Upcoming Changes to FileShopper.com (Do not read if you are not interested in FileShopper, electronic file histories, patent copies, or innovation)

I apologize in advance if this message is construed as SPAM by any PIUG
member.

I would like to know if any PIUG members, that are also FileShopper users,
would object to a change in the FileShopper search feature that I am
considering.

My idea is to remove some of the automation that has been built into
FileShopper. Rather than viewing the name of the document provider that has
indicated a particular document as being in their inventory, the searcher
would get a result that indicates whether FileShopper has access to file or
not. FileShopper would then handle the routing of orders to the appropriate
document provider and ensure the customer service aspect of the transaction.
FileShopper would provide the name of the document provider at the time of
order completion.

There are a couple of reasons behind this potential modification.

1) To allow FileShopper to maintain stricter quality controls.

2) To allow smaller document providers to publish their lists of documents
without fear of reprisals / punishment from larger document providers.

I suspect that some members will question this change. Here is the reasoning
behind it.

FileShopper was developed to achieve several goals.

1) To enable small to mid-sized patent document firms to market their
products and services worldwide and make use of their existing electronic
file history inventories.

2) To capitalize upon the power of the Internet to allow for cooperation
between patent document firms all over the world.

3) To decrease the time it takes to search for and obtain electronic file
histories, patent copies, and other IP related documents.

Unfortunately, these goals are now conflicting with one another.

It has come to my attention that having your name listed as a FileShopper
document provider might become a liability rather than an asset. Recently
some FileShopper document providers have been told that they can no longer
receive the same wholesale price discounts from a particular document
provider as they did prior to becoming a FileShopper document provider. This
is being done in an effort to prevent document providers from participating
with FileShopper. I do not want to see small companies get bullied around.

To combat this attempt to derail FileShopper, I feel that I must assist my
document provider partners in protecting their interests. This is why I will
need to anonimize their participation in FileShopper until the point of
sale.

If I get a strong response from PIUG members and current FileShopper users,
I may come up with another solution. Unless I am given a better option, I
think that this would be the best solution to protect FileShopper's document
providers partners and the company itself.

I look forward to the vibrant commentary that I normally see from members of
the PIUG.

Best Regards,

Jim Turner

FileShopper, Inc.

 

 

 


Received on Fri Mar 25 2005 - 13:30:18