Patent Electronic Business Center FAQs
20 of the Most Frequently Asked Questions from Customers
Patent Help - Popular Patent Application (EBC) Customer Questions - Other - Patent help – NEW - Online patent tools - Technical questions about online patent tools
How does a customer become a registered e-filer and gain access to Patent Center?
To become a registered filer with the USPTO systems refer to our guide Getting Started - New Users at https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/applying-online/getting-started-new….
How can a File Naming Convention error be fixed?
To correct file naming errors (EX: Filename.pdf), be sure to start your file name with [A thru Z, a thru z, or 0 thru 9] and make sure that file names do not use brackets or commas. Also do not start a file name with an underscore or hyphen. The last 4 characters of the file name must be lowercase .pdf (EX: .pdf, .txt or .zip). The file name can consist of any combination of characters selected from uppercase alphabet, lowercase alphabet and/or digits zero through nine: [A thru Z, a thru z, or 0 thru 9, _, -] Do not use brackets, commas, spaces or symbols; you can use an underscore or a hyphen within file name.
The length of file name is limited to a maximum of 100 characters including the required 4 character .pdf, .txt or .zip file extension. For more information please visit http://www.uspto.gov/patents/process/file/efs/guidance/infofiles.jsp
What can be done if an Acknowledgement Receipt is not received?
If you are a registered user and have a customer number and did not receive an acknowledgement receipt when filing an application through Patent Center, you should go to My Workbench and access the document that you just submitted. The document may take up to three hours for the acknowledgement receipt to generate. If the receipt is still not available after that timeframe, the user should contact the EBC to confirm that the documents were received. Do not resubmit your application until you have confirmed that it was not received. Non-registered users must call into the EBC.
What if the Documents and Transactions tab not available in Patent Center?
The Image File Wrapper tab will not be available for applications filed prior to 6/30/2003. Users will still be able to view other information regarding the application. One may also order copies of any document from the Office of Public Records.
Patent Help - Popular Patent Application (EBC) Customer Questions - Other - Patent help – NEW - Online patent tools - eBusiness
How can Customer Number data be corrected?
Customer Number data may either be corrected electronically in Patent Center or by submitting the USPTO 124A Customer Number Data Change form located at http://www.uspto.gov/web/forms/sb0124-fill.pdf. You may mail the form or fax it to 571-273-0177. To use Patent Center for customer number data correction please see the Patent Center user guide.
Patent Help - Popular Patent Application (EBC) Customer Questions - Other - Patent help – NEW - Online patent tools - Forms for patent applications
Where can Patent forms be located?
Forms can be located at http://www.uspto.gov/forms/index.jsp.
Patent Help - Popular Patent Application (EBC) Customer Questions - Other
How can the list of Attorney/ Agent listed for an application as having Power of Attorney be updated?
Patent Center contains an Address & Attorney/Agent link for each application. Attorney/agents having Power of Attorney are listed under the Power of Attorney column. If no attorneys/agents are listed, or is incorrect, registered users should complete a Power of Attorney SB/81 form http://www.uspto.gov/web/forms/sb0081.pdf and submit through Patent Center, by fax to 571-273-8300 or by mail. Similarly, if the address or Customer Number indicated for Correspondence Address is incorrect, registered users should complete a Change of Correspondence Address SB/122 form (http://www.uspto.gov/web/forms/sb0122_fill.pdf) and submit through Patent Center, by fax to 571-273-8300 or by mail. Power of Attorney and Change of Correspondence Address are processed by the Application Assistance Unit (AAU). The AAU can be reached by phone at 571-272-4000, or by e-mail at HelpAAU@uspto.gov.
How can Applications be associated with a Customer Number?
To associate existing patent applications to a Customer Number, you must complete and submit the Customer Number Upload Spreadsheet located at http://www.uspto.gov/patents/process/file/efs/guidance/register.jsp. This information can also be sent on a CD or USB memory stick to the address listed below if many applications need to be associated. Another method to associate an application to a customer number is to submit the Change of Correspondence Address form (SB/122) located at http://www.uspto.gov/web/forms/sb0122_fill.pdf. Unlike the Customer Number Upload Spreadsheet where multiple applications/patents can be listed, the Change of Correspondence Address form can be used to only associate a single application to a customer number. Only the customer number should be indicated on the SB/122 form with physical address left blank. Customer number associations using the SB/122 form are only processed by the Applications Assistants Unit or a Technology Center. The EBC processes the automated Upload Spreadsheet.
Mail Stop EBC Customer Number
Commissioner for Patents
P.O. Box 1450
Alexandria, VA 22313-1450
To associate a PCT application in the International phase with a Customer Number for purposes of viewing the PCT application in Patent Center, please download and complete the Request to Update a PCT Application with a Customer Number form at http://www.uspto.gov/patents/process/file/efs/guidance/register.jsp and mail or fax it to the EBC at 571-273-0177.
How can duplicate/unwanted documents from my application be removed?
The Electronic Business Center is unable to remove unwanted documents from an application. Please contact the Petitions office to request assistance with petitioning to have the document removed from the Image File Wrapper. The Petitions office can be reached at 571-272-3282