Office of Public Records
Public User’s Meeting
June 16, 2004
2:00 p.m.

The Public User’s Meeting was held at 2:00pm in the Patents Theater, Crystal Park 2, 2121 Crystal Drive, Room 200, Arlington, VA. Martha Sneed, Office of Public Information Services Director, chaired the meeting. There were approximately 15 members of the public in attendance and nine USPTO staff.

Announcements

· The new Public Search Facility (PSF) electronic mailbox was implemented on May 25, 2004. Handouts were supplied detailing its use.
· There are no planned enhancements to the searchable patents database on the web at this time.
· Paper Trademark Registration file collections will remain in South Tower. All other information resources, including the official Trademark Register, Official Gazettes, microfilm and card information resources, etc. will relocate to the Alexandria campus. There will be several copiers and search terminals available to users in South Tower, and a cashier window made available.

Question: When is the actual PSF move?
Response: September 24, 2004. The doors will close at 8:00pm and the move will take place over the weekend. Doors will re-open on Monday morning September 27, 2004. If there are any changes in the move date the public will be notified.

Question: Will patent and trademark microfilm be located in same area?
Response: Yes. They will be in separate cabinets but located in the same general area along with appropriate reader/printers.

Question: Will TRAM workstations continue to be available in the Trademark search library?
Response: This question was asked at last month’s user meeting, and the USPTO had asked for information on why these resources need to be retained. So far there has been no input. We welcome that input.

Question: Will there be an IFW demonstration in the near future?
Response: There will be, but no firm date has been established. IFW access will be included as part of Public PAIR July 30, 2004.

Question: What will be done about power-to-inspect?
Response: Power-To-Inspect is going through approvals at this time; it is not finalized as yet.

Question: Is OPR moving and when?
Response: OPR is moving to South Tower around the end of December 2004.

Question: Will the customer mailboxes in G1 be moving and, if so, where and when?
Response: Not at this time. The lease for the current location is good until April 2005.

Question: Customer asked about refund orders because she is not receiving refund sheets.
Response: Marilyn Ricks-Beach asked the customer to supply her with specific information so that the problem can be researched and resolved.

Question: There was a question from a customer concerning a problem ordering published patent application files.
Response: Ms. Ricks-Beach requested the order number so she can check the actual order status and get back to him about it.

Question: A customer brought out a concern about customer service when she calls the DSD/Customer Service line. The contact representatives are not identifying themselves to customers when answering calls.
Response: Ms. Ricks-Beach said she would look into the situation.

Question: When will FIU move?
Response: John Hassett stated the FIU will move to South Tower July 23, 2004. The new hours when it reopens will be 7:00am until 7:00pm.

Question: What about accommodating west coast customers? Can the hours be extended further, until at least 8:00pm?
Response: The 7 to 7 extended hours are intended to cover west coast customers.

Question: A customer was concerned about the availability of copiers in the FIU at South Tower. Will the plans for upgrades to the power supply be finalized in time so there will be no delays with the move and the re-opening of the FIU?
Response: Everything should be on schedule.

Comment: Some customers remain concerned about the FIU being at a different location from the PSF.

Question: Will the FIU eventually move to Alexandria?
Response: The FIU will be located in South Tower until at least 2007, when the lease expires.

Question: Will shuttle service be available during the extended hours of FIU operations?
Response: Shuttle service routes and times of operation are being worked out at this time and nothing has been finalized.

Question: Will there be a Reps terminal in FIU?
Response: REPS is scheduled to migrate to IFW, so the standalone workstation will no longer be needed.

Question: How will customers get copies of front pages of patents?
Response: There will be UPWS workstations in the FIU so that front page information can be acquired.

The meeting concluded at approximately 2:50pm. The next meeting date is July 21, 2004.

KEY: =online business system =fees =forms=help =laws/regulations =definition (glossary)

Is there a question about what the USPTO can or cannot do that you cannot find an answer for? Send questions about USPTO programs and services to the USPTO Contact Center (UCC). You can suggest USPTO webpages or material you would like featured on this section by E-mail to the webmaster@uspto.gov. While we cannot promise to accommodate all requests, your suggestions will be considered and may lead to other improvements on the website.