United States: Navigating The USPTO Patent Assignment Search: A Comprehensive Guide
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is a pivotal institution in the realm of intellectual property, playing a crucial role in protecting the innovations that fuel progress. Among its varied services, the USPTO patent assignment search stands out as an essential resource for individuals and organizations navigating the intricacies of patent ownership and assignments. This guide delves deep into the functionality and significance of the USPTO's patent assignment search tool, shedding light on its utility and operation for all stakeholders involved in the patenting process.
Understanding Patent Assignments
To fully appreciate the value of the USPTO assignment search, one must first understand what a patent assignment entails. Essentially, a patent assignment is the transfer of an owner's rights, title, and interest in a patent or patent application to another entity or individual. This process can occur through the sale of the patent, a transfer of ownership during a business transaction, or through inheritance. The completion of an assignment confers upon the new owner the exclusive rights to the patent, including the authority to prevent others from exploiting the patented invention.
The Role of the USPTO Patent Assignment Search
Central to the USPTO's offerings is the USPTO assignment database, a comprehensive repository that records all patent assignment information from August 1980 to the current day. This database becomes indispensable for verifying the present ownership of a patent or patent application whenever the USPTO processes pertinent assignment details.
For inventors, legal professionals, and corporations alike, the USPTO assignment search is vital for various reasons. It facilitates due diligence efforts prior to the acquisition or licensing of patents, aids in the resolution of patent right disputes, and ensures adherence to assignment recording protocols.
Utilizing the USPTO Patent Assignment Search
Thanks to the user-friendly interface of the USPTO assignment search tool , users can effortlessly access detailed records of patent assignments. This tool, part of the broader USPTO Electronic Patent Assignment System (EPAS), allows searches by multiple criteria such as patent number, assignor and assignee names, publication numbers, and reel/frame numbers. Results from this assignee search provide comprehensive details about each assignment, including participant names, assigned patents or applications, and the date of assignment.
The USPTO patent assignment search tool is far more than a mere database; it serves as a critical access point to the legal and commercial dimensions of patenting. By facilitating access to exhaustive records of US patent assignments, the USPTO empowers stakeholders across the innovation landscape to make well-informed decisions. This, in turn, helps in averting disputes and promoting the seamless transfer of technology. Whether you are conducting a US patent assignment search, exploring the USPTO assignment database, or utilizing the USPTO trademark assignment search function, the USPTO's resources are invaluable for anyone involved in the intricate world of patents and trademarks.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.
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Ant-Like Persistence
USPTO pushes back the date to release “son of EPAS/ETAS”
(Update: the migration has now been postponed for a third time, see blog article .)
On October 31, 2023, the USPTO announced that December 4, 2023 was the date upon which a new system called IPAS (Intellectual Property Assignment System) will replace EPAS (Electronic Patent Assignment System) and ETAS (Electronic Trademark Assignment System). See screen shot at right. But now the release date has been pushed back. One wonders whether IPAS will disappoint its users, as will be discussed.
The banner across the top of the EPAS (Electronic Patent Assignment System) has been quietly altered so that it now gives a new date of January 15, 2024 as the date that IPAS will replace … ETAS. (Note that the banner does not say that IPAS will replace EPAS in addition to replacing ETAS.) The new launch date of January 15, 2024 is six weeks later than the original launch date of December 4, 2023.
The USPTO has also posted a “News Brief” (USPTO link , archived at right) clarifying that indeed IPAS will not only replace ETAS but will also replace EPAS.
The USPTO’s plan to shut down EPAS and ETAS, succeeding those systems with IPAS, seems likely to be the explanation for a bug in Patent Center that was first reported on March 28, 2023 as CP128 :
When you are on the ack receipt page, you see an orange box at right that says:
The “file an assignment of ownership” link is temporarily broken.
(This link on the Patent Center ack receipt page had, by March of 2023, been “temporarily broken” for some six months.)
This orange box, which has been visible on the Patent Center ack receipt page for more than a year now, has recently been revised to say that the link is “temporarily unavailable” rather than “temporarily broken”, and now offers a link to EPAS. This makes clear that whatever “File an Assignment of Ownership” means, it is not the same thing as EPAS. It thus seems that the “File an Assignment of Ownership” system that had been alluded to in this orange box since September of 2022 is the newly named “Intellectual Property Assignment System”.
