PALM Maintenance Update
Statement updated at 10 a.m. ET August 20, 2018
As we reported yesterday, we have experts in databases, operating systems, and storage from within the USPTO and from external vendors working around the clock to restore the PALM database. Our best estimate at this time is that service will be restored sometime tomorrow. Please note that there are many factors involved in this process and the status can change between now and then. Our teams are always looking for ways to accelerate or compress activity to bring faster results. We are focused on complete and accurate restoration of service as quickly as possible.
Applicants affected by this outage will have an option to avoid or receive a refund of paper filing fees. For such applicants, the director will prescribe a procedure for re-submitting applications electronically to receive a refund of the paper filing fee (or to not incur a fee if not yet paid). Applicants who follow this procedure will maintain their original filing dates for applications filed by paper during the outage. Details of this procedure will be identified on this page when they are ready. In the meantime, applicants should continue to file and pay associated fees pursuant to current laws and regulations.
We will continue to receive and accept filings and payments through alternative means during this outage. EFS-Web Contingency is available as an option when the primary portal for EFS-Web is unavailable. Given the availability of the alternative filing methods, the USPTO does not plan to extend deadlines. Questions about paper filing fees have been raised and we are examining our options to see how we can address those concerns. Our Patents employees continue to work. Systems not highlighted below, such as all those associated with Trademarks continue to function as normal. We remind you that you may be able to access and use some of the highlighted systems below, but please note that the data in those systems is only valid up to Wednesday, August 15 at 12:01 a.m. ET.
Because the PALM database is down, the following systems are currently unavailable:
- Electronic Filing System (EFS-Web)
- Electronic Freedom of Information Act (E-FOIA)
- Electronic Patent Assignment System (ePAS)
- Employee Locator Search
- Global Dossier (GD)
- Office of Enrollment and Discipline Information System (OEDIS)
- Order Entry Management System (OEMS)
- One Portal Dossier (OPD)
- Patent Global Dossier Public Access Dossier (P-GD-PAD)
- Patent Maintenance Fees Storefront
- Private Patent Application Information Retrieval (Private PAIR)
- Public Patent Application Information Retrieval (Public PAIR)
- Patent Review Process System (PRPS)
- Patent Trial and Appeal Board End-to-End (PTAB-E2E)
We are aware of how this system outage impacts those who have patent-related business with the USPTO and we know you have questions on a variety of topics. We posted answers to some questions we know you have or that you may be wondering about the PALM database issue.
Further status updates will be issued on this page (www.uspto.gov/blog/ebiz) as they become available. At a minimum, you will see updates at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. daily.
Thank you for your patience as we work to restore full service as soon as possible.
Posted at 06:00AM Aug 20, 2018 in Current Status |