IDSフォーム（PTO1449）へのイニシャルの記入の廃止

出願人からIDSとして文献等を提出いたしますと、審査官は、その文献等を考慮したしるしとして、審査官のイニシャルを加えたPTO1449フォームを出願人に送り返していました。

２００７年９月１１日のOGでイニシャルを記入する手続きが廃止されました。

ただし、電子サイン等を記入する必要があります。

以下OGの抜粋です。

While examiners are currently authorized to electronically sign
information disclosure statements using the method described in
Electronic Processing of Information Disclosure Statement,
1303 Off. Gaz. Pat. Office 109 (February 21, 2006), the
Office is concurrently making an initial limited deployment of an
alternate electronic signature method for information disclosure
statements that is anticipated to be deployed Office-wide with an
expected release date of October 1, 2007. This initial limited
deployment is scheduled for the following Art Units: 1771, 2814, 2911,
and 3641 and is effective as of the date of signature of this notice.
This deployment is expected to facilitate examination in an electronic
environment. Under this deployment, examiners will no longer initial
each reference citation considered, but will continue to strikethrough
each citation not considered. Each page of reference citations will be
stamped by the examiner with the phrase "All references considered
except where lined through" along with the examiner's electronic
initials, and the final page of reference citations will include the
examiner's electronic signature.

The new signature procedures will be incorporated in an
upcoming revision of the MPEP. Note however, examiners may still
continue to physically sign papers and paper copies of information
disclosure statements.


http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/com/sol/og/2007/week37/patsign.htm