Ron Reardon

This is the last in the series sharing with you the benefits of being a member of NAPP®.  This month’s highlighted benefit is PCTFILER’s service for PCT national phase filings.

PCTFILER offers NAPP members an opportunity to use their service for PCT national phase filings.  PCTFILER has a vast network of foreign associates and connections with WIPO that enables them to provide NAPP members with timely and accurate PCT information.  PCTFILER provides NAPP members with as many answers to their PCT-related questions as possible.

Here is an overview of the PCTFILER service:

THE SERVICE:
Entering the national phase of the PCT process.

THE COMPANY:
PCTFILER specializes in PCT national phase filings.  Their automated national phase filing technology offers national phase filing services at substantially reduced costs.  PCTFILER is a partnership of patent attorneys and IP professionals with exclusive agents in a number of foreign countries.  PCTFILER is headed by Justin Simpson, an Australian and New Zealand patent attorney specializing in computer related inventions.

THE OFFER:
“File Twice with PCTFILER and get the Third for FREE”  

WHY USE PCTFILER?

• Cost Savings: At least 50% of what you would spend otherwise - you have these incredibly steep discounts that would otherwise only be available to very high volume filers;

• One-Stop-Shop: Just go to their user-friendly online interface at www.pctfiler.com - it takes minutes to fill out a few basic questions then PCTFILER does the rest;

• Service: PCTFILER provides you with a timely and accurate price quote prior to filing for you to share with your clients;

• Time Savings: PCTFILER has done the legwork hand-picking quality firms to handle both filing and, if you choose, prosecution;

• Peace of Mind: Between their patented method,  their system of patent attorneys checking for errors, and their world renowned agents, you and your clients will have the peace of mind that your filing and prosecution are in good hands;

• Flexible Payment Options: All transactions are done in US Dollars and PCTFILER will even accept your, or your client's, credit card to expedite the process - giving you the comfort of knowing that you are never out of pocket.

            If you have questions about any aspect of this benefit, please contact the NAPP staff at http://www.napp.org/contact.asp.

            I hope that each of you had a great holiday season and that in 2007 you continue to leverage the value of NAPP membership, including: the online discussion forums, the certification program, the job bank, the professional liability insurance, the ICO patent search, the PCT national phase filing service, the teleconferences, the nuts & bolts training, the NAPP® Annual Meeting (which includes the Patent Practice Update), and the incredible camaraderie and friendships.  Make 2007 a banner year for your practice.

USPTO’s E-Office Action Pilot Program

Last month the USPTO began a pilot program whereby a limited number of users of Private PAIR were provided the option to receive notification via e-mail of correspondence from the USPTO about their patent applications retrievable via Private PAIR.  The e-mail notification is an automated response from the USPTO signaling the applicant that an item of Office correspondence has been entered into the record (and not an e-mail sent by the examiner). 

The e-Office Action Pilot Program, which is already fully subscribed to, will proceed for about 6 months prior to evaluation of its success (or lack thereof).

See: www.uspto.gov/web/offices/pac/dapp/opla/preognotice/

eofficeaction.pdf.

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USPTO’s Fiscal Year 2006
 

In Fiscal Year 2006, the USPTO set new records in goals related to quality, production, electronic filing, telework, electronic processing, and hiring.

Julie Burke of the USPTO will conduct a NAPP® teleconference on Restriction Practice on January 17, 2007 from 8:00 pm. to 9:00 pm. Eastern time.  To register, click here.

The views expressed herein are solely those of the author and may not necessarily be supported by the NAPP, its members, officers, or directors.

Accelerated Examination: Procedure

By David J. Robeson, Ph.D.

Summary: A “new” application that has not received any examination may be granted special status for accelerated examination within 12 months if the applicant: submits a petition to make special; presents all claims directed to a single invention; submits a statement that a pre-examination search was made; submits a copy of the references deemed most closely related to the claimed subject matter; and submits a detailed discussion of how the claimed subject matter is patentable over the references.  Click here to access the article (PDF).

The Disclosure® welcomes the submission of articles on topics related to US and foreign patent practice.  To submit  an article to The Disclosure®, please contact the staff.
 

The Disclosure® is a trademark of the National Association of Patent Practitioners.

The Disclosure® is published monthly and is made available to NAPP members and the general public.

Editor:  David Robeson

©2006 National Association of Patent Practitioners.  All rights reserved.

NAPP Officers:

President - G. Ron Reardon

Vice President - Sean Brennan

Treasurer - Jerry Miller

Secretary - Michelle Stempien

NAPP Directors:

Sharon Adams

Kevin Grierson

David Grossman

Tom Hamill

Louis Hoffman

The 2007 NAPP® Annual Meeting will be held in Las Vegas, NV, July 14-17, 2007.  Further details and registration information will be provided here.

The next meeting of the Georgia chapter is scheduled for Wednesday, January 17^th, 2007 from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. at 11625 Rainwater Drive, Building 500, Suite 350, Alpharetta, GA.  The speaker for the meeting is NAPP President Ron Reardon on the subject of “Strategies for Growing Your Practice.”  To register, click here.

The New Jersey Regional Chapter needs volunteers to help organize NAPP regional meetings in the New Jersey area.  If you are interested in volunteering, please contact us.