Source: https://www.uspto.gov/patents-application-process/filing-online/legal-framework-efs-web
Timestamp: 2019-04-23 20:57:41+00:00

Document:
2. Revised Procedure for Public Key Infrastructure Certificates, 74 FR 66955 (December 17, 2009).
3. Electronic Filing System - Web (EFS-Web) Contingency Option, 75 FR 27986 (May 19, 2010).
4. Introduction of new Patent Maintenance Fees Storefront (April 7, 2016).
Inquiries regarding EFS-Web and other USPTO information technology (IT) systems may be directed to the Patent Electronic Business Center (Patent EBC), by telephone: 1-866-217-9197 (toll-free) and 571-272-4100, or by e-mail: ebc@uspto.gov.
8. Section J (former sections IX, XVII, XVIII and XIX) has been revised to permit PCT-EASY.zip compressed files to be submitted via EFS-Web when users are filing international applications with the United States Receiving Office, and to provide that tables related to a sequence listing in an international application must be submitted in a PDF file rather than in a text file.
EFS-Web is the USPTO's system for electronic filing of patent correspondence. EFS-Web is accessible via the Internet on the USPTO Web site. The system utilizes standard Web-based screens and prompts to enable users to submit patent documents in Portable Document Format (PDF) directly to the USPTO. Users may electronically submit most patent applications, reexamination requests, and other patent-related documents securely using EFS-Web. Users may also use EFS-Web to submit payments of most patent fees including patent application filing fees. Users need not provide a duplicate copy of any document filed through EFS-Web unless the USPTO specifically requires the filing of a duplicate in a particular situation. Users may review and check their electronic submissions including their attached PDF files before submitting the documents to the USPTO. After submitting the documents via EFS-Web, the system will display a page that states that the USPTO has received the user's submission. The users, generally within two hours, will receive an Electronic Acknowledgement Receipt of a successful submission received by the USPTO. The processing of fees may delay the issuance of the Electronic Acknowledgement Receipt. The Electronic Acknowledgement Receipt is the electronic equivalent of a postcard receipt. See Manual of Patent Examining Procedure (MPEP) § 503. Most documents submitted via EFS-Web will be viewable via the Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system within an hour after the USPTO receives the documents if the users have associated their applications with their customer numbers. Therefore, users will be able to immediately check the contents of their applications for completeness and accuracy of their electronic submissions.
A user may become a registered user by obtaining a PKI digital certificate. See section E of this notice for more information on PKI digital certificates. A registered user may file most patent applications and follow-on documents in a patent application, but a non-registered user is not permitted to file most follow-on documents in a patent application. See section B of this notice for more information.
EFS-Web is a PDF-based filing system. Accordingly, all EFS-Web submissions are required to be in PDF format unless otherwise indicated in this notice. EFS-Web permits submission of: (1) the American Standard Code of Information Interchange (ASCII) text files (.TXT) to submit bio-sequence listings, computer program listings, mega tables, and Complex Work Units; and (2) PCT-EASY.zip compressed files to submit the Request form generated by PCT-SAFE (operated in PCT-EASY mode) in international applications with the United States Receiving Office. See sections I and J of this notice for more information on ASCII text files and electronic filing of international applications, respectively. In addition, the USPTO provides users with PDF EFS-Web fillable forms, such as the Provisional Application for Patent Cover Sheet, the Information Disclosure Statement, the Application Data Sheet, Petition to Make Special Under Accelerated Examination Program, Petition to Accept Unintentionally Delayed Payment of Maintenance Fee in an Expired Patent, Request for Continued Examination (RCE) Transmittal, and Petition to Make Special Based on Age. When users submit information using an EFS-Web fillable form, the information will directly load into the USPTO databases which will increase accuracy and facilitate faster processing. Users may use other USPTO-created PDF fillable forms available on the USPTO Web site, or user-created forms, and submit the completed forms via EFS-Web. The information entered on these forms, however, will not be automatically loaded into the USPTO databases.
The USPTO Web site provides additional information on EFS-Web and PAIR, such as instructions, guidelines, frequently asked questions, and tutorials. Users may contact the Patent Electronic Business Center (Patent EBC) for assistance with EFS-Web and PAIR as well as for requesting PKI digital certificates and customer numbers.
B5. Can fee payments be submitted via EFS-Web?
To the extent that any USPTO regulation is inconsistent with the procedures for EFS-Web, the regulation will be interpreted in a manner to support EFS-Web. This notice sets forth the USPTO's policies concerning documents submitted electronically using EFS-Web, including patent applications and requests for reexamination, as well as follow-on documents in patent applications and reexamination proceedings.
Petitions to accept an unintentionally delayed payment of maintenance fee under 37 CFR 1.378(c), and payments of maintenance fees when submitted with the petition.
Petition to make special under accelerated examination program (must be filed with a nonprovisional utility patent application under 35 U.S.C. 111(a)).
Follow-on documents: Registered users are permitted to file follow-on documents in the patent applications and reexamination proceedings listed above via EFS-Web. Follow-on documents are documents filed after the initial submission of the application or request for reexamination, which include, but are not limited to, the following: amendments, information disclosure statements (IDS), replies to Office actions and notices, evidence, petitions, and other documents filed after the filing of a patent application or request for reexamination. In addition, registered users may file copies of the patent application (e.g., a copy of the amended specification including the claims, and drawings, for the purposes of publication of the application) for the following pre-grant (eighteen-month) publication requests via EFS-Web: amended publication under 37 CFR 1.215(c), redacted publication under 37 CFR 1.217, early publication under 37 CFR 1.219, and voluntary publication or republication under 37 CFR 1.221(a). See section G for more information on filing these publication requests via EFS-Web. Follow-on documents also include any documents submitted on the same day as the application, but after the initial submission. In reexamination proceedings, both the reexamination requester and the patent owner may file documents via EFS-Web, if they are registered users. Registered users may also file a second or subsequent submission for patent term extension under 35 U.S.C. 156 in a patent file via EFS-Web.
Non-registered users are not permitted to file follow-on documents via EFS-Web, except those listed in items 8-10 above. Non-registered users may file follow-on documents by mail (with a certificate of mailing in accordance with 37 CFR 1.8), Express Mail from USPS in accordance with 37 CFR 1.10, or hand delivery.
1. Plant patent applications under 35 U.S.C. 161 and documents associated with plant patent applications.
2. Requests for Reexamination under 35 U.S.C. 302 and 311 for plant patents and documents associated with reexamination proceedings for plant patents.
3. Third party submissions under 37 CFR 1.99.
4. Protests under 37 CFR 1.291.
5. Public use papers under 37 CFR 1.292.
6. Color drawings and color photographs for international applications that have not entered the national stage.
7. Initial submissions for patent term extension under 35 U.S.C. 156.
8. Correspondence concerning registration practice as specified in 37 CFR 1.4(e). See also 37 CFR 1.6(d)(1).
9. Certified documents as specified in 37 CFR 1.4(f). See also 37 CFR 1.6(d)(2). An example of such a submission is a certified copy of a foreign patent application filed pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 119 or a certified copy of an international application filed pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 365.
10. Correspondence to be filed in a patent application subject to a secrecy order under 37 CFR 5.1 through 5.5. See also 37 CFR 1.6(d)(6).
11. Documents filed in contested cases before the Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences (BPAI), except as the BPAI may expressly authorize. See also 37 CFR 1.6(d)(9).
12. Documents filed in contested cases before the BPAI, which are governed by 37 CFR 41.106(f). See also 37 CFR 1.6(d)(3) and 1.8(a)(2)(i)(C).
13. Correspondence filed in connection with a disciplinary proceeding under 37 CFR parts 10 and 11. See also 37 CFR 1.6(d)(3).
14. Maintenance fees submitted under 37 CFR 1.366 that are not submitted with a petition under 37 CFR 1.378(c) (see item 9 in section B1 of this notice). Patent owners may pay electronically using the Patent Maintenance Fee Storefront. See MPEP § 2510 for information regarding the proper methods for submitting maintenance fees.
15. Assignment documents under 35 U.S.C. 261, which may be electronically filed using the Electronic Patent Assignment System (EPAS) or the Electronic Trademark Assignment System (ETAS). Information regarding EPAS is available at: http://epas.uspto.gov. Information regarding ETAS is available at: http://etas.uspto.gov.
