Submitting Patent Applications in Structured Text Format and Reliance on the Text Version as the Source or Evidentiary Copy

保存されている情報

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is in the process of transitioning to a system that supports submitting new patent applications in structured text, specifically DOCX format. Filing in structured text allows applicants to submit their specifications, claims, and abstracts in text-based format, thereby eliminating the need for applicants to convert applications into a PDF for filing. It also provides a flexible format with no template constraints and improves data quality by supporting original formats for chemical formulas, mathematical equations, and tables. The USPTO previously stated that for applications filed in DOCX, the authoritative document would be the accompanying PDF that the USPTO systems generate from the DOCX document. In response to public feedback, however, the USPTO now considers the DOCX document filed by the applicant to be the authoritative document. Accordingly, an applicant who files or has filed an application in DOCX may rely on that version as the source or evidentiary copy of the application to make any corrections to the documents in the application file. The USPTO will be hosting DOCX training sessions to provide more information, demonstrate how to file and retrieve DOCX files in Patent Center, EFS-Web, and PAIR, and answer any questions. Applicants can also file test submissions through Patent Center training mode to practice filing in DOCX. In addition, we will be offering listening sessions to gather feedback and suggestions to further improve DOCX features.

Current entry point

www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/06/02/2021-11256/submitting-patent-applications-in-structured-text-format-and-reliance-on-the-text-version-as-the (permanent link in the Federal Register, verified 2026-09-30)

Legacy system and where it moved

Legacy system names mentioned in the document text (PAIR) — see /guide/legacy-migration/ for migration destinations )

Fee

Fee mentioned in title or summary (Confirmed in the document text)

What you need (account or API key)

No account or key mention in title or summary )

Published

2021-06-02

Document type

Notice

原データ更新日：2026-10-06
保存版に記録された日付です。今回の実装・デプロイ日ではありません。

出典・情報の根拠

• https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/06/02/2021-11256/submitting-patent-applications-in-structured-text-format-and-reliance-on-the-text-version-as-the ↗