USPTO Proposes Changes to Facilitate Applicants' Authorization of Access to Unpublished US Patent Applications by Foreign IP Offices | Practical Law

USPTO Proposes Changes to Facilitate Applicants' Authorization of Access to Unpublished US Patent Applications by Foreign IP Offices | Practical Law

The US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) proposes to amend its rules of practice to include a new provision to facilitate electronic file sharing for unpublished US patent applications with foreign IP offices.

USPTO Proposes Changes to Facilitate Applicants' Authorization of Access to Unpublished US Patent Applications by Foreign IP Offices

by Practical Law Intellectual Property & Technology
Published on 10 Jul 2014 • USA (National/Federal)
The US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) proposes to amend its rules of practice to include a new provision to facilitate electronic file sharing for unpublished US patent applications with foreign IP offices.
On July 11, 2014, the USPTO proposed changes to its rules of practice to include a specific provision for an applicant to authorize the USPTO to give a foreign IP office access to all or part of the file contents of an unpublished US patent application to satisfy a requirement for information imposed on a counterpart application filed with the foreign IP office (79 Fed. Reg. 40035-01 (July 11, 2014)). Specifically, the rules amend 37 CFR 1.14(h) by including this provision. The rules also change the application data sheet form and simplify the process for how applicants provide the USPTO with the required authorization.
Comments must be received on or before the date 60 days after the notice is published in the Federal Register.