16. Submissions that are not associated with a patent application or reexamination proceeding.
(2) TIFF images of all other original documents as stored in IFW as well as the Electronic Acknowledgement Receipt and the Electronic Patent Application Fee Transmittal, both of which contain information entered via the EFS-Web graphical user interface (GUI) data collection screens.
the Pre-Grant Publication Division and are not stored in IFW or SCORE as part of the official record of the patent application. See section G for more information on publication requests.
B4. How are applications filed via EFS-Web counted for application size fee purposes? For patent applications filed under 35 U.S.C. 111 (including provisional applications, utility and design nonprovisional applications, and reissue applications), the paper size equivalent of the specification (including claims) and drawings of an application submitted via EFS-Web will be considered to be seventy-five percent (75%) of the number of sheets of paper present in the specification (including claims) and drawings of the application when entered into IFW after being rendered by EFS-Web for purposes of determining the application size fee required by 37 CFR 1.16(s). See 37 CFR 1.52(f)(2) and MPEP § 607. The paper size equivalency under 37 CFR 1.52(f)(2) for EFS-Web filings does not apply to national stage submissions. See MPEP § 1893.01(c).
Any sequence listing in compliance with 37 CFR 1.821(c) or (e), and any computer program listing in compliance with 37 CFR 1.96, submitted via EFS-Web will be excluded when determining the application size fee required by 37 CFR 1.16(s) if the listing is submitted in ASCII text as part of an associated file of the application. See 37 CFR 1.52(f)(2) and sections I2 and J3 of this notice. Sequence listing or computer program listings submitted as PDF files would not be excluded.
B5. Can fee payments be submitted via EFS-Web? Yes, non-registered and registered users may submit the filing fees (e.g., the basic filing fee, search and examination fee, and excess claims fee) using the online fee payment in EFS-Web at the time of filing a patent application or request for reexamination. Only registered users may submit payment of fees in a previously filed application or reexamination proceeding. EFS-Web permits users to electronically submit the payment of fees with a credit card, USPTO deposit account, or electronic fund transfer. Users may also provide authorizations to charge fees to a deposit account with the documents being submitted electronically via EFS-Web (e.g., a fee transmittal letter or form). However, users should not submit a credit card charge authorization including the Credit Card Payment Form (PTO-2038) electronically via EFS-Web, because the electronic submission automatically will be loaded into the application file in IFW, and the credit card information may become part of the record of an application file that is open to public inspection.
When the online fee payment in EFS-Web is unavailable, a deposit account authorization transmittal (e.g., PTO/SB/17) may be included with the documents being submitted via EFS-Web. A credit card authorization transmittal (e.g., PTO-2038) may also be submitted by facsimile transmission to the USPTO Central Facsimile (571) 273-8300, or sent via Express Mail from the United States Postal Service (USPS) in accordance with 37 CFR 1.10. Applicants must include the application number from the Electronic Acknowledgement Receipt to ensure that the fees are paid in the correct application. Facsimile submission of the basic national fee for national stage under 35 U.S.C. 371 is not accepted. Failure to timely pay the basic national fee prior to the expiration of 30 months from the priority date will result in abandonment of the international application.
If applicant wishes to submit the application filing fees on the filing date of a patent application to avoid the surcharge, the payment of the filing fees must be submitted and received by the USPTO before midnight on the filing date of application. Failure to pay the fees on the filing date of the application will result in a surcharge.
(2) Pre-grant publication submissions under 37 CFR 1.211 to 1.221 that require a fee.
C4. Can users file new applications when the primary portal to EFS-Web is unavailable during an unscheduled outage?
The official application filing date will be noted on the Filing Receipt (37 CFR 1.54) after the submitted application parts are reviewed for compliance with 35 U.S.C. 111 (or for compliance with 35 U.S.C. 371 for entry into the U.S. national stage of an international application). The filing date is based on the dates indicated on the Electronic Acknowledgement Receipt assuming that, after review, the documents submitted are found to be entitled to an application filing date. Likewise the official reexamination filing date will be noted on the "Notice of ... Reexamination Request Filing Date," after Central Reexamination Unit (CRU) review for filing date compliance, and is based on the dates indicated on the Electronic Acknowledgement Receipt.
If the official version of any document received by EFS-Web is lost, damaged or rendered unreadable and if it cannot be recovered from the stored files received by electronic submission, then the user will be promptly notified. Such events are expected to be rare. In that situation, the user may have to resubmit any lost document and petition for the original filing date. The user would be required to present: (1) the Electronic Acknowledgement Receipt; (2) a copy of the missing files as submitted; and (3) a signed petition accompanied by a statement stating that the attached files are the same as those originally submitted and mentioned in the Electronic Acknowledgement Receipt for that application number (e.g., a petition under 37 CFR 1.53(e) or 37 CFR 1.182 with the appropriate petition fee under 37 CFR 1.17(f)).
C1. What is the date of receipt of a follow-on document received by the USPTO through EFS-Web? Follow-on documents filed in a patent application or reexamination proceeding after the initial filing of the application or request for reexamination will be accorded a receipt date, which is the date the follow-on document is received at the USPTO. See 37 CFR 1.6(a)(4).
The filing date of an application shall be the date on which the specification and any required drawing are received in the Patent and Trademark Office.
Thus, the filing date of an application is the date of receipt of the application in the USPTO. Further, the USPTO is located in the Eastern Standard Time zone. Accordingly, the date of filing of an application officially submitted through EFS-Web will be the date in the Eastern Standard Time zone when the USPTO received the submission. As such, the submission's "date of receipt," as shown on the Electronic Acknowledgement Receipt, is the Eastern Standard Time date that the documents are fully, successfully, and officially received at the USPTO, after the user clicks the SUBMIT button on the Confirm and Submit screen. See 37 CFR 1.6(a)(4). This date is controlling for filing date purposes of a newly filed application. There is no "certificate of transmission" practice for new application filings (37 CFR 1.8). This applies by analogy to reexamination proceedings.
To be very specific, the EFS-Web system records as the date of receipt of documents the local date in Eastern Standard Time on which the USPTO receives the documents, after the user clicks the SUBMIT button on the Confirm and Submit screen for those documents.
For example, if an applicant in California officially files a patent application with the USPTO through EFS-Web by clicking on the SUBMIT button at 10 p.m. Pacific Time in California on May 1, that application would be officially received by the USPTO at 1 a.m. Eastern Standard Time on May 2. Accordingly, the application would receive a filing date of May 2. However, the applicant could alternatively file the application using Express Mail from the USPS in accordance with 37 CFR 1.10 in which case the applicant would have until midnight on May 1 in his or her local time zone to file the application and obtain a filing date of May 1.
C3. Can users file documents during non-business hours via EFS-Web? Hours of operation of EFS-Web will be clearly provided in the EFS-Web instructions when users log on to the system. The USPTO will post information on any scheduled down time due to system maintenance in advance. Users may file patent documents electronically during the hours of operation of EFS-Web every day of the week, including weekends and holidays. If the submission is successfully received (even on a Saturday, Sunday or Federal holiday within the District of Columbia), the USPTO will assign that receipt date to the submission.
If a transmission is attempted during a down time, the USPTO cannot accept it and will, if possible, transmit back a notice that the USPTO is not accepting submissions. No Electronic Acknowledgement Receipt will be sent. Instead a notice will advise the user to use alternative filing methods, such as Express Mail from the USPS in accordance with 37 CFR 1.10 or hand delivery of paper to the USPTO, to establish the filing date. Note that applications filed under 37 CFR 1.53, and reexamination requests, cannot be submitted by facsimile transmission (37 CFR 1.6(d)(3) and (5)), and that certificate of mailing procedures do not apply to new applications and reexamination requests (37 CFR 1.8(a)(2)(i)(A) and (D)). Users are strongly advised to transmit their electronic filings sufficiently early in the day to allow time for alternative paper filing when transmission cannot be initiated or correctly completed.
