A patent docket is a method or system for managing the patent application process. Docketing is an important tool for patent law firms, as it can be rather difficult to keep track of all patent applications for customers. In fact, most law firms hire docketing specialists to manage the patent docket system. Since each patent application can take up to several years, more and more patents are entered into the docketing system to better manage each one.
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Patent Docket Systems: Guidelines to Follow
You understand the importance of patent docket systems. Let’s see the guidelines that you need to keep in mind while maintaining such a system.
- The creation and maintenance of a separate portfolio for every application is crucial.
- The data entries should be very specific and precise. This information should include:
- Client’s name
- Client’s contact information
- Invention
- Type of industry it serves
- Digital copies of the application, forms, drawings, etc.
- Status of application
- Deadlines and due dates
- Ensuring all the legal fees and their payment status for different applications has proper records in the system.
- The system should provide standardization to maintain a consistent workflow and allow updating each and every patent application when applicable.
- The flexibility of the docketing system itself is very crucial. Patent law firms should look for a docketing system that allows free text. The purpose is to allow entry of notes into each portfolio explaining where the application is still in the process.
Uses:
We will discuss some significant uses of Patent Docket systems. Law firms that deal with patent law may handle hundreds of patent cases at a time. Each patent application can take years to make its way through the USPTO system to get a patent grant. As the patent application makes its way through the approval process, there are many filing deadlines and statements to keep track of. Patent docketing ensures that all the documents are kept in the correct file in order to retrieve them in the future.
Docketing Process:
The patent application process generates a great deal of paperwork. As this paperwork comes into a law office, it is the docketers’ job to correctly label each document with the file number. It is the docketers job to place it into the correct part of the electronic or paper patent file. The patent docket also includes entering each document into a database so attorneys can easily call up a list of all the documents. So, one can easily check any application file and any dates associated with each document. For example, a patent attorney may need to see if any deadlines are coming up for filing paperwork with the USPTO. One can use the docketing database can be used to alert her of filing or other deadlines. Docketers must also scan copies of documents; create templates and forward documents to other law firms.
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Insurance Requirements:
This is one of the most important points of the patent docket system. All patent law insurance carriers require patent law firms to maintain a docket that stores the patent application documents. One also needs to get alerts of any upcoming deadlines in the application process. This is to prevent malpractice lawsuits when a law firm misses a filing date and causes a patent rejection by the USPTO. Many insurance carriers require, not one, but two dockets, in which two different people in the firm calculate the deadline.
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Docketing Software:
There is a great deal of specialized patent docketing software available to manage the patent docket process. Programs can track actions and calculate due dates, as well as keep track of documents, schedules, audit logs, and alerts. Most software programs also allow the docketer to add custom dates and documents that associate with a particular patent. There are many programs that can keep track of dates for patent applications in multiple countries.
Why Choose Us? – Perfect Patent Docketing
It has become essential nowadays to hire patent docket services to manage the documents of a huge number of patent applications. If you are looking to seek any assistance regarding the docketing process, Perfect Patent Docketing (PPD) is your one-stop destination. PPD helps clients to manage and track patent portfolio using commercial docketing systems as well as platform-independent delivery models. We maintain all the technical and legal documents that associate with all the relevant emails, process, and docket all the incoming emails. We serve our clients from 45+ countries, providing them with the best in class services with our experienced team of professionals. PPD guides you throughout the life-cycle of the patent process. To avail of our services, Visit Perfect Patent Docketing.