News and Information

Image Problem Inquiries

USPTO Announces Patent Electronic Business Center (EBC) To Handle IFW Image Problem Inquiries from Customers

The Patent Electronic Business Center (EBC) will be the organizational contact for customers regarding questions about IFW images viewed in PAIR.

PAIR provides a private Internet-based access to patent application status and history information as well as the ability to view the scanned images of each customer’s own application file folder(s). PAIR also provides a public Internet-based access to published patent and pending application status and history as well as the ability to view the scanned images of the application folder, provided that the published serial number has gone through the Image File Wrapper process. For information regarding PAIR, see our website.

Interactive Model

USPTO Launches Interactive Model Predicting Average Patent Pendency Timeframes in Relation to Varying Staffing and Filing Levels

Washington- As part of its ongoing transparency efforts, the Commerce Department’s United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) today established an interactive Patent Pendency Model (PPM) on its Web site.

Patent Regulations

USPTO Rescinds Controversial Patent Regulations Package Proposed by Previous Administration

Agency Files Joint Motion with Plaintiff GlaxoSmithKline to Dismiss Lawsuit Related to Regulations Affecting the Ability to Secure Patent Protection for Inventions

WASHINGTON – Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO David Kappos has signed a new Final Rule rescinding highly controversial regulations, proposed by the previous administration, that patent applicants felt unduly restricted their capacity to protect intellectual property. The regulations, which addressed the number of continuation applications as well as the number of claims that could be included within each application, were published in the Federal Register in August 2007, but were enjoined and never came into effect.