The USPTO will provide EFS-Web Contingency Option to users to file new applications, national stage submissions under 35 U.S.C. 371, requests for reexamination, and certain petitions when the primary portal to EFS-Web is unavailable during an unscheduled outage. The USPTO will post a notification of any unscheduled outage of the primary portal to EFS‑Web and provide the link to EFS-Web Contingency Option on the EFS-Web Internet page (http://www.uspto.gov/patents/process/file/efs/index.jsp). The EFS-Web Contingency Option has the same functionality as EFS-Web for unregistered e-filers (https://efs.uspto.gov/efile/portal/efs-unregistered). It permits users to sign on as unregistered EFS-Web users to file new applications, national stage submissions under 35 U.S.C. 371 submitted with the basic national fee necessary to enter the national stage, requests for reexamination, and certain petitions. However, other follow-on documents and fee payments filed after the initial submission of the application or reexamination request (e.g., amendments and replies to Office actions) cannot be filed using EFS-Web Contingency Option.
Petition to make special under the accelerated examination program (must be filed with a nonprovisional utility patent application under 35 U.S.C. 111(a)).
Documents filed via EFS-Web Contingency Option as part of the submissions listed above must meet the same file format requirements established for EFS-Web, e.g., file size and PDF embedded-font requirements. The same file validation performed in EFS‑Web will be performed in EFS-Web Contingency Option. Similar to EFS-Web, EFS-Web Contingency Option will provide an Electronic Acknowledgement Receipt that establishes the date of receipt by the USPTO of an application or document submitted via EFS-Web Contingency Option. Applicant is not be required to, and should not, resubmit the application or document when the primary portal to EFS-Web is once again available. Any resubmission of an application will result in filing a duplicate application and, if applicant pays the filing fees again when submitting the duplicate application, no refund will be provided.
Applications filed via EFS-Web Contingency Option are protected with the same level of security as EFS-Web for unregistered e-filers by using Transport Layer Security (TLS) to encrypt transmission over the Internet. Registered e-filers who have uploaded documents to a Saved Submission package in EFS-Web will not be able to access those Saved Submission documents in EFS-Web Contingency Option. Applicants can submit on-line fee payments by selecting fees on the fee calculation screen and completing their payment at time of submission (i.e., chose the "Yes! I want to pay now" button rather than "No ‑ I will pay later" button).
When the primary portal to EFS-Web is unavailable during an unscheduled outage, applicants may also file new applications, national stage submissions under 35 U.S.C. 371 submitted with the basic national fee necessary to enter the national stage, and reexamination requests, by hand-delivery to the USPTO, or "Express Mail" from the United States Postal Service (USPS) in accordance with 37 CFR 1.10, to establish the filing date or national stage entry date. New applications, national stage submissions under 35 U.S.C. 371 submitted with the basic national fee necessary to enter the national stage, and reexamination requests cannot be submitted by facsimile transmission, and certificate of mailing procedures under 37 CFR 1.8 do not apply to these items.
The EFS-Web Contingency Option does not permit follow-on fee payments and follow‑on documents other than those listed above. Applicants may file the documents or fee payments by: (1) facsimile transmission, (2) first class mail with a certificate of mailing in accordance with 37 CFR 1.8, (3) hand-delivery to the USPTO, or (4) "Express Mail" from USPS in accordance with 37 CFR 1.10. Documents that are required to establish the filing date of an application (e.g., a missing drawing figure or page of the specification) cannot be submitted by facsimile transmission, and certificate of mailing procedures under 37 CFR 1.8 do not apply to these documents.
II. Improperly Filed Follow-on Documents: As previously stated, EFS-Web Contingency Option and EFS-Web for unregistered e-filers permit users to sign on as unregistered EFS-Web users to file new applications, national stage submissions under 35 U.S.C. 371 submitted with the basic national fee necessary to enter the national stage, requests for reexamination and certain petitions. Unfortunately, EFS-Web Contingency and EFS-Web for unregistered e-filers have limited functionality, which do not permit users to file other follow-on documents and follow-on fee payments after the initial submission of the application or reexamination request (e.g., amendments and replies to Office actions). Accordingly, it will be improper for users to file follow-on documents as new applications. The USPTO provides answers to frequently asked questions, and other helpful information on the USPTO Web site. Users are encouraged to check the USPTO Web site for more information and contact the Patent Electronic Business Center for questions related to the usage of USPTO electronic systems.
III. Additional Information Regarding National Stage Submissions: The basic national fee is required in order for an international application to enter the national stage under 35 U.S.C. 371. See 37 CFR 1.495. Users are permitted to submit the basic national fee with the national stage submission under 35 U.S.C. 371 via EFS-Web and EFS-Web Contingency Option using on-line payment screens that interface with the Revenue Accounting and Management (RAM) system. If the RAM system is unavailable, neither EFS-Web nor EFS-Web Contingency Option will permit users to make payment using the interactive payment screens. Applicant may pay the necessary national stage entry fees by including a written authorization to charge the desired fees together with the national stage submission under 35 U.S.C. 371, or sending the payment via "Express Mail" from the USPS in accordance with 37 CFR 1.10 on the same date that the national stage submission is electronically filed.
For any national stage submissions under 35 U.S.C. 371 filed via the EFS-Web or EFS‑Web Contingency Option, the system automatically checks the Patent Application Locating and Monitoring (PALM) system to verify that no previous national stage submission has been made for the particular PCT international application referenced in the initial national stage submission. If the PALM system is unavailable, neither EFS‑Web nor EFS-Web Contingency Option can complete the PALM verification, and thus EFS-Web and EFS-Web Contingency Option will not permit any national stage submissions under 35 U.S.C. 371 to be filed. Therefore, if PALM is unavailable, applicants may use hand-delivery or "Express Mail" from the USPS in accordance with 37 CFR 1.10 to timely submit documents and fees for national stage entry. However, applicants may not file national stage submissions under 35 U.S.C. 371 and the basic national fee necessary to enter the national stage via facsimile transmission. See 37 CFR 1.6(d)(3) and 1.8(a)(2)(i)(F).
C5. What if the applicant electronically files an application via EFS-Web, and on that same day, realizes that the applicant has inadvertently omitted a document from the application? One advantage of filing a patent application via EFS-Web is that applicant (who is a registered user) may view the submission in PAIR and file a document directly into the application on the same day as the filing date of the application. In certain situations, applicant may correct an error by filing a missing item(s) on the same day as the filing date of the application. Applicant, however, may wish to file another new application in other certain situations.
1. Oath or Declaration - Applicant may file an executed oath or declaration on the same day as the filing date as the application via EFS-Web. The oath or declaration will not be considered late and thus a surcharge for filing a late oath or declaration will not be required.
2. Filing Fees - Applicant may file the filing fees (e.g., the basic filing fee, search and examination fees, application size fee, or excess claims fee) on the same day as the filing date of the application via EFS-Web. The fees will not be considered late and thus a surcharge for filing the filing fees will not be required.
3. Nonpublication request - Since 37 CFR 1.213(a)(1) requires any nonpublication request to be filed with the application, applicant cannot simply file the nonpublication request to correct the error. If applicant does not wish to have the application publish, applicant must file: (a) a new application with a nonpublication request; and (b) in the initial application, a petition for express abandonment to avoid publication under 37 CFR 1.138(c) and fee under 37 CFR 1.17(h) in sufficient time to permit the appropriate officials in the Pre-Grant Publication Division to recognize the abandonment and remove the application from the publication process.
4. Drawings - Applicant may file the missing drawings as a preliminary amendment on the same day as the filing date of the application. The drawings will be considered as part of the original disclosure of the application. See 37 CFR 1.115(a)(2). If the application was filed with the "wrong drawings," a preliminary amendment could be filed on the same day as the filing date of the application adding the correct drawings and deleting the "wrong drawings." An amendment adding new drawings and deleting the "wrong drawings," filed on a day after the filing date of the application may raise new matter issues.
5. Claims - Applicant may file claims as a preliminary amendment on the same day that applicant filed the application papers and such claims will be considered as part of the original disclosure of the application. Please note that a nonprovisional application will not be entitled to a filing date until applicant files at least one claim in the application.
6. Part of the specification - Applicant may file the missing portion of the written description as a preliminary amendment on the filing date of the application. Such amendment will be considered as part of the original disclosure.
If applicant files another new application to correct an error in the first application, applicant will have filed two applications. Applicant may continue to prosecute the first application that has the error or abandon the first application by filing a declaration of express abandonment. Please note that any fees paid in the first application will not be refunded or applied to the second application. Applicant may request refund of the search fee and any excess claims fees (but not the basic filing fee, examination fee, and application size fee) paid in the first application if the application was filed under 35 U.S.C. 111(a) on or after December 8, 2004, and the applicant files a petition for express abandonment in accordance with 37 CFR 1.138(d).