Users have been puzzled why this discussion of the “File an Assignment of Ownership” system has, for the past year, appeared in Patent Center only on the ack receipt page and not anywhere else in the Patent Center user interface.
The two things that the reader learns about this new IPAS system from the News Brief are that it will be “cohesive” and “modernized”. While it is of course very helpful to learn that IPAS will be “cohesive” and “modernized”, conspicuously absent from the News Brief (and from any of USPTO’s earlier communications about IPAS) is any hint or suggestion of any of the following:
- any effort to ask users what features they are looking for in the IPAS system;
- any effort to ask users what, if anything, was wrong about EPAS or ETAS and that needed fixing;
- any commitment to ensuring that all of the functionalities of the EPAS/ETAS systems will be carried forward into the IPAS system;
- any indication that alpha or beta testing of IPAS by actual users ever took place;
- any indication of planning for a beta testing effort between now and launch day;
- any commitment that the legacy systems would remain in operation for some amount of time after the launch of the IPAS system, to permit continued use of the legacy systems if against all odds there turns out to be some defect in the newly launched IPAS system;
- any presentation (for example with screen shots or mock-ups) that shows what the IPAS is going to look like.
Meaningful preview. One of the most glaring failures in EFS-Web, from its launch in 2002 to the present, is the “preview” function that supposedly allows the user to preview an uploaded PDF document to see what it will look like after the user clicks “submit”. In EFS-Web, the promised “preview” is nothing of the sort — instead, if one clicks “preview”, the EFS-Web system merely hands back to the user the exact same PDF file that the user had uploaded moments earlier. This tells the user nothing more than what the user could have learned simply clicking on the PDF file on the user’s own computer drive prior to doing the upload.
In EFS-Web, any uploaded PDF risks being “halftoned”, and if it gets halftoned, it may end up being fuzzy or illegible. But the so-called “preview” in EFS-Web does not actually preview the halftoned document.
WIPO launched its ePCT system in 2013. From its first day in service, the ePCT system offered a true “preview”. The user could click “preview” and what would appear on the screen is a faithful preview of what would actually go into the system if the user were to click “submit”. This permitted the user to consider whether the halftoning, if any, would harm the legibility of the document to an unacceptable extent. The user could, if necessary, back off from the submission and could work with the source document to remedy the problem. (Oppedahl Patent Law Firm LLC was the first entity, anywhere in the world, to e-file a PCT application in the then-new ePCT system. Blog article. )
The designer of EPAS/ETAS got it right with its preview. If a user uploads a document to be recorded, EPAS/ETAS offers a true preview, showing what the uploaded document really would look like (with halftoning, if any) if the user were to click “submit”.
When the USPTO announced the alpha testing in 2018 of its then-new Patent Center system, users begged the USPTO to follow the example of EPAS and ETAS and ePCT, and to avoid the defect in EFS-Web, in providing its “preview” function. One of many disappointments with Patent Center is that when Patent Center was first revealed to its alpha testers, its “preview” was exactly as defective as the “preview” in the previous EFS-Web system. Even now, after five years of further beta testing of Patent Center, the “preview” continues to be defective, merely handing back to the user the exact same PDF file that the user had uploaded moments earlier.
This raises the question of whether IPAS will have a defective “preview”, following in the footsteps of EFS-Web and Patent Center, or whether it will have a true preview, taking the examples of EPAS and ETAS and ePCT.
PCT application numbers. As mentioned above, the USPTO has not asked the patent filing community anything about what the patent filing community might want in this new IPAS system, and has not asked the patent filing community anything about what, if, anything, is wanting about EPAS or ETAS and might need fixing in IPAS.
One of the defects in EPAS is that it fails to accept properly formatted PCT application numbers. Instead, the user is only able to proceed by typing in a portion of the PCT application number. For example if the PCT application number is PCT/US2022/012345, the user is not permitted to actually type in this PCT application number in EPAS. Instead the user needs to somehow already know that what the user must type in is “US2212345”. This secret alternative format is not indicated by any example on the screen where the “portion” might be explained. One can learn of the needed format only by clicking on a link that brings up a ten-page document, on the seventh page of which is the answer to this question.
