I can personally attest to the fact that the USPTO has written and used
automatic Internet (TCP/IP) single and multiple document downloading
software for each of its Web patent databases, both text and image, *before*
each of those respective those databases was made available to the public.
If this information is useful to EPO, I would be glad to provide any further
information desired.
Regards,
Larry Larson, USPTO
> -----Original Message-----
> From: ujihara@aurora.dti.ne.jp [mailto:ujihara@aurora.dti.ne.jp]
> Sent: Tuesday, January 15, 2002 10:57 AM
> To: piug-l@derwent.co.uk
> Subject: How long has patent downloading software been available ?
>
>
> Dear PIUG list,
>
> I am UJIHARA Kazuya, the author of GetIPDL, patent
> downloading software.
> <http://www.aurora.dti.ne.jp/~ujihara/GetIPDL/>
> I got some e-mails from Mr. Mayall, the author of PatSee.
> He says that GetIPDL is infringing his intellectual property described
> in WO01/01234.
> But, I consider that GetIPDL does not use the arts claimed in
> WO01/01234.
> Furthermore, I believe that his invention is not satisfy a patent
> requirement because the invention is not progressive,
> and patent downloading software is available on the earliest priority
> date of WO01/01234.
> I know one patent downloading software, whose name is PatCite.
> It was written by Mr. Dudley J. Mills and his product is released on
> 1997 as the version 3.0.
> In order to make my opinion more reliable, please let me know the
> following questions.
> How long has patent downloading software been available ?
> When were they available ?
> Who produced them ?
>
> Thank you in advance.
>
> Regards,
>
> UJIHARA Kazuya <mailto:ujihara@aurora.dti.ne.jp>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Support [mailto:support@imageapps.co.uk]
> Sent: Friday, January 04, 2002 7:51 PM
> To: ujihara@aurora.dti.ne.jp
> Subject: GetIPDL
>
>
> Dear Sirs,
>
> Please address all future correspondence regarding the above
> program and
> International patent publication number WO 01/01234 to:
>
> support@imageapps.co.uk.
>
> Legal Department
> Image Applications Limited
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: lattice@yall.screaming.net [mailto:lattice@yall.screaming.net]
> Sent: Wednesday, December 19, 2001 4:05 AM
> To: UJIHARA Kazuya
> Subject: Re: Patent Problem
>
>
> Dear Sirs,
>
> Thank you for your comments.
>
> We would be grateful if you could advise what feature in the
> claims of
> WO01/01234 is absent from GetIPDL. Presumably you will have
> no problem
> providing this information if your product genuinely falls outside of
> the
> claims.
>
> In our understanding GetIPDL clearly falls within the claims but we
> would be
> pleased if you could explain the basis of your opinion.
>
> As you are connected to the intellectual property field you will no
> doubt
> understand the seriousness of this matter.
>
> Thank you for continued attention.
>
> Legal Department
> Image Applications Limited
> =================================
>
>
> UJIHARA Kazuya writes:
>
> > Dear Sirs,
> >
> > I believe that your invention was made to a person having ordinary
> > skill in internet programming. And, GetIPDL does not use the arts
> > claimed in WO 01/01234. If you continue it, I will consult
> with some
> > IP newsgroups, mailing lists, and so forth.
> >
> > Regards,
> >
> > Ujihara Kazuya
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Image Applications Limited [mailto:lattice@yall.screaming.net]
> > Sent: Sunday, December 16, 2001 7:58 PM
> > To: ujihara@aurora.dti.ne.jp
> > Subject: Patent Problem
> >
> >
> > Dear Sirs,
> >
> > Thank you for your prompt reply to our e-mail regarding
> your product,
> > GetIPDL, and International Patent Application WO 01/01234.
> >
> > We have read the items from the archive. These items are not
> > persuasive and, in our opinion, would not be accepted by the Patent
> > Office or Court as evidence of invalidity. For example one item
> > alleges invalidity over unspecified documents of no proven date.
> >
> > As for the alleged prior use of PatCite and DIP-J software to which
> > you refer, again this allegation is unsubstantiated. We
> are not aware
>
> > of either product having been made available to the public
> before the
> > priority date. The evidentiary requirements have not been
> met, nor do
>
> > we believe they can be met as we have no knowledge of these
> products
> > being made available to the public in any form affecting
> validity of
> > our patent rights.
> >
> > Your manufacture of GetIPDL damages the legitimate business
> interests
> of
> > Image Applications Limited.
> >
> > Your comments within 13 days would be appreciated.
> >
> >
> > Legal Department
> > Image Applications Limited
> > =================================
> >
> >
> > Dear Sirs,
> >
> > Please read
> > http://www.derwent.com/archive/piug/0989.html
> > http://www.derwent.com/archive/piug/0991.html
> > . They are similar to my opinion.
> > Additionally,
> > Your invention is publicly known and worked in PatCite and DIP-J
> > softwares on priority date of WO 01/01234. What's new in your
> > invention ?
> >
> > Regards,
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Image Applications Limited [mailto:lattice@yall.screaming.net]
> > Sent: Saturday, December 15, 2001 6:48 PM
> > To: ujihara@aurora.dti.ne.jp
> > Subject: Patent Problem
> > Importance: High
> >
> >
> > Dear Sirs,
> >
> > We wish to draw your attention to International Patent
> Application WO
> > 01/01234. This realtes to software for downloading patents
> from free
> > servers. We have noticed your software GetIPDL and we are
> naturally
> > concerned about your activities.
> >
> > Your comments within 14 days would be appreciated.
> >
> >
> > Legal Department
> > Image Applications Limited
> >
>
>
>
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