Further, as stated above, the USPTO is capable of accepting electronic patent application filings every day of the week, including weekends and holidays, through EFS-Web. Thus, applicants are cautioned to consider possible adverse consequences regarding the determination in other countries of priority periods under Article 4(C)(3) of the Paris Convention when filing international applications with the United States Receiving Office. Specifically, the ability to file applications electronically on weekends and holidays in the USPTO may result in loss of priority rights in foreign jurisdictions designated in international applications filed with the United States Receiving Office, if applicants elect, in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 21(b) or 119(e)(3), to file an international application on the next succeeding business day in the event that the twelve-month Paris Convention priority period set out in Article 4(C)(1) falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or Federal Holiday. In such circumstances, other patent offices may deny the priority claim on the basis that the international application was not timely filed if their national law strictly incorporates the provision of Paris Convention Article 4(c)(3) and considers the USPTO to be open for the filing of applications on weekends and holidays. For this reason, applicants may prefer not to rely upon the "next business day" provisions of 35 U.S.C. 21(b) and 119(e)(3) when filing international applications with the USPTO, and instead file the international application before the Paris Convention twelve-month priority period has expired.
Users should follow the instructions and guidelines for EFS-Web provided on the USPTO Web site. Before clicking the SUBMIT button, the user should check whether the correct documents have been attached to the submission, and whether the information related to the submission has been entered correctly. Once the user clicks the SUBMIT button on the Confirm and Submit screen, the submission will be electronically sent to the USPTO. A submission is officially filed at the USPTO when the documents are received by the USPTO (Eastern Time). Use of EFS-Web in a manner significantly in violation of the instructions and guidelines for EFS-Web provided on the USPTO Web site and in this notice may result in non-entry of the submission or failure to accord a filing date in the event the USPTO does not fully, successfully, and officially receive all of the elements necessary to obtain a filing date for an intended submission. Furthermore, electronic files submitted via EFS-Web must be free of executables, worms, viruses, or any other type of potentially malicious content. Please note that 18 U.S.C. 1030 imposes a duty on users not to intentionally cause damage to a federal government system.
D1. Filing documents as PDF Files via EFS-Web: EFS-Web accepts standard PDF documents up to 25 megabytes for each file, and 60 electronic files per submission. See section I4 of this notice for more information. PDF files created from scanned documents and submitted via EFS-Web must be created using a scanning resolution no lower than 300 dpi. Lower resolution scans have significantly delayed processing and publication of applications, e.g., resubmission has been required for documents failing to comply with the legibility requirements. See 37 CFR 1.52(a)(1)(v) and (a)(5) regarding document legibility requirements.
In addition, because the PDF format is so feature-rich, certain PDF features are currently not supported by the USPTO systems. For example, PDF documents with multiple layers must be flattened prior to submission to ensure that the complete document is received by the USPTO and readable to the examiner or other deciding officials. If a document contains layers that are marked as "invisible", the invisible layers will be lost when the document is processed by the USPTO, and thus the official records in IFW will not contain the information on the invisible layers. Furthermore, if a user uses the PDF comments or annotations to enter the information on a form, only the blank form without the PDF comments and annotations will be processed. Therefore, the complete document will not be officially filed at the USPTO and the user cannot rely on the Electronic Acknowledgement Receipt as evidence that the completed form was filed at the USPTO. Users are encouraged to check the contents of their submissions for completeness and accuracy via PAIR.
Users must follow the PDF Guidelines for EFS-Web and PDF Creation for EFS-Web (available on the USPTO Web site) to create and submit PDF files via EFS-Web to ensure that all of the information in the PDF files is successfully received and processed by the USPTO.
D2. Entering information on EFS-Web Screens: EFS-Web collects information from on-screen entries made by the user through the EFS-Web graphical user interface (GUI) data collection screens. Through these data collection screens, the user provides the USPTO with information regarding the electronic submission, such as the type of application being filed, the application number of the application in which a follow-on document is being submitted, or the type of document being submitted. The USPTO systems (e.g., EFS-Web, IFW, etc.) will use the information entered by the user on the EFS-Web screens to automatically: (1) assign the application number, create the application, and process the application, if a new patent application is being filed; (2) upload the follow-on document into the application file specified by the user; or (3) message the deciding official based on the document description selected by the user. Therefore, providing incorrect information regarding the submission could lead to: (1) an incorrect type of application file being created; (2) a delay in processing the document; (3) filing a document in an incorrect application; or (4) the deciding official not recognizing the document in sufficient time to avoid publication, to withdraw the application from issue, or to avoid the abandonment of the application.
1. Follow-on documents: When a user submits a follow-on document (e.g., a reply to an Office action or notice) via EFS-Web, the user is required to enter the correct application number and confirmation number of the application in which the follow-on document is being filed. Providing the incorrect application number and confirmation number pair will result in filing the follow-on document in the wrong application. Therefore, it is important for the user to enter the correct application number on the EFS-Web screen when filing the follow-on document. Furthermore, users cannot file a follow-on document as a new application.
2. Filing a new patent application: When a user is submitting a new patent application via EFS-Web, the user is required to select the application type (e.g., design, utility, provisional or nonprovisonal) being filed on the EFS-Web screen. Only document descriptions and fee codes pertinent to the selected application type will be available for the submission. The system will also automatically generate the application number based on the user's selection. For example, if the user indicates that the submission is a provisional application by selecting the EFS-Web radio button for a provisional application, the application will be assigned a provisional application number, provisional application fees will be collected or required, and the application will be further processed as a provisional application. Furthermore, the application will not be assigned to an examiner for examination and will not be published because the submission is processed as a provisional application. Therefore, it is important for the user to select the correct application type on the EFS-Web screen, and review the Electronic Acknowledgement Receipt and the application file using PAIR after the submission is completed.
3. Document indexing: When a user submits a patent application or a follow-on document in a patent application using EFS-Web, the user must select from the list of document descriptions to specify the files being submitted via EFS-Web. For instance, when the user is filing a patent application, the submission must be separated into appropriate sections: specification, claims, abstract, and drawing; and when the user is filing an amendment, the user must select the appropriate type of amendment: amendment after non-final, amendment after allowance, preliminary amendment, and amendment after final. Based on the document description selected by the user, a document code is assigned and a message regarding the document submitted to the USPTO will be forwarded to the appropriate organization for processing, and to the appropriate official for consideration. Furthermore, the IFW and PAIR systems use the document code for identifying the document maintained in the application file. Therefore, accurate document indexing is important to facilitate efficient processing and proper consideration of the document by the USPTO. For example: (a) if the user indicated an after-final amendment as a non-final amendment, the processing of such amendment may be delayed and the examiner may not have sufficient time to consider the amendment before the time period expires; (b) if the user selects the "Pre-Grant Publication" radio button on the EFS-Web data collection screen for submitting a substitute specification filed in response to a non-final Office action, the submission will be forwarded to the publication branch rather than processed into IFW and forwarded to the examiner for consideration; and (c) if the user selects "drawings - only black and white line drawings" for submitting color drawings in a utility application rather than "drawing - other than black and white line drawings", the color drawings would not be processed as color drawings, and would be maintained as black and white drawings in IFW.
More information on document indexing is available on the USPTO Web site. It is important for users to select the correct document description, and check the application file via PAIR after the submission is completed.
D3. Under what conditions will the USPTO allow refunds for fees paid via EFS-Web? The USPTO will grant refunds to users when, due to a malfunction with the EFS-Web system, the EFS-Web system has misled a user into paying a fee in error. If it cannot be determined that a malfunction occurred, but rather it seems to be a user error, no refund will be given. The users should contact the Patent EBC if there are any issues associated with their submissions.
The USPTO requires PKI certificates to meet federal government computer system authentication guidelines as defined by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The required evaluation of EFS-Web and PAIR determined that level three authentication was needed; this is met by the USPTO's PKI.
Only a PKI certificate holder (or the designated employee under the certificate holder's direction and control) can submit follow-on documents. This preserves confidentiality, and is consistent with power of attorney and correspondence regulations. In order to obtain a PKI certificate, the user must be a registered practitioner (i.e., an attorney or agent) or an inventor, and complete the appropriate paperwork (e.g., review the PKI subscriber agreement and complete the certificate action form, available on the USPTO Web site). Once the user has a PKI certificate, the user can authenticate himself or herself to the USPTO through the EFS-Web sign-on. This will generate a secure, encrypted connection with the USPTO.
