Filing Procedure - USPTO

Agenda

Introduction

Filing Stages

E-filing

Fees

Resources

Introduction

- Market and Need - Another dimension to IPR services - Direct involvement from initial steps of a patent application

OPAP (Office for Patent Application Processing)

Filing Process in USPTO

Introduction

Filing Stages

Filing Stages

- Critical decisions

a. Do I need to file?

b. Should I file by my own?

c. Type of protection, application and coverage

- Documents Required

a. Information Disclosure (Duty of Candor)

b. Priority document

- Critical decisions

a. Mode of filing

b. Exercising options

i. Track One/ Accelerated examination/ PPH

ii. Not publishing before allowance

iii. Priority Date

c. Multiple Applications to avoid “Unity of Invention”

Filing Stages

Filing Stages - Document required

a. Oath/Declaration

b. Application data sheet (ADS)

c. Specification – Description and at least 1 Claim

d. Drawing* (Optional)

e. Micro Entity Certification (Optional)

f. Information Disclosure Statement form (IDS)

i. Translation copy for foreign references

ii. Prosecution data for claimed foreign application

iii. Non-patent literature document

g. Basic filing fees, search and examination fees

Filing Stages

a. Reply to first office action

b. First Action Interview (FAI)

c. Amendments

i. Filing details

ii. 312 amendment (Pre-issuance)

iii. Certificate-of-correction (Proofread)

iv. Re-issue

v. Patent term adjustment

d. Filing other documents

i. Terminal disclaimer

ii. IDS

E-Filing

-- Web-based patent application and document submission solution.

Fees

- Current fee schedule w.e.f. January 16, 2018

a. Basic filing fees

b. Non-electronic filing fees

c. Search and examination fees

d. Application size fees

e. Surcharge

f. Maintenance fees

g. Issue fees

h. Amendments & Correction

Fees

- Important factors influencing fee structure

a. Application size (including preliminary amendment)

b. Entity

c. Mode of filing

d. Response to Office action/ Extension of time

e. Delay/ Surcharge

f. Amendments & Correction

- Utility Patent Application Filing Guide

- Important instructions for Application Data Sheet

- Process for obtaining a utility patent (USPTO)

- Fee Schedule (USPTO)

- EFS-Web (USPTO)

Resources

- Thank you!

If you would like to contact us for any additional information, feel free to

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Amir Ahmed

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