System and method of operation for an automated process of IP search and submission to the USPTO

摘要

Pre-issuance submissions may be provided by any third party for addition to the record of a patent application. In addition, the post-grant review proceeding allows a third party to request the USPTO to review a recently issued patent based upon almost any ground of invalidity. The embodiments disclosed herein relate to an automated process of IP search and submissions to the. United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for pre-issuance submissions and post-grant review. The invention provides a new and efficient means of searching for patents related to a third-parties' business interests, and submitting references to the USPTO by an automated means.