Be a Community Patent Reviewer!

The Peer to Patent Project, a community patent review pilot project, went live on Friday, June 15. This pilot project depends on community reviewers (yes, you can be one too!) to review patent applications in the area of computer architecture, software and information security. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office published guidelines for the project and the New York Law School created the website for the project. Participants hope to show whether the collaborative submission and review of prior art documents will contribute to better patent examination results. The project is schedule to run for a year or until 250 applications have been selected and reviewed. Community reviewers will be asked to review and discuss submitted patent applications; locate and share prior art; comment on each other's prior art submissions; and help create up to 10 prior art references to be forwarded to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office with the patent application.

Patent Reexamination Certificates Available

The Reexamination Certificates File (zipped file) is now available on the USPTO website. The certificates reveal claims that have been cancelled, confirmed, or newly incorporated for normal or reissue patents.

Patent Application Survey Comments

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is soliciting comments on or before August 3, 2007 on its proposed Patent Application Survey as discussed in the Federal Register. Two different versions of the survey will be disseminated, one for large domestic corporations and small and medium-size businesses, and another for universities, non-profit research organizations, and independent inventors. Although the survey is primarily a mail survey, participants will have the option to complete it electronically or by phone.


According to the USPTO, comments are invited about:

• a) Whether the proposed collection of
  information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of
  the agency, including whether the information shall have practical
  utility;


• (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden
  (including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information;


• (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the
  information to be collected; and


• (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of
  information on respondents, including through the use of automated
  collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

Comments may be sent the following ways:

• E-mail: Susan.Fawcett@uspto.gov. Include ``0651-0052 comment'' in
  the subject line of the message.


• Fax: 571-273-0112, marked to the attention of Susan Fawcett.


• Mail: Susan K. Fawcett, Records Officer, Office of the Chief
  Information Officer, Customer Information Services Group, Public
  Information Services Division, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, P.O.
  Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313-1450.