customer numbers for each of its major clients Corp A Corp B Corp C 999999 999998 999997 RemainingApplications 999996 Customer Number Details
PKI PKI PKI PKI Customer Number Customer Number & PAIR Access Individuals must each have their own PKI certificate that will access the same set of applications through a common customer number
Customer Number PKI Customer Number Customer Number Customer Number & PAIR Access An individual can use a single PKI certificate to view multiple customer numbers
Firm PKI PKI PKI PKI PKI PKI Customer Number Customer Number Customer Number Customer Number Remaining Applications Corp A Corp C Corp B Customer Number & PAIR Access
American Inventors Protection Act of 1999 • Subtitle A – Inventor’s Rights • Subtitle B – Patent and Trademark Fee Fairness • Subtitle C – First Inventor’s Defense • Subtitle D – Patent Term Guarantee • Subtitle D – Requests for Continued Examination • Subtitle E – Domestic Publication of Patent Applications Filed Abroad • Subtitle F – Optional Inter Partes Reexamination • Subtitle G – Patent and Trademark Office • Subtitle H – Miscellaneous Patent Provisions
Implementation of Subtitle E – Domestic Publication of Patent Applications Published Abroad • Automation Implementation: • Source of content for publication • Application as filed • Since 1997, the Patent Application Capture & Review System (PACR) has captured all applications as filed • PACR images will be exported to a publishing contractor for conversion into a composed electronic publication • Redacted, amended, voluntary and republication request • Applicant must submit an XML document via the Electronic Filing System (EFS) • Publishing contractor will convert XML document into a composed electronic publication
Implementation of Subtitle E –Pre-Grant Publication (PGPub) Process Publication format: • Electronic • Front page, similar to US Patents (title, bibliographic data, abstract and figure(s)) • IPC and US classifications • Two column arrangement for specification and claims • Full text searchable • Content will be based on application as filed (will include translations supplied after filing) unless applicant submits a publication-ready document in electronic form via Electronic Filing System (EFS)
Implementation of Subtitle E –Pre-Grant Publication (PGPub) Process
Pre-Grant Publication -Confirmation Number • Each application will be assigned a confirmation number • Assigned at application initialization • Format: 4 digits, 1000 to 9999 • Used in combination with application number to confirm the accuracy of application number • Required for EFS PGPub filings • Recommended for all incoming submissions (paper & electronic)
Pre-Grant Publication -Confirmation Number • Each application will be assigned a confirmation number • Printed on filing receipt • Available via PAIR • Available via PALM intranet General Information Screen • Confirmation number mailed on all pending applications to Patent applicant or attorney in December 2000
Implementation of Subtitle E –Pre-Grant Publication (PGPub) Process • Automation Implementation: (continued) • Source of bibliographic data for publication • Application as filed • The Patent Application Locating and Monitoring (PALM) system captures bibliographic data and will provide the data to the publishing contractor • Redacted, amended, voluntary and republication request • Applicant must submit bibliographic data in the XML document via the Electronic Filing System (EFS) which will be used for publication
Implementation of Subtitle E –Pre-Grant Publication (PGPub) Process • Automation Implementation: (continued) • Bibliographic data review • The Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system will provide applicant with access to all bibliographic data to be used on the published front page for review • Applicant will have opportunity until 14 weeks prior to publication date to review bibliographic data and submit written request for corrections