USPTO Systems Maintenance on February 26, 2017

Due to maintenance, EFS-Web, EFS-Web Contingency, and Private and Public PAIR will be unavailable on Sunday, February 26, 2017 from 12:01 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. ET.

When systems are available, notification will be posted on the USPTO Systems Status and Availability at http://www.uspto.gov/blog/ebiz/

EFS-Web Applicants

If you need to file patent applications or submissions during the maintenance period, please use an alternative filing method.

If you have questions, please contact the Patent EBC at 1-866-217-9197 or ebc@uspto.gov.

Meet the Trademark Experts -- March 1, 2017

Join us at the USPTO Texas Regional Office where we will be hosting an interactive Q&A session with the Trademark Experts. If you have questions about your current trademark application or if you are looking to get one or you are just interested, please join us.  During this virtual meeting with the Trademark Assistance Center, participants will be able to ask questions through our video teleconferencing capability. The Trademark Assistance Center, located in Alexandria, Virginia, provides general information about the trademark registration process. This event is free and open to the public. Please bring your own lunch to enjoy during the session. Space is limited.  Please check back for further details about updated material.

To register for this event, please go to: https://www.uspto.gov/about-us/uspto-locations/dallas-tx/meet-trademark-experts-5



NOTICE: 
If you are unable to come to the Texas Regional Office in Dallas, TX. This event will be webcasted to Patent & Trademark Resource Centers (PTRCs) in the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas. Please check PTRC locations to find the PTRC nearest to you. Please call ahead to ensure the seminar is being shown at your particular PTRC.
The program is free and open to the public. For inquiries about the event:
please email texasregionalUSPTOEvents@USPTO.GOV(link sends e-mail), visit us at the Texas Regional Office home page, or call us at 469-295-9000.

Meet the Patent Experts Classes

Attend an interactive Q&A session with patent experts at the USPTO Texas Regional Office (TXRO).  Starting in 2017, The TXRO will begin its 4-class curriculum on patents.

• Class 1 will be an overview of intellectual property with a focus on patents, EFS-Web and USPTO resources.
• Class 2 will cover provisional applications and key aspects.
• Class 3 will cover non-provisional applications and key aspects.
• Class 4 will cover claim drafting and pitfalls.

Current Schedule:
Class 2: February 15
Class 3: March 15
Class 4: April 19
Class 1: May 17

If you have questions about your current patent application or if you are looking to pursue one or if you are just interested, please join us.  
This event is free and open to the public. Registration is recommended since space is limited. Register now to secure your seat.

To register for these classes, please go to: https://www.uspto.gov/about-us/uspto-locations/dallas-tx/meet-patent-experts-class-2

For inquiries about the event:
please email texasregionalUSPTOEvents@USPTO.GOV (link sends e-mail), visit us at the Texas Regional Office home page, or call us at 469-295-9000. 

 

The Different Types of Patent Applications - Webinar

Are you an inventor looking to protect your idea but unsure of which application to file?  Then join us as we go over the differences between Utility and Design Patent applications and the advantages of filing a Provisional and/or Non Provisional Utility Patent Application.
We will also review the different fees required for the respective type of application. You will have an opportunity to ask your questions via email during the chat.

Please register here (link is external).  For assistance, please send an email to oidevents@uspto.gov (link sends e-mail)

General Deposit Account Number on Electronic Acknowledgement Receipts

Wrong General Deposit Account Number Displayed on Electronic Acknowledgement Receipts

Due to an integration issue between EFS-Web and the USPTO’s new payment system, electronic Acknowledgement Receipts for EFS-Web submissions between June 2, 2016 – September 17, 2016, may display the wrong general deposit account number for fee pre-authorization(s).

To address this issue, the USPTO is generating corrected acknowledgement receipts that display updated general deposit account information to replace the previously generated acknowledgement receipts that have the wrong deposit account number in the respective application’s Image File Wrapper (IFW). By March 2017, the corrected receipts will be visible in Private PAIR with the document description of “EFS Acknowledgment Receipt (Corrected)” (doc code: N417.CORR). Therefore, it is not necessary for applicants to request a corrected Acknowledgement Receipt. 

EFS-Web submissions are impacted if they meet ALL of the following criteria:

• The EFS-Web submission was submitted between June 2, 2016 – September 17, 2016;
• A general deposit account was applied to authorize the USPTO to charge any missing fees;
• Payment was processed using the new payment system, Financial Manager; and
• Payment method for online processing was different than the general deposit account number, i.e., (1) You paid with credit/debit card or EFT and applied a general deposit account, or (2) You paid with a deposit account and used a different deposit account for pre-authorization.

If you received an adverse action as a result of this error, please contact the business unit that sent the action. If you have questions, please contact the EBC (Patent Electronic Business Center) at 1-866-217-9197, Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. - midnight ET, or by email.  

You can also visit USPTO's website for this information.