One hopes that in IPAS, the user will be permitted to type in the actual correctly formatted PCT application number such as PCT/US2022/012345.
Hague Agreement application numbers. The same would be the case for a Hague Agreement application number. The user ought to be able to type in the actual correctly formatted Hague Agreement application number such as DM/123456.
Next steps for the USPTO. This brings us back around to the slippage of six weeks, unexplained by the USPTO, in the planned launch date of the new IPAS system, namely from December 4, 2023 to January 15, 2024. One hopes that this newfound extra six weeks in the rollout process will permit the USPTO to do the right things:
- get in touch with actual users to provide a beta testing opportunity;
- get in touch with actual users to find out if there are things wrong with EPAS/ETAS that need fixing in IPAS;
- get in touch with actual users to find out what actual users would like to see in IPAS.
There is no doubt that the members of the Patent Center listserv and the members of the e-Trademarks listserv would be willing, and indeed eager, to assist the USPTO with these three things.
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4 replies to “uspto pushes back the date to release “son of epas/etas””.
So the PTO isn’t admitting that it’s delayed IPAS, much less giving a reason for doing so. “Oceania had always been at war with Eastasia.”
I can’t stand the liars at the USPTO, and my dislike for them grows more and more every day.
Every week I get emails about new programs run by the PTO that have nothing to do with patents.
How about just doing your job, and when it comes to software development, working with those of us use the software to make sure you get it right? And understanding that that’s an iterative process?
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Navigating the USPTO Patent Assignment Search: A Comprehensive Guide
By Babak Akhlaghi on March 28, 2024.
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is a pivotal institution in the realm of intellectual property, playing a crucial role in protecting the innovations that fuel progress. Among its varied services, the USPTO patent assignment search stands out as an essential resource for individuals and organizations navigating the intricacies of patent ownership and assignments. This guide delves deep into the functionality and significance of the USPTO’s patent assignment search tool, shedding light on its utility and operation for all stakeholders involved in the patenting process.
Understanding Patent Assignments
To fully appreciate the value of the USPTO assignment search, one must first understand what a patent assignment entails. Essentially, a patent assignment is the transfer of an owner’s rights, title, and interest in a patent or patent application to another entity or individual. This process can occur through the sale of the patent, a transfer of ownership during a business transaction, or through inheritance. The completion of an assignment confers upon the new owner the exclusive rights to the patent, including the authority to prevent others from exploiting the patented invention.
The Role of the USPTO Patent Assignment Search
Central to the USPTO’s offerings is the USPTO assignment database, a comprehensive repository that records all patent assignment information from August 1980 to the current day. This database becomes indispensable for verifying the present ownership of a patent or patent application whenever the USPTO processes pertinent assignment details.
For inventors, legal professionals, and corporations alike, the USPTO assignment search is vital for various reasons. It facilitates due diligence efforts prior to the acquisition or licensing of patents, aids in the resolution of patent right disputes, and ensures adherence to assignment recording protocols.
Utilizing the USPTO Patent Assignment Search
Thanks to the user-friendly interface of the USPTO assignment search tool , users can effortlessly access detailed records of patent assignments. This tool, part of the broader USPTO Electronic Patent Assignment System (EPAS), allows searches by multiple criteria such as patent number, assignor and assignee names, publication numbers, and reel/frame numbers. Results from this assignee search provide comprehensive details about each assignment, including participant names, assigned patents or applications, and the date of assignment.
The USPTO patent assignment search tool is far more than a mere database; it serves as a critical access point to the legal and commercial dimensions of patenting. By facilitating access to exhaustive records of US patent assignments, the USPTO empowers stakeholders across the innovation landscape to make well-informed decisions. This, in turn, helps in averting disputes and promoting the seamless transfer of technology. Whether you are conducting a US patent assignment search, exploring the USPTO assignment database, or utilizing the USPTO trademark assignment search function, the USPTO’s resources are invaluable for anyone involved in the intricate world of patents and trademarks.
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The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is streamlining the process for recording assignments and other documents relating to interests in patents and trademarks. Our new system will guide you through the steps of making a submission, provide easier editing capabilities, and allow you to see the progression and status of your submission.
