Advisory Update (17OCT2013): EFS-Web and Private PAIR: Java Version 7u45 Warning On October 15, 2013, Oracle released Java update (7u45) that affects EFS-Web and Private PAIR users. If your Java version is updated to 7u45, you will receive a prompt on the Authentication page and Digital Certificate Management (DCM) page via a Security Warning message: "Allow access to the following application from this web site?" EFS-Web and Private PAIR users should click the Allow button with NO adverse effects in order to proceed.
EFS-WEB Registered and Private PAIR users who have older Java versions installed may experience problems with Authentication. It is recommended that these users update to Java 7 Update 45 and remove previous versions of Java. Java 7 Update 45 can be downloaded at: http://www.java.com/en/download/manual.jsp.
Please check with your IT department to ensure compatibility. For additional information, see the Entrust Security Bulletin.
Contact the Patent EBC for assistance: 1-866-217-9197 or EBC@USPTO.GOV
Advisory (25SEPT2013): The After Final Consideration Pilot 2.0 (AFCP 2.0), which had been scheduled to expire on September 30, 2013, has been extended through December 14, 2013. The terms of the AFCP 2.0 program, as implemented May 13, 2013, are unchanged. Visit www.uspto.gov/patents/init_events/afcp.jsp
Advisory (2AUG2013): The document description "Drawings - other than black and white line drawings" (document code"DRW.NONBW") is now available in EFS-Web for design patent applications, including reissue design patent applications, and reexamination proceedings for design patents. Applicants are advised to start using this document description for grayscale drawings, photographs, color drawings, and other drawings that are not black and white line drawings. These drawings will be stored in SCORE, and a black and white copy will be stored in IFW along with a SCORE placeholder sheet.
Advisory (17MAY2013): The After Final Consideration Pilot (AFCP) has been revised. Visit www.uspto.gov/patents/init_events/afcp.jsp to learn about AFCP 2.0, part of the USPTO'S on-going efforts towards compact prosecution and increased collaboration between examiners and stakeholders
Advisory (20MAR2013): Some customers using Internet Explorer 9 and 10 are reporting they are unable to download PDF documents provided by the USPTO. This includes forms listed on the forms web page, last 40 Acknowledgement Receipts from EFS-WEB, and Image File Wrapper documents from Private and Public PAIR. The following message is displayed when the error occurs: "Filename.pdf couldn't be downloaded."
Microsoft's Knowledge Base has an article describing the issue and how to correct it. It can be found on the following page:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2549423 Microsoft is the best source of information for questions related to the functioning of their software.
The issue can also be circumvented by using another browser such as Mozilla Firefox.
Please contact the EBC at 1-866-217-9197 / 571-272-4100 or via email at EBC@USPTO.GOV for assistance.
Advisory (14MAR2013): EFS-Web Registered eFilers are advised that Saved Submission packages created prior to March 19 may not be acceptable for filing on or after March 19 due to changes in fees and document descriptions. To ensure successful processing, Saved Submission packages intended for filing on or after March 19, should not be created in EFS-Web prior to March 19. Please contact the EBC for assistance at 866-217-9197 (toll free) or EBC@uspto.gov
Advisory (12MAR2013): Effective on March 16, 2013, the Office will no longer accept requests for Statutory Invention Registrations (SIRs). Section 3 of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act (AIA) repeals the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 157 pertaining to SIRs. The effective date of the repeal of SIRs is March 16, 2013, regardless of the filing date of the application. The Office will consider any pending requests for SIRs filed before March 16, 2013. Requests for SIRs filed on or after March 16, 2013 will not be treated by the Office. More information on the repeal of SIRs can be found in the Federal Register Notice entitled "Changes To Implement the First Inventor To File Provisions of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act," Final Rule, 78 FR 11024 (February 14, 2013).
Advisory (01MAR2013): Java 7 Update 15 has been tested for EFS-Web and Private PAIR. Both applications have full functionality with the exception of downloading patent and publication references in Private PAIR as explained below.
* NOTE: the hyperlinks under section U.S. Patent Documents on the Display References tab in Private PAIR, used to download U.S. patent and publication references, may not work with Java 7. Cited patent and publication numbers can be obtained within the 1449 and IDS documents listed under section Reference Forms on the Display References tab.
To access and download cited patent references go to: https://ppubs.uspto.gov/pubwebapp/static/pages/landing.html.
To access and download cited U.S. publication references, go to: https://ppubs.uspto.gov/pubwebapp/static/pages/landing.html.
Java 7 Update 15 can be downloaded at: http://www.java.com/en/download/manual.jsp
It is recommended that all other Java versions be uninstalled prior to updating to Java 7 Update 15.
** Firefox users may need to enable support for Java 7 per instructions at: http://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/use-java-plugin-to-view-interactive…
*** NOTE FOR Mac USERS: Mac OS X users who install Java 7 will not be able to utilize the Digital Certificate Management (DCM) to recover or create PKI certificates until further notice.
Assistance is available through the Patent Electronic Business Center at 866-217-9197 (toll free) or EBC@uspto.gov
Advisory (14JAN2013):
Java 6 Update 38 is the current recommended version for EFS-Web and Private PAIR.
You can download Java 6 Update 38 at http://java.com/en/download/manual_v6.jsp. Please ensure that you have uninstalled all other Java versions prior to downloading Java 6 Update 38. The USPTO recommends that you do not upgrade to Java 7 until further notice.
If you are using Firefox, please enable support for Java 6 using instructions provided at http://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/update-and-unblock-java (see section "Enabling Java")
Assistance is available through the Patent Electronic Business Center at 866-217-9197 (toll free) or EBC@uspto.gov