For users that do not have, or do not wish to use, a PKI certificate to authenticate to the USPTO, they may still submit new application filings only via a non-authenticated workflow. The user would go to the EFS-Web page and choose to submit without a PKI certificate as a non-registered user, which would generate a Transport Layer Security (TLS) connection for the session, thus allowing secure data transmission to the USPTO. Non-registered users have the same level of protection for filing as a registered user, but are limited to submission of initial filings. This practice minimizes the risk of improperly-filed third party submissions and other documents. Non-registered users may file follow-on documents by mail (with a certificate of mailing in accordance with 37 CFR 1.8), Express Mail from USPS in accordance with 37 CFR 1.10, or hand delivery.
Note: Users are advised that the USPTO may revoke a user's digital PKI certificate if the user makes an improper submission through EFS-Web. See section B and paragraph 4 of the "United States Patent and Trademark Office Public Key Infrastructure Subscriber Agreement".
E1. PKI Subscriber Agreement: A PKI certificate holder is permitted to designate more than one employee to use the PKI certificate under the direction and control of the holder in accordance with the revised PKI subscriber agreement and the rules and policies of the USPTO including the Legal Framework for EFS-Web. The designated employees should be paralegals or support staff of the certificate holder. Each designated employee must be either an employee of the holder's organization or an employee of a contractor. The PKI certificate holder and the designated employees may use the holder's PKI certificate concurrently. For example, a registered patent practitioner may file a patent application electronically via EFS-Web using his or her PKI certificate at the same time when one of the practitioner's paralegals files a follow-on document in another application electronically via EFS-Web, and another paralegal of the practitioner retrieves an e-Office action via Private PAIR, using the practitioner's PKI certificate under the direction and control of the practitioner.
The PKI subscriber agreement has been revised to permit a holder of a PKI certificate to designate more than one employee to use the PKI certificate under the direction and control of the holder in accordance with the PKI subscriber agreement and the rules and policies of the USPTO including the Legal Framework for EFS-Web. The revised PKI subscriber agreement will apply to new PKI certificate holders and current PKI certificate holders that continue to use their PKI certificates (includes any PKI certificate usage by their designated employees).
A practitioner who is a PKI certificate holder, or the designated employee acting under the direction and control of the practitioner, may file documents signed by either the practitioner or another practitioner via EFS-Web, in compliance with the PKI subscriber agreement. Filing of a document that is unauthorized to be filed via EFS-Web (e.g., a third party submission under 37 CFR 1.99 or a protest under 37 CFR 1.291) is inconsistent with the subscriber agreement and the rules and policies of the USPTO. Thus, the certificate holder, and designated employee acting under the direction and control of the certificate holder, must make sure that document being submitted is authorized to be filed via EFS-Web, regardless of whether the document is signed by the practitioner exercising the direction and control or by another practitioner.
EFS-Web also permits a legal assistant or paralegal to submit an application or a request for reexamination previously reviewed by a registered practitioner without the registered practitioner being present. See section E2 for more information.
Yes, a new request for PKI certificate is not needed. Continued use of a PKI certificate after the publication of this notice will constitute agreement to the revised PKI subscriber agreement by the current PKI certificate holder. See section 9 of the PKI subscriber agreement. Therefore, a current PKI certificate holder may designate more than one employee immediately to use the holder's PKI certificate under the direction and control of the holder in accordance with the revised PKI subscriber agreement and the rules and policies of the USPTO including the Legal Framework for EFS-Web.
PKI certificate holders may only designate a reasonable number of employees for which he or she can maintain proper control. The PKI certificate holder is responsible for the usage by the designated employees who can only use the PKI certificate under the direction and control of the holder in accordance with the revised PKI subscriber agreement and the rules and policies of the USPTO including the Legal Framework for EFS-Web. The holder must take reasonable steps to ensure compliance with the requirements in the revised PKI subscriber agreement and the rules and policies of the USPTO. When a PKI certificate holder or one of the holder's designated employees electronically transmits a submission to the USPTO via EFS‑Web using the holder's PKI certificate, the PKI certificate holder is presenting the information in the submission to the USPTO and making the certification under 37 CFR 11.18(b). Furthermore, the PKI certificate holder is not permitted to designate a person who is not an employee, and designated employees are not permitted to share the certificate with anyone else (e.g., a designated employee cannot designate another employee).
Yes, a PKI certificate holder may designate employees of more than one contractor as long as the PKI certificate holder maintains control of the PKI certificate usage and can ensure that the employees of the contractors are using the PKI certificate in accordance with the revised PKI subscriber agreement and the rules and policies of the USPTO including the Legal Framework for EFS-Web.
Yes, multiple PKI certificate holders may designate the same employee if the PKI certificate holders and the designated employee take reasonable steps to ensure that the designated employee uses the proper PKI certificate for each task in accordance with the revised PKI subscriber agreement and the rules and policies of the USPTO including the Legal Framework for EFS-Web. For example, if Holder Smith asked the designated employee to electronically submit a patent application via EFS-Web, the designated employee must use the PKI certificate of Holder Smith to submit the patent application, rather than a certificate of another holder who did not give the designated employee the direction to file the patent application.
Yes, a PKI certificate holder may designate an employee that is not located in the same location as long as the designated employee uses the PKI certificate under the direction and control of the holder in accordance with the revised PKI subscriber agreement and the rules and policies of the USPTO including the Legal Framework for EFS-Web.
6. What should a PKI certificate holder do if one of his or her designated employees is leaving the holder's organization or the contractor's organization?
The PKI certificate holder must take reasonable steps to ensure that the employee does not continue to use the PKI certificate when the employee leaves the holder's organization or the contractor's organization or when the contractor is no longer a contractor to the holder.
7. Can a pro se inventor use his or her PKI certificate to file an application or document for another person or retrieve information regarding another person's application?
No, a pro se inventor cannot use (or permit someone else to use) his or her PKI certificate to file an application or document for another person, or retrieve information (e.g., an e-Office action or the status) regarding another person's application. A pro se inventor may use his or her PKI certificate to file his or her application or follow-on documents in his or her application that does not contain a power of attorney.
No, a PKI certificate holder cannot designate a company. A PKI certificate holder may only designate more than one employee of a contractor (or the organization of the holder) to use his or her certificate under the holder's direction and control in accordance with the revised PKI subscriber agreement and the rules and policies of the USPTO including the Legal Framework for EFS-Web.
No, a PKI certificate holder is not permitted to designate an invention promotion company or an invention promoter to use the PKI certificate. A PKI certificate holder may only designate more than one employee of a contractor (or the organization of the holder) to use his or her certificate under the holder's direction and control in accordance with the revised PKI subscriber agreement and the rules and policies of the USPTO including the Legal Framework for EFS-Web. The designated employees should be paralegals or support staff of the holder's organization (or a contractor's organization). A PKI certificate holder must take reasonable steps to ensure that the PKI certificate is not being used in connection with the unauthorized practice before the USPTO in patent matters. See section 3 of the PKI subscriber agreement.
No, a PKI certificate holder cannot designate his or her client, and cannot designate a "foreign associate" (e.g., an attorney in another law firm) who is not an employee of the certificate holder's organization and is not an employee of a contractor. A PKI certificate holder may only designate more than one employee of a contractor (or the organization of the holder) to use his or her certificate under the holder's direction and control in accordance with the revised PKI subscriber agreement and the rules and policies of the USPTO including the Legal Framework for EFS-Web. The designated employees should be paralegals or support staff of the certificate holder. Furthermore, if the "foreign associate" is located outside of the United States, it would be difficult for the holder to maintain control of the PKI certificate usage and ensure compliance with the rules and policies of the USPTO by a person located outside of the United States. In addition, accessing an application before the applicant has received a foreign filing license by a person located outside of the United States, or by a foreign national inside the United States, constitutes an export. The holder cannot permit the use of the PKI certificate in a manner that would violate or circumvent the Export Administration Regulations. See section 6 of the PKI subscriber agreement for more information.
11. Can a PKI certificate holder or a designated employee file a third party submission or a protest via EFS-Web using the PKI certificate?
