A reader asked me earlier how to obtain a PDF of a patent that was OCR (text searchable).  I thought I’d create a list of the ones I remember off the top of my head:

• Patent Tools will OCR for $5:  http://www.pattools.com/Patent-to-PDF.html
• The Patent Supply Company for as cheap as $0.49 per patent:  http://www.patentsupply.com/price
• Per a comment below, you can do it yourself via Adobe Acrobat. There may be free tools that OCR PDFs too.
• Another comment notes “The EPO publishes text-searchable PDFs of recent (but not all) European patents and patent applications. http://www.epo.org/patents/patent-information/european-patent-documents/publication-server.html
  

If there are others (and I am sure there are), please let me know and I’ll update the list.

I’ve received a question from a reader regarding whether or not anyone has heard of an invention promoter by the name of “Worldwide Invention Solutions.” I haven’t but, the comments are open…

Congrats to a local inventor! Idaho Statesman — Boise businessman reaches final of Golf Channel reality show

Not that I’m biased or anything (I wrote the patent)…but I think that Dean Thompson’s “Z-Factor” invention is clearly the winner. Go Dean!

The winner will be determined by the viewers. To vote, go to http://www.thegolfchannel.com/foreinventors/.

Question from a reader regarding the FAQ for the Continuation Rule Changes:

The FAQ mentions that a comparison chart showing “the differences between the requirements for an accelerated examination support document (AESD) and the requirements for an examination support document under 37 CFR 1.265…is available on the USPTO web site.”  Does anyone know the URL for this chart?

The comments are open if anyone knows….Funny. My earlier post had the link: http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/pac/dapp/opla/presentation/ccfrcomparison.pdf. Nevermind.

Great advice from an inventor of toys.

As attorneys, particularly intellectual property attorneys with international practices, we all often come across unfamiliar first names…wondering if the person we are addressing a letter (or e-mail) to is a man or a woman.  Here’s one way to increase your confidence in knowing the answer to that question:  Google Images.

Type in the person’s first name in the search box and look at the resulting pictures.  Typically, you can figure out the answer.  Sure it won’t work as well on certain names (e.g., Leslie, Pat, Chris, Dana)…but it will usually give you a pretty good idea.

Matt, Doug and I typically keep a CampFire window open where we chit chat (sort of like instant messaging, with an archive).

Earlier today I was complaining to Matt about the new USPTO continuation rules, particularly the Examination Support Documents concept, jokingly noting that “you know, if they have us do enough of the work it will be really easy to move to a “registration” system, ditching the “examination” system.”

Matt’s response? A link to this post: Promote the Progress® ::: J. Matthew Buchanans Patent Blog ::: Friday food for thought: The changing scope of patent reform

Hmm….

For those of you boning up on the proposed regulations, the USPTO has a page with additional information regarding the changes to claims and continuations practice that includes:

Federal Register Notice

• Changes to Practice for Continued Examination Filings, Patent Applications Containing Patentably Indistinct Claims, and Examination of Claims in Patent Applications, Final rule
  (72 Fed. Reg. 46716 – 21Aug2007) [PDF]

Summaries

• Highlights
• Changes from Proposed Rule
• Section-by-Section Rule Summary

Presentation Slide Set

• Claims and Continuations Final Rule [HTML accessible]
• Claims and Continuations Final Rule [PPT]
• Claims and Continuations Final Rule [PDF]
• Claims and Continuations Final Rule [ZIP]

Frequently Asked Questions [PDF]

Charts

• Commonly Owned Applications and Applications Containing Patentably Indistinct Claims [PDF]
• Comparison of Accelerated Examination Support Document and Examination Support Document Under 37 CFR 1.265 [PDF]

Guidelines (available in October 2007)

• Examination Support Document Guidelines

Forms (available in October 2007)

• Form SB/216, Examination Support Document Transmittal [PDF]
• Form SB/211, Examination Support Document Listing of References [PDF]
• Form SB/206, Listing of Commonly Owned Applications and Patents [PDF]
• Form SB/201, Request for Streamlined Docketing Procedure [PDF]

I’m sure every other patent blog is covering this…but just in case you didn’t hear, the new continuation rules (proposed) are coming out tomorrow.  Apparently,

Under the new rules, applicants may file two new continuing applications and one request for continued examination as a matter of right. Also, under the new rules, each application may contain up to 25 claims, with no more than five of them independent claims, without any additional effort on the part of the applicant.

Previous Invent Blog coverage: 

• File Lots of Continuing Applications?  Those days are soon over…
• USPTO rule change regarding continuation practice…hope you like it.
• Blame it on the Continu-rain…

Anyhow…new rules tomorrow, followed by a USPTO webcast answering all our questions on Thursday:

USPTO Webcast on New Claims and Continuations Rules
Date:   Thursday, August 23, 2007
Time:   1:00 p.m. (EST)
Register: [LINK]
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) will hold a special webinar on Thursday, August 23, 2007, at 1:00 p.m. (EST) on new claims and continuations rules that will allow the agency to continue to make the patent examination process more effective and efficient by encouraging applicants to use greater clarity and precision in describing the scope of their inventions.  The new rules will be published in the Federal Register available at www.uspto.gov <http://www.uspto.gov/>  after noon on August 21, and will be effective on November 1, 2007.During this live, two-hour webcast, USPTO officials will explain the new rules and answer questions.  The presentation and audio for this event will be streamed over the Internet.  All participants need is a computer with an Internet connection, sound card, speakers and the ability to view Windows Media presentations.  To register for this free webcast, click on the following link: [LINK]
An advance copy of the presentation will be made available to registrants prior to the event.

Don’t forget that you will need a soundcard to hear the webcast.

The Golf Channel is accepting applications for a second season of their Fore Inventors Only show.  If you (or a client) have a golf invention…now’s your chance. 

Speaking of Fore Inventors Only, congrats to local inventor Dean Thompson who has made it to the final 10 inventors in the competition.