More user-friendly tool for electronic filing and management of applications was introduced in 2017
By the time you read this, the USPTO will have fully transitioned to a faster, more streamlined search experience for applicants accessing publicly available patents and application file information.
Beginning August 1, 2022, the Patent Center system—available to the public since 2017—fully replaces the legacy Public Patent Application Information Retrieval (Public PAIR) tool for the electronic filing and management of patent applications.
The Public PAIR tool was first launched in the early 2000s.
In addition to providing improved system performance and a more intuitive user experience, Patent Center incorporates all the existing functions of Public PAIR, as well as several enhanced features that allow users to:
- Search publicly available information as a guest by application, patent, Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), publication, and/or international design registration number;
- Sort documents and transaction history based on column headings;
- Perform a quick document preview;
- Download multiple documents at once within a single PDF file or in a ZIP file (new);
- Download patent references (new);
- Download documents in DOCX and XML formats (new); and
- Download bibliographic information in XML format (new).
The USPTO is hosting several training sessions to further increase users’ familiarity with Patent Center. To view the training schedule, register for a session, or learn more about the system, visit the Patent Center information webpage on the USPTO website at uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center.
The newer system has undergone rigorous user testing and iterative improvements, based largely on the public’s input. The USPTO will continue to use feedback from stakeholder listening sessions, Patent Center training programs, and other events to further refine the system to meet users’ needs.
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