No, the EFS-Web Legal Framework (section B2) specifically prohibits the filing of third party submissions and protests in patent applications via EFS-Web. The USPTO has a special screening procedure to ensure such documents are filed in compliance with 37 CFR 1.99 or 1.291 (in paper) before being entered into the application. See also 35 U.S.C. 122(c) and Manual of Patent Examining Procedure (MPEP) §§ 1134, 1134.01 and 1901.05. Filing such documents electronically via EFS-Web would be circumventing these rules and procedures and be a violation of the Legal Framework for EFS-Web and the revised PKI subscriber agreement. Such violation may cause the USPTO to revoke the PKI certificate and/or refer the PKI certificate holder to the Office of Enrollment and Discipline for appropriate action. Therefore, PKI certificate holders should take reasonable steps to ensure that their designated employees do not file third party submissions and protests via EFS-Web.
No, all of the designated employees must stop using the PKI certificate of a deceased holder because designated employees only have the authority to use the PKI certificate under the direction and control of the holder. The USPTO will revoke the PKI certificate once the USPTO becomes aware that the holder is deceased.
E2. Under what authority does an authorized assistant of the digital certificate holder submit signed documents? A PKI digital certificate holder is permitted to designate more than one employee of the holder's organization (or a contractor's organization), under the PKI subscriber agreement and certificate action form. The designated employee under the direction and control of the digital certificate holder may use the certificate holder's certificate to submit documents through EFS-Web in compliance with the PKI subscriber agreement and the rules and policies of the USPTO.
The documents submitted through EFS-Web must be signed in accordance with 37 CFR 1.4, 1.33(b), and 11.18. If the designated employee is an assistant who is not an authorized party to sign the documents, the designated employee is not responsible for the contents of the documents submitted. Instead, the person who signs the documents (e.g., the inventor or a registered practitioner who is representing the inventor) is responsible for the contents. For example, the documents may be electronically signed or ink signed by the applicant or attorney of record. The assistant who serves the ministerial function of pickup and delivery of documents may submit the signed documents electronically via EFS-Web under the direction and control of the certificate holder. (Ink signed documents can be electronically scanned and then e-filed.) The assistant may also view and retrieve documents from Private PAIR under the direction and control of the certificate holder in compliance with the PKI subscriber agreement.
In the submission process, the assistant who is using the holder's certificates to submit the documents through EFS-Web is required to specify certain "locator information" so the documents can be associated with the proper application file in the IFW system. That locator information may include the application's title, first named inventor, docket number, application number, confirmation number, correspondence address and filing date, all if available. The type of application (e.g., 35 U.S.C. 111(a), national stage application under 35 U.S.C. 371, international application) and information necessary for the payment of fees are not considered to be locator information. The "locator information" is entered on submission to assure that the documents are placed in the proper file, and do not constitute a signed submission of bibliographic data on behalf of the applicant or reexamination party. Errors made in the "locator information" may be corrected by the USPTO on its own initiative, or by the applicant or reexamination party, similar to the way they are corrected in paper processing.
Signatures, other than handwritten signatures meeting the standard of 37 CFR 1.4(d)(1), included in image attachments submitted via EFS-Web are governed by the S-signature requirements of 37 CFR 1.4(d)(2) (See also Changes To Support Implementation of the United States Patent and Trademark Office 21st Century Strategic Plan, 69 FR 56481, 56486 (Sept. 21, 2004), 1287 Off. Gaz. Pat. Office 67 (Oct. 12, 2004).
If the signer is submitting an application through EFS-Web as PDF files, he or she should apply either a handwritten signature in compliance with 37 CFR 1.4(d)(1) or an S-signature in compliance with 37 CFR 1.4(d)(2) before scanning the document or converting it to a PDF file. Any follow-on documents, such as an amendment filed in an application, must also be signed in accordance with 37 CFR 1.33(b). Even though a new patent application is entitled to a filing date if it complies with all the statutory requirements set forth in 35 U.S.C. 111(a) or (b), it is noted that when filing a new application by EFS-Web, a signed transmittal form or a signed application data sheet (ADS) is recommended for identification purposes, and any nonpublication request and certification that accompany the application must be signed.
A legible electronic image of a handwritten signature inserted, or copied and pasted by the person signing the correspondence into an application document may be considered to be an acceptable signature. The legible image of the handwritten signature of the person signing the correspondence must be inserted by the person. Additionally, the signature must be surrounded by a first single forward slash mark before the electronic image and a second single forward slash mark after the electronic image. That is, the legible electronic image of a handwritten signature must be enclosed between two single forward slashes and the signer's name is indicated below or adjacent the signature as per 37 CFR 1.4(d)(2). The slashes may be inserted into the document prior to the insertion of the signature.
The presentation to the USPTO (whether by signing, filing, submitting, or later advocating) of any document constitutes a certification under 37 CFR 11.18(b) (or former 37 CFR 10.18(b)). See 37 CFR 1.4(d)(4).
Yes, EFS-Web enables users to electronically submit pre-grant publication requests for amended publication, redacted publication, early publication, voluntary publication, or republication under 37 CFR 1.215, 1.217, 1.219, and 1.221(a) via EFS-Web. When filing pre-grant publication requests via EFS-Web, the form-fillable application data sheet (PTO/SB/14) is required to be used for fulfilling the bibliographic data requirements. An electronic submission for voluntary publication, amended publication, republication (37 CFR 1.221(a)) or redacted publication must be submitted as a "Pre-Grant Publication" by selecting the "Pre-Grant Publication" radio button on the EFS-Web data collection screen. It is not sufficient for a user to submit a document via EFS-Web requesting amended publication, redacted publication, early publication, voluntary publication, or republication without also selecting the "Pre-Grant Publication" radio button on the EFS-Web data collection screen.
The USPTO prefers black and white line drawings as prescribed in 37 CFR 1.84(a)(1) when applicants are required to submit drawings in patent applications. As stated in 37 CFR 1.84(a)(2) and (b), photographs and color drawings are not ordinarily permitted in utility and design patent applications, but the USPTO will accept photographs and color drawings in utility or design patent applications, if they are the only practicable medium for illustrating the claimed subject matter. The photographs and color drawings submitted in utility or design patent applications must be of sufficient quality such that all details in the photographs and drawings are reproducible in black and white in the printed patent.
Drawings submitted in international applications are required to comply with PCT Rule 11.13, which does not permit color drawings. Furthermore, there is no provision for photographs. Nevertheless, black and white photographs will be accepted where it is impossible to present in a drawing what is to be shown (e.g., crystalline structures). Color photographs are not permitted in international applications.
The USPTO may object to the drawings and photographs, and require corrections or deletions if they do not comply with 37 CFR 1.84 or PCT Rule 11.13. Additionally, since color drawings are not permitted in international applications, color drawings and color photographs filed in a national stage application will be treated as an amendment and will be objected to if they introduce new matter.
5. Reexamination proceedings for utility or design patents.
Only black and white photographs, and black and white line drawings, may be submitted via EFS-Web in international applications.
a. Black and white line drawings in: (i) provisional applications under 35 U.S.C. 111(b); (ii) nonprovisional utility patent applications under 35 U.S.C. 111(a), including reissue utility patent applications; (iii) international applications and national stage applications under 35 U.S.C. 371; and (iv) reexamination proceedings for utility patents. These drawings will be converted into TIFF images and stored in IFW.
b. Black and white line drawings, grayscale drawings, photographs, color drawings, and other drawings that are not black and white line drawings in design patent applications, including reissue design patent applications, and reexamination proceedings for design patents. These drawings will be stored in SCORE, and a black and white copy will be stored in IFW along with a SCORE placeholder sheet.
a. Photographs, color drawings, grayscale drawings, and other drawings that are not black and white line drawings in: (i) provisional applications under 35 U.S.C. 111(b); (ii) nonprovisional utility patent applications under 35 U.S.C. 111(a), including reissue utility patent applications; (iii) national stage applications under 35 U.S.C. 371; and (iv) reexamination proceedings for utility patents. These drawings will be stored in SCORE, and a black and white copy will be stored in IFW along with a SCORE placeholder sheet.
b. Black and white photographs, and grayscale drawings, in international applications. These drawings will be stored in SCORE, and a black and white copy will be stored in IFW along with a SCORE placeholder sheet.
