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905.02 Soft Copy Orders - 900 Prior Art, Classification, Search
905.02 Soft Copy Orders
Soft copies of U.S. patents for the examiner's personal use may be ordered by the examiner on blue-colored order form PTO-14A. These copies are not to be placed in the official search file. To complete the form PTO-14A, the examiner should indicate the number of copies desired in the box marked "NO. OF COPIES" and should also complete the "PATENT NUMBER," "EXAMINER'S NAME," "ART UNIT," and "DATE OF ORDER" boxes.
When soft copies for more than three different patent numbers are desired, the examiner can prepare a list of the patent numbers and attach it to one copy of Form PTO-14A which has been completed to reflect the Examiner's Name, Art Unit, and Date of Order.
To expedite the handling of requests for personal copies and thereby ensure the quickest response, the following routing procedures should be adhered to:
(A) Designated collection drops within each Technology Center (TC) for copy orders should be used.
(B) Clerical personnel from the Office of Classification Support (OCS) will visit designated collection drops at least twice each week to pick up PTO-14 orders.
Alternatively, the orders may be mailed or otherwise delivered to the Contract Support Unit, currently located in Crystal Park, Building 2, Room 105.
The attorneys' drop slot at the Customer Service Window should not be used nor should the forms be mailed to Copy Fulfillment Services as consequent rerouting to the Office of Classification Support for processing will result in unnecessary delay.
Copies provided for personal use will be stamped "DO NOT PLACE IN SEARCH FILE;" any such copy found in the search file will be removed by refiling personnel. Because of the cost of printing copies of patents, economy should be exercised in their use. Personal use soft copies no longer desired by examiners should be destroyed.
In view of the high cost of printing patents with color drawings, orders by examiners for plant patents and other patents with color drawings for personal use will normally not be filled.
PTO-14A. Patent Order for Examiner's Use Only