America-Israel Patent Law Blog

God bless the people at the USPTO who set up the Electronic Filing System (EFS).  In addition to randomly revoking login privileges without warning, there are at least two delays every time someone logs in: when they get to the initial registered user screen, and then while the system authenticates the user after he's gone through the login procedure.  

I asked some colleagues what they do during those delays.  Here are some of the answers:

1. Pick the lint from their navel.

2. Pick their nose

3. Log into ePCT and check the status of their applications

4. Watch an episode of Star Trek TNG

5. Prepare a complete appeal brief

6. Go the post office, the bank and the supermarket, where they pay by check

7. Hike up Half Dome and back

You get the idea…