Other Requirements: For color drawings, a petition filed under 37 CFR 1.84(a)(2) explaining why the color drawings are necessary is required. See MPEP § 608.02. The requirement for three (3) sets of color drawings under 37 CFR 1.84(a)(2)(ii) is not applicable to color drawings submitted via EFS-Web. Therefore, only one set of such color drawings is necessary when filing via EFS-Web.
EFS-Web supports the use of black and white, color, or grayscale images within the PDF document. However, grayscale or color images filed as "drawings - other than black and whit line drawings" in a utility patent application will be converted to black and white images when stored into IFW. The quality of black and white images may be degraded.
To obtain sufficient quality so that all details in the images are reproducible in black and white in the eighteen-month publication and the printed patent, images should be scanned at a minimum resolution of 300 DPI. Furthermore, PAIR is only capable of displaying portrait orientation. Users should not submit landscape oriented drawings via EFS-Web because PAIR will automatically convert the image to portrait, which may cause the images to be distorted during viewing.
I5. May Complex Work Units be submitted electronically via EFS-Web?
I1. May biotechnology sequence listings, large tables, or computer program listing appendices be submitted as text files via EFS-Web? Yes, all of these types of documents may be submitted as ASCII text files with a ".txt" extension (e.g., "seqlist.txt") for national applications (other than international applications) and reexamination proceedings. The compact disc practice of 37 CFR 1.52(e) and 1.821 et seq. remains as a filing option. The filing of international applications via EFS-Web is discussed in section J of this notice.
3. Any individual table (see 37 CFR 1.58) if the table is more than 50 pages in length, or if the total number of pages of all of the tables in an application exceeds 100 pages in length, wherein a table page is a page printed on paper in conformance with 37 CFR 1.52(b) and 1.58(c).
The requirements of 37 CFR 1.52(e)(3)-(6) for documents submitted on compact disc are not applicable to computer program listings, sequence listings, and tables submitted as ASCII text files via EFS-Web. However, each text file must be in compliance with ASCII and has a file name with a ".txt" extension. Further, the specification must contain an incorporation-by-reference of the material in the ASCII text file in a separate paragraph identifying the name of the ASCII text file, the date of creation, and the size of the ASCII text file in bytes similar to the requirements of 37 CFR 1.52(e)(5) for compact discs.
It is recommended that a sequence listing be submitted in an ASCII text file via EFS-Web rather than in a PDF file. If the sequence listing text file submitted via EFS-Web complies with the requirements of 37 CFR 1.824(a)(2)-(6) and (b) (i.e., is a compliant sequence listing ASCII text file), the text file will serve as both the paper copy required by 37 CFR 1.821(c) and the computer readable form (CRF) required by 37 CFR 1.821(e). Thus, the following are not required and should not be submitted: (1) a second copy of the sequence listing in a PDF file; (2) a statement under 37 CFR 1.821(f) (indicating that the paper copy and CRF copy of the sequence listing are identical); and (3) a request the use of a compliant computer readable "Sequence Listing" that is already on file for another application pursuant to 37 CFR 1.821(e). If such a request is filed, the USPTO will not carry out the request but will use the sequence listing submitted in an ASCII text file with the application via EFS-Web. Checker software that may be used to check a sequence listing for compliance with the requirements of 37 CFR 1.824 is available on the USPTO web site at http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/pac/checker/.
If a user submits a sequence listing (under 37 CFR 1.821(c) and (e)) as an ASCII text file via EFS-Web in response to a requirement under 37 CFR 1.821(g) or (h), the sequence listing text file must be accompanied by a statement that the submission does not include any new matter which goes beyond the disclosure of the application as filed. In addition, if a user submits an amendment to, or a replacement of, a sequence listing (under 37 CFR 1.821(c) and (e)) as an ASCII text file via EFS-Web, the sequence listing text file must be accompanied by: (1) a statement that the submission does not include any new matter, and (2) a statement that indicates support for the amendment in the application, as filed. See 37 CFR 1.825.
Submission of the sequence listing in a PDF file is not recommended because applicant would still be required to provide the CRF required by 37 CFR 1.821(e) and the sequence listing in the PDF file will not be excluded when determining the application size fee. The USPTO prefers the submission of a sequence listing in an ASCII text file because as stated above, the text file will serve as both the paper copy required by 37 CFR 1.821(c) and the CRF required by 37 CFR 1.821(e). Any sequence listing in PDF format is treated as the paper copy required by 37 CFR 1.821(c). If applicant submits a sequence listing in a PDF file and a copy of the sequence listing in an ASCII text file, a statement that the sequence listing content of the PDF copy and the ASCII text file copy are identical is required. In situations where applicant files the sequence listing in PDF format and requests the use of the CRF of another application under 37 CFR 1.821(e), applicant must submit a letter and request in compliance with 37 CFR 1.821(e) and a statement that the PDF copy filed in the new application is identical to the CRF filed in the other application.
I2. How are text files counted for application size fee purposes? Any sequence listing submitted as an ASCII text file via EFS-Web that is otherwise in compliance with 37 CFR 1.52(e) and 1.821(c) or (e), and any computer program listing submitted as an ASCII text file via EFS-Web that is otherwise in compliance with 37 CFR 1.52(e) and 1.96, will be excluded when determining the application size fee required by 37 CFR 1.16(s) or 1.492(j) as per 37 CFR 1.52(f)(1).
I3. What is the size limit for text files? One hundred (100) megabytes is the size limit for sequence listing text files submitted via EFS-Web. If a user wishes to submit an electronic copy of a sequence listing text file that exceeds 100 megabytes, it is recommended that the user file the application without the sequence listing using EFS-Web to obtain the application number and confirmation number, and then file the sequence listing on compact disc in accordance with 37 CFR 1.52(e) on the same day by using Express Mail from the USPS in accordance with 37 CFR 1.10, or hand delivery, in order to secure the same filing date for all parts of the application. Alternatively, a user may submit the application on paper and include the electronic copy of the sequence listing text file on compact disc in accordance with 37 CFR 1.52(e). Sequence listing text files may not be partitioned into multiple files for filing via EFS-Web as the EFS-Web system is not currently capable of handling such submissions. If the sequence listing is filed on a compact disc, the sequence listing must be a single document, but the document may be split using software designed to divide a file, that is too large to fit on a single compact disc, into multiple concatenated files. If the user breaks up a sequence listing so that it may be submitted on multiple compact discs, the compact discs must be labeled to indicate their order (e.g., "1 of X", "2 of X").
For all other file types, 25 megabytes is the size limit. If a user wishes to submit an electronic copy of a computer program listing or table that is larger than 25 megabytes, it is recommended that the electronic copy be submitted on compact disc via Express Mail from the USPS in accordance with 37 CFR 1.10 on the date of the corresponding EFS-Web filing in accordance with 37 CFR 1.52(e) if the user wishes the electronic copy to be considered to be part of the application as filed. Alternatively, the user may submit the application in paper and include the electronic copies on compact disc in accordance with 37 CFR 1.52(e). Another alternative would be for the user to break up a computer program listing or table file that is larger than 25 megabytes into multiple files that are no larger than 25 megabytes each and submit those smaller files via EFS-Web. If the user chooses to break up a large computer program listing or table file so that it may be submitted electronically, the file names must indicate their order (e.g., "1 of X", "2 of X").
I4. What is the limit on the number of electronic files that may be included in a single EFS-Web submission? Sixty (60) electronic files is the file number limit per submission, as EFS-Web is not currently capable of accepting more than 60 electronic files in any one submission. Accordingly, if an application file is comprised of more than 60 electronic files, it is recommended that the user submit 60 or fewer files in an initial filing via EFS-Web at which time the application will be assigned an application number. Note that regarding the 60 electronic file limit per submission, an applicant may upload and validate in sets of up to 20 files each, with a limit of three sets of 20 files. If applicant chooses to divide a file into multiple parts using the multi-doc feature, each part is counted as one file. Then the user may submit any additional electronic files as follow-on documents later on the same day as the initial filing. This will allow all of the electronic files making up the application to receive the same filing date.
I5. May Complex Work Units be submitted electronically via EFS-Web? Yes, under the Complex Work Unit Pilot Program, complex work units (such as chemical structure drawings, mathematical formulae, three-dimensional protein crystalline structure data and table data) may be submitted as ASCII text files via EFS-Web for national applications (other than international applications) and reexamination proceedings. Complex work units cannot be submitted as ASCII text files in international applications. More information is available on the USPTO Web site at http://www.uspto.gov/web/patents/cwupilot.html.
