Yes, Edlyn. In fact, the Neptune address drowned my initial posting about where to find interference information most rapidly. Can the Derwent email admin comment on the address & its significance for the functionality of the PIUG-L discussion list? I got a series of bounced messages from that address, even though I hadn't addressed to it. What gives?
-----Original Message-----
From: simmons.es@pg.com [mailto:simmons.es@pg.com]
Sent: Mon 10/28/2002 1:42 PM
To: piug-l@derwent.co.uk
Cc:
Subject: Re: Fastest Source for US Patent Interference Adverse Decisions
This reply never made it to the discussion list. It bounced from a very strange
address, piug-l@neptune.derwent.co.uk, not the usual list address. Has anyone
else noticed postings that tried to go there?
Edlyn
---------------------- Forwarded by Edlyn Simmons-ES/PGI on 10/28/2002 02:40 PM
---------------------------
From: Edlyn Simmons-ES on 10/27/2002 03:36 PM
Edlyn Simmons-ES To: "Zimmermann, Roy"
<roy.zimmermann@medtronic.com>
Cc: piug-l@derwent.co.uk
10/27/2002 03:36 PM Subject: Re: Fastest Source for US Patent
Interference Adverse Decisions (Document
link: Edlyn Simmons-ES)
Roy,
If memory serves, the PTO announces only adverse decisions in interferences,
those that change the status of an already granted patent. It does not make
public any information about interferences between two pending applications or
interferences won by the granted patents. This is consistent with the general
policy of not publishing any information about pending applications, a policy
that is not quite right for applications that have been published before grant.
Also, if memory serves, interference files are kept separate from prosecution
files. If you were to order a file wrapper from the USPTO, you'd probably see a
paper that mentioned the declaration of an interference, but you wouldn't get
the papers that related to the actual interference procedings. Those might be
available from the Board of Appeals and Interferences, especially if you have
the interference number. I suspect that the file location is the best
information you're going to get.
Edlyn Simmons
Internet Mail Message
Received from host: [193.123.78.40]
[193.123.78.40]
From: "Zimmermann, Roy" <roy.zimmermann@medtronic.com> on 10/25/2002 10:46 PM
GMT
"Zimmermann, Roy" To: piug-l@derwent.co.uk
<roy.zimmermann@medtronic.com> Cc: (bcc: Edlyn Simmons-ES/PGI)
Subject: Fastest Source for US Patent
Interference Adverse Decisions
10/25/2002 06:46 PM
Well, as the hunt progresses, I'm reminded that "fastest" is a relative term.
Presuming that Claims Post-Issuance database would be the most efficient spot to
commence, I started there, found nothing to confirm the presence of an
interference, let alone a decision. I browsed the eOG Notices, along with the
OG Notices on Micropatent, from April-Oct 22, 2002, and found only 3 reports of
Adverse Decisions in Interferences reported in the OG during that nearly 7month
time span. No one notice contained more than a handful of decisions, most one
or two. Thus, I can only conclude the handling of interferences at the PTO is
not proceeding as rapidly as the PTO's plans to gut its classified hardcopy
search files.
Finally, as some respondents suggested, I inquired at the PTO PAIR site. The
only noteworthy point found there is the Location of the files, viz., Board of
Appeals & Interferences Clerks. The summary listing of the File Contents
History states nothing regarding interference proceedings. Like many choice
rumors, confirming interference proceedings and outcomes seems to be difficult
to pin down. Anyone from the PTO reading PIUG-L care to suggest an
appropriate alternative to any of the above sources of information on US
interferences?
Roy Zimmermann
Principal Patent Information Specialist
763-505-2527 763-505-2530 (Fax)
roy.zimmermann@medtronic.com
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