BLOG@IP::JUR

Patent Attorney Axel H Horns' Blog on Intellectual Property Law.

Disclaimer & About This Website

Visit the archives

Thursday, February 12, 2004

AIPLA is concerned over U.S.-PTO moving to eServices too fast.

There seems to be a dispute over a

plan announced by the

U.S.-PTO to cease supplying copies of cited U.S. patent references with office actions, and pilot to evaluate the alternative of providing electronic access to such U.S. patent references. The

The American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA) has filed a

statement saying that they support and appreciate the efforts of the PTO to convert its operations to an electronic environment by adopting procedures and practices that will improve the effectiveness and efficiency of patent operations. AIPLA further supports the concept of a pilot program to test and refine new practices before they are implemented on an Office-wide scale. However, although they generally support the efforts of the PTO contained in the subject notice to convert its operations to an electronic environment, the comments they have received from their members suggest that it is premature to implement the plan without further study, improvements to the system, and a longer period of time to prepare.

[Permalink]