Assignment Center has replaced the previous ARB systems, Electronic Patent Assignment System (EPAS) and Electronic Trademark Assignment System (ETAS). Now, users will go to one place, to submit Patent and Trademark Assignment cover sheets. faq: ... This bibliographic data is entered into the USPTO Assignment Historical Database. The data ...
Assignment Center is the USPTO's online system for filing and managing patent and trademark assignments. Learn how to use it with our tutorial videos and FAQs.
The EPAS program assesses both the Environmental Management System (EMS) and compliance aspects of a garrison's environmental program. A team performing a site visit normally consists of six to eight USAEC and Army garrison subject-matter experts. Teams typically spend a week visiting various locations on a garrison to ensure that operations ...
Central to the USPTO's offerings is the USPTO assignment database, a comprehensive repository that records all patent assignment information from August 1980 to the current day. ... This tool, part of the broader USPTO Electronic Patent Assignment System (EPAS), allows searches by multiple criteria such as patent number, assignor and assignee ...
Once an assignment is recorded (via the USPTO's Electronic Patent Assignment System, or EPAS), ... The USPTO's assignment search database, also known as Assignments on the Web (AOTW), includes all recorded patent assignments submitted to the USPTO since August 1980, and is searchable by assignment, correspondent, assignor, assignee, patent ...
As the USPTO continues their efforts to update and modernize the customer experience, they have announced that on January 22, 2024 the Electronic Patent Assignment System (EPAS) and the Electronic Trademark Assignment System (ETAS) will be replaced by Assignment Center, which promises to be a more cohesive, modernized system.. The USPTO states that the benefits of this new system include the ...
In a move towards enhancing online services, the USPTO is undergoing a transformation by merging the Electronic Trademark Assignment System (ETAS) and the Electronic Patent Assignment System (EPAS) into a unified and modernized platform - the Intellectual Property Assignment System (IPAS). Scheduled for launch on January 15, 2024, IPAS aims to streamline processes and provide a seamless ...
This article describes the USPTO Patent Assignment Dataset (UPAD), a relational database of roughly 6 million assignments, licenses, securitizations, and other conveyances involving about 10 million U.S. patents and patent applications, recorded 1970-2014. To promote research uses, this article provides a comprehensive data description and ...
Central to the USPTO's offerings is the USPTO assignment database, a comprehensive repository that records all patent assignment information from August 1980 to the current day. This database ...
For general information about electronic filing, please telephone the Assignment Services Division Customer Service Desk at, 571-272-3350 during regular business hours or e-mail your question(s) to [email protected]. If you need help in resolving technical problems, you may also e-mail us at [email protected].
On October 31, 2023, the USPTO announced that December 4, 2023 was the date upon which a new system called IPAS (Intellectual Property Assignment System) will replace EPAS (Electronic Patent Assignment System) and ETAS (Electronic Trademark Assignment System). See screen shot at right. But now the release date has been pushed back.
Central to the USPTO's offerings is the USPTO assignment database, a comprehensive repository that records all patent assignment information from August 1980 to the current day. ... This tool, part of the broader USPTO Electronic Patent Assignment System (EPAS), allows searches by multiple criteria such as patent number, assignor and assignee ...
Sample of a Patent Assignment (PDF) Sample of a Trademark Assignment (PDF) Resources. Upload a Document (PDF) Trademark Assignment Fees (Fee codes: 8521 and 8522) Manual of Patent Examining Procedure (MPEP) Trademark Manual of Examining Procedures (TMEP) Assignment Search ; Tutorial. Assignment Center Patent Training Guide (PDF)
April 16, 2024. Tweet. Two top officials in EPA's Office of Environmental Justice & External Civil Rights (OEJECR) have left the office to take on new assignments at the agency over the past few weeks, likely adding to concerns about the agency's scaled back environmental justice (EJ) focus after two other top officials left the agency ...
Electronic Filing System (Patent Center) Apply for a patent using Patent Center: Patent Center - for filing, follow-on processing, managing applications, checking the status on and viewing associated documents for patent applications and more. Learn More About Patent Center - Information and Resources. Setup your Customer Number.
The EPA also stated it was not clear that any such effects, if occurring below the current standards, were adverse to the public welfare (38 FR 25679, September 14, 1973). ----- \8\ Established with the annual standard as a guide to be used in assessing implementation plans to achieve the annual standard was a maximum 24-hour average ...