By Christopher P. Singer —

The USPTO presented a seminar today, December 20, 2006,
that provided an overview of the new features now available on Private PAIR and
announced the new Priority Document Exchange program (PDX).  The presentation has been recorded and will
be available within 48 hours at http://webex.client.ninesystems.com/pair122006.

Private PAIR 7.0

Some of the new features highlighted during the
presentation included:

• Pending non-published PCT application search.  A new button has been added for a search
based on PCT application number.  PAIR provides application data,
transaction history, attorney address, and an image file wrapper.  It is important to remember to associate
a customer number with your PCT application.  This can be done through EFS-Web or by submitting a form letter to EBC.

• XML Application Data Download provides for downloadable
bibliographic application data, which can be used for document mapping and
integrated into many docketing and document management systems.  The XML download is presented as an orange
button usually next to "search" button.

• Self-administration of Customer Number allows for
on-line changing of correspondence information or a list of attorneys associated
with the customer number.  Further,
practitioners can search for application status changes by customer number (as
far back as 180 days).

• Self-administered Attorney Docket Number allows
practitioners to edit a docket number on PAIR's bibliographic application data
page.

• Ordering certified copies of pending applications and
certified file histories.

• Cited reference display enhancements provide a list of
cited references in three sections: U.S. Patent Documents, Reference Forms
(e.g., PTO1449 forms), and Foreign Patents and NPLs.  All cited references are downloadable.

Priority Document Exchange (PDX)

The USPTO indicates this program will allow for the free
electronic exchange of documents between the U.S. and European Patent
Offices.  The request can be made using
a PTO form (PTO/SB/38), which provides a
release for non-published U.S. Applications.  After placing the request, you should monitor Private PAIR for confirmation
of the application transmission.  Request
instructions can also be found at the EPO's website.  The request can be made through EFS-Web,
through U.S. Mail, or by fax to the USPTO's Central Fax Number (571-273-8300).  You can request additional information
regarding this program by e-mail to PDX@USPTO.gov.  The PDX program is expected to expand to
include the Japanese Patent Office in June 2007.

    By Christopher P. Singer —

The USPTO has asked Patent Docs to remind its readers that the Patent Office announcement
regarding Private PAIR 7.0 and the EDX program, originally scheduled for December 19th, has been rescheduled for today (December 20th) at 1:00 pm Eastern
time.  The event can be accessed here.

    By Christopher P. Singer —

The U.S. Patent Office today announced that a limited
group of Private PAIR users have been given the option of receiving electronic
correspondence from the USPTO instead of paper mailings.  The December 19, 2006 notice discusses an
overview of the program and says that depending on its success, it could be
opened to all Private PAIR users (that is, registered practitioners with a
customer number and access to Private PAIR) as early as June 2007.

The pilot program will not include correspondence from
certain Office departments, including the Office of Initial Patent Examination,
Petitions, PCT, Appeals, Publications, Interference, and Reexamination.  Once the program is in full effect, the PTO
anticipates that a practitioner will sign up for the program and be able to
associate from one to three e-mail addresses for notification purposes.  Once a practitioner opts into the program,
the system will send a message to each e-mail address the practitioner lists,
which will detail any Office correspondence generated within the past 24 hours
for any patent or patent application associated with the customer number.

For further details regarding this program, please refer
to the notice, linked above.

    By Christopher P. Singer —

Unfortunately, because of technical difficulties the U.S.
Patent Office was unable to broadcast its presentation originally scheduled for
1:00 pm EST today, regarding the update to Private PAIR (Private PAIR
7.0).  They hope to reschedule the event
for sometime tomorrow.

Earlier today, the PTO announced that this presentation
will also discuss the Priority Document Exchange System (PDX) that is scheduled
to launch (with intent to have full capability) on January 16, 2007.  As we reported on November 24,
the PDX program will allow an Applicant to request that the USPTO either
request from or release to the EPO, an electronic version of a priority
document.  This will be at no cost to the
Applicant.  The current fee for
requesting that the USPTO provide a priority document is $20 per document.

This webcast will be recorded and available for later
viewing.  We will provide that
information as it becomes available.