Patent Center
DOCX Filing

Nelson Yang
International Patent Business Solutions

Patent Center

Patent Center will replace Electronic Filing System-Web (EFS-Web)and Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR)
for filing and managing patent applications.
Patent Center features a unified, user-friendly
interface and incorporates
all the capabilities of EFS-Web,
2022
PAIR.
• Retired Public
PAIR
Mid 2020-2021• Training sessions•Continue
incorporating
functionality found in
EFS-Web, Public PAIR,
April 2020
•Open to the public and Private PAIR
•Training sessions •Training sessions

2023• Retire EFS-Web
and Private PAIR
• Training sessions

Patent Center (cont.)

DOCX Filing• USPTO is switching to DOCX forapplication filings• Part of ongoing initiatives toleverage the most advanced
technology and to issue andmaintain robust and reliable patents• Use of DOCX is foundational tofuture efforts and functionality

DOCX submissions••••

DOCX is a word processing file format based on open standards,
including Extensible Markup Language (XML)DOCX is supported by most popular word-processing applications– Microsoft Word, Google Docs, LibreOffice, and Pages– Typically what is used to generate the PDF currently used to file applications

The USPTO began accepting structured text (DOCX) in August 2017
Additional features and enhancements are being developed forstructured text filing within Patent Center to further enhance userexperienceWhat can be filed in DOCX?
• Applicable to following application types– Utility non-provisional under 35 USC 111(a)• Includes Continuations and Divisionals• Includes amendments and responses– Utility provisional under 35 USC 111(b)– National Stage under 35 USC 371• Includes amendments and responses

Patent Center DOCX functionality•User friendly interface for submitting DOCX files•

Automatic splitting of specification, claims, and abstract found withindocuments
Provides content-based validations including•– Drag and drop for document upload– Requirement to convert DOCX into PDF for filing is eliminated– Automatic metadata detection and scrubbing (e.g., comments, etc.)

–––––

•

Specification paragraph number detection
Independent and dependent claim countDuplicate or missing claim number detection
Improper multiple claim dependency
Abstract word countAutomated document code assignments for DOCX files

DOCX benefits• Eliminates need to convert documents to PDF,
reducing likelihood of conversion errors• Ability to validate files prior to submission,
reducing time spent addressing formalities• Reduces likelihood of OCR errors fromconverting PDF documents for publication
purposes

Application Quality Checks
USPTO has developed checks
that detect common errors,such as formatting errors
Instant feedback presubmission to prevent
unnecessary delays inprocessing your application
Warnings and errors are
pinpointed in a copy of theuploaded document in realtimeEliminates the non-embeddedfont error, the most commonerror in uploading a PDF

Non-DOCX surcharge• Starting January 17, 2024, a surcharge up to $400 will apply whenfiling a new non-provisional utility application* in PDF format* Applies to the specification, claims, and abstract when filed in PDF format. Please Visit the Summary of Final
Patent Fee Rules• Drawings are accepted in DOCX format but may still be submitted
in PDF format with no surcharge• Surcharge does not apply to the following application types –provisional, national stage, design, plant, and PCT applicationsAuxiliary PDF•Applicants have the option to submit a PDF document of their application
along with their DOCX document in Patent Center– Applies to utility non-provisional applications (until further notice)••This initiative will allow more time for applicants to acclimate to DOCX
filing and for the USPTO to receive any feedback on issues with the DOCXto PDF conversion process
Applicants will still rely on the DOCX version as the source or evidentiarycopy– May also rely on the auxiliary PDF to support a request to correct an error ordiscrepancy•Applicants should contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) if theyexperience any issues with filing applications in DOCX format