Proposed Changes - USPTO

The USPTO has recently published in the Federal Register several proposed changes to patent procedures.

First, the USPTO is piloting a program that will allow customers to access and manage their financial activity records online.

Next, regarding ex parte and inter partes reexamination proceedings, the USPTO proposes to add two items, an electronic version of the Issue Fee Transmittal (Form PTOL-85B) and a petition to request an extension of time.

Likewise, the USPTO posted a final rule pertaining to ex parte or inter partes reexamination designating the correspondence address for the patent as the correct address for all communications. It also specifies the use of a single mail stop address to file ex parte reexamination papers (as is already the case for inter partes reexamination papers) and prohibits supplemental patent owner responses to an Office action in inter partes reexamination proceedings without sufficient cause. The USPTO, however, is not implementing a proposed rule "to newly provide for a patent owner reply to a request for reexamination, prior to the Office's decision on the request."

Finally, as of Oct. 31, 2007, the USPTO will cease accepting correspondence sent to the previous location of the Madrid Processing Unit (MPU) in Arlington, Virginia. The current address is: Madrid Processing Unit, 600 Dulany Street, MDE-7B87, Alexandria, VA 22314-5793.