J1. May international applications filed under the PCT with the United States Receiving Office be electronically submitted via EFS-Web? Yes, EFS-Web enables users to electronically file international applications under the PCT with the United States Receiving Office. Applicants are advised that EFS-Web may be used to file either: (1) international applications in fully electronic form; or (2) follow-on papers to previously filed international applications, regardless of the manner in which the international application was initially filed. The required page size for international applications filed via EFS-Web in PDF format is A4 (29.7 cm x 21 cm). See PCT Rule 11.5.
EFS-Web permits users to submit PCT-EASY.zip files created by PCT-SAFE when operated in the PCT-EASY mode. A PCT-EASY.zip file will contain the Request and fee calculation sheet in PDF format. All other documents or application parts (e.g., description, claims, drawings and abstract) MUST be separately prepared and attached as PDF documents, except for sequence listings. See section J3 of this notice for more information on sequence listings. PCT-SAFE permits users to create and electronically sign using an S-signature the PCT Request Form and the Declaration of Inventorship for the purposes of filing via EFS-Web with the United States Receiving Office. PCT-SAFE when operated in the PCT-EASY mode creates a validated PCT Request which will entitle the applicant to a reduction of the international filing fee. If applicant chooses not to use PCT-SAFE to create the Request and fee calculation sheet, the applicant may use Form PCT/RO/101 (or equivalent) for the Request and attach it as a PDF document. More information regarding filing international applications is available on the USTPO Web site (http://www.uspto.gov/ebc/portal/efs/dct_pct_file_new_tutorial.pdf).
The term "international application" as used in this notice refers to an international application filed under the PCT where papers have not been submitted to enter the national stage under 35 U.S.C. 371. The term "national stage" as used in this notice refers to an international application where papers have been submitted to enter the national stage under 35 U.S.C. 371.
J2. Entry in the U.S. national stage under 35 U.S.C. 371: It is recommended that applicants continue to use the Transmittal Letter to the United States Designated/Elected Office (DO/EO/US) Concerning a Submission Under 35 U.S.C. 371 (Form PTO-1390) when electronically filing documents for entry into the U.S. national stage under 35 U.S.C. 371. The PTO-1390 Form includes useful information that is not otherwise collected by EFS-Web at this time.
If a timely submission to enter the national stage of an international application is compliant with the conditions of 35 U.S.C. 371 and other applicable requirements, Form PCT/DO/EO/903 indicating acceptance of the application as a national stage submission under 35 U.S.C. 371 will be issued in addition to the Filing Receipt. For more information on fees associated with international applications entering the national stage under 35 U.S.C. 371, see MPEP § 1893.01(c).
J3. May EFS-Web be used to file international applications containing a nucleotide or amino acid sequence listing and/or tables related thereto in the United States Receiving Office?
a. Sequence Listing: Under PCT Rule 5.2(a), the sequence listing part must always be presented as a separate part of the description. When filing an international application using EFS-Web, the sequence listing part of the description should preferably be submitted as a single ASCII text file with a ".txt" extension (e.g., "seqlist.txt"). If the sequence listing part is submitted as an ASCII text file, applicant need not submit any additional copies. The ASCII text file will serve both as the sequence listing part of the description under PCT Rule 5.2 and the electronic form under PCT Rule 13ter.1(a). Furthermore, the required statement in paragraph 4(v) of Annex C that "the information recorded in the electronic form furnished under Rule 13ter is identical to the sequence listing as contained in the international application" is not required. The sequence listing in an ASCII text file will not be taken into account when calculating the application page count, i.e., no excess page fees will be required for the sequence listing in the text file.
Submission of the sequence listing part in a PDF file is not recommended because applicant would still be required to supply a copy of the sequence listing in an ASCII text file in accordance with AI Annex C, ¶40. When a sequence listing is filed in both a PDF file and an ASCII text file, the PDF copy of the sequence listing will be considered to form part of the application and the ASCII text file will be used for search purposes and will be transmitted to the International Bureau with the record copy. The pages of the PDF file that contain the sequence listing will be taken into account when calculating the application page count, i.e., excess page fees may be required for the PDF file.
b. Tables Related to a Sequence Listing: Tables related to a sequence listing must be an integral part of the description of the international application, and must not be included in the sequence listing part. Such table will be taken into account when calculating the application page count, and excess page fees may be required. When applicant submits tables related to a sequence listing in an international application via EFS-Web, the tables must be in a PDF file. If applicant submits tables related to a sequence listing in a text file, such tables will not be accepted as part of the international application. For more information, see Sequence Listings and Tables Related Thereto in International Applications Filed in the United States Receiving Office, 1344 Off. Gaz. Pat. Office 50 (July 7, 2009).
c. File Size and Quantity Limits: One hundred (100) megabytes is the size limit for sequence listing text files. Sequence listing text files must not be partitioned into multiple files for filing via EFS-Web as the EFS-Web electronic filing system is not currently capable of handling such submissions. For all other file types EFS-Web is currently not capable of accepting files that are larger than 25 megabytes. Additionally, a single EFS-Web submission may include no more than 60 electronic files. Note that regarding the 60 electronic file limit, an applicant may upload and validate in sets of up to 20 files each, with a limit of three sets of 20. If applicant chooses to divide a file into multiple parts using the multi-doc feature, each part is counted as one file. The need to submit unusually large sequence listings and/or numerous electronic files may prevent applicant from making a complete international application filing in a single EFS-Web submission. Applicant may use EFS-Web to file part of the international application and to obtain the international application number and the confirmation number, and then file the remainder of the international application on the same day as one or more follow-on submissions using EFS-Web, in order to secure the same filing date for all parts of the international application. However, applicant is not permitted to file part of the international application electronically via EFS-Web, and then file the remainder of the international application on paper to secure a filing date of all parts of the international application.
In the situation where applicant needs to file a sequence listing that is over one hundred megabytes, applicant may use EFS-Web to file the international application without the sequence listing to obtain the international application number and the confirmation number, and then file the sequence listing on compact discs on the same day by using Express Mail from the USPS in accordance with 37 CFR 1.10, or hand delivery, in order to secure the same filing date for all parts of the international application. However, USPS Express Mail and hand-carried submissions may not contain PDF files and must fully comply with the guidelines for filing a sequence listing on electronic media as set forth in MPEP § 1823.02, except that only one copy of the sequence listing is required, and applicant need not make any reference to AI Part 8 or AI § 801. The sequence listing must be a single document, but the document may be split using software designed to divide a file, that is too large to fit on a single compact disc, into multiple concatenated files. If the user breaks up a sequence listing into multiple concatenated files so that it may be submitted on multiple compact discs, the compact discs must be labeled to indicate their order (e.g., "1 of X", "2 of X").
d. Fee Determination for International Applications Containing a Sequence Listing: The calculation of the international filing fee for an international application, including a sequence listing, filed via EFS-Web is determined based on the type of sequence listing file. A sequence listing filed in an ASCII text file will not be included in the page count of the international application. A sequence listing filed in a PDF file will be included in the page count of the international application. Therefore, the page count for an EFS-Web filed application containing both a PDF and text format sequence listing will be determined by the number of pages of the PDF sequence listing.
J4. Follow-on Submissions for International Applications: As noted above, a sequence listing in an ASCII text file, as well as additional PDF files, may be submitted in one or more follow-on submissions, via EFS-Web. Such follow-on submissions will form part of the international application if filed on the same date on which the international application was filed. Note that follow-on submissions of PDF files (including, but not limited to, PDF sequence listings) may change the number of pages in the international application and therefore may affect the international filing fee.
EFS-Web may also be used to submit a sequence listing in an ASCII text file after the international filing date in response to a requirement under 37 CFR 1.821(h) and PCT Rule 13ter. Such sequence listing will not form part of the international application as set forth in PCT Rule 13ter.1(e).
J5. Policy of Annex F of the PCT Administrative Instructions: EFS-Web employs a Web-based approach to document submission which is different from the Annex F "wrapped, bundled and signed package" approach. Thus EFS-Web does not meet Annex F requirements. See Annex F of the PCT Administrative Instructions located at [http://www.wipo.int/pct/en/texts/].

References: § 503
 § 2510
 § 607
 § 1893
 § 608
 § 1893
 § 1823
 § 801