USPTO seeks trialists for new filing system

The US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has invited potential participants to take part in a beta release of its new online patent filing system.

The new Patent Center system will enjoy a beta release this month, the USPTO said in a press release.

“Patent Center features a unified, user-friendly interface that will eventually incorporate and surpass all capabilities of the older systems,” the office said.

Users can sign up to the waiting list to trial the system by  contacting the USPTO.

“Our project team will contact external stakeholders in phases for group training and access to Patent Center as the beta progresses,” the USPTO added.

Patent Center is planned to replace the current EFS-Web and the public Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) systems.

The announcement is the latest in a string of technical reforms aimed at streamling digital processes and improving security.

Last month, the USPTO announced a new two-step authentication system for users accessing the Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS).

The measure includes an exemption for electronic signatures.

By summer 2020, the USPTO aims to allow users to “control and delegate access to filings”. This means that, “without proper authorisation, other customers will not be able to file documents for your trademark applications or registrations.”

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