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| PTO 21st Century Strategic Plan Proposes Deferred Patent
Examination, 4-Tier Fee System |
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USPTO Announces Electronic Filing Partnerships
As Part of Newly Unveiled Strategic Plan (06-18-2002)
The USPTO today announced the award of partnership
contracts for the electronic filing of patent applications as part of its
strategic plan to five companies:
Aspen Grove, Inc.,
AutoDocs, LLC,
First
to File, Inc., LegalStar, Inc and
LexisNexis. The partnerships are "no
cost contracts" which means that the companies will be providing their
services to USPTO customers at no cost to the agency.
USPTO Director Jim Rogan noted, "Two weeks ago when I
unveiled our 21st Century Strategic Plan, I indicated we would be
leveraging outside resources to assist us in moving toward a full
paperless patent process by the end of 2004. This endeavor also fully
supports President Bush's e-commerce goals by utilizing the private
sector's business expertise to provide better, more efficient and less
costly government services to our citizens."
Each of the five companies will pursue its own business
plan, and integrate technology of its own development for providing its
customers with simple, convenient and secure electronic submissions to the
USPTO. The awardees responded to a solicitation from the USPTO and
demonstrated an ability to build and market systems that are technically
viable and provide services and products of value to filers. All five
companies presented a potentially successful business strategy and have
documented experience in e-commerce product development.
The partnerships will supplement USPTO's current
Electronic Filing System (EFS). The EFS system proved the viability of the
concept of electronic filing. Electronic filing can now be better
addressed by vendors with a profit motive and market experience.
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