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Israel PTO Says Its Updated Patent Electronic Filing System is Fixed. Israel PTO Doesn’t Tell the Truth.

Screenshot 2025-04-30 system fixedEarlier today, the ILPTO said that its patent electronic filing system is fixed (announcement at right).

One of my cases in Israel received an OA on December 31, 2024. The deadline to respond is therefore four months to later, viz. until April 30, 2025. Today. (See below.)

Screenshot 2025-04-30 time to respond

So I went to file the response, and instead of accepting the timely-filed response, the system said we owe a one month extension fee. And wouldn’t let me file unless we paid it.

Guess the system isn’t really fixed.

I emailed the response to the person responsible for the next system, explained the situation, and instructed her to enter the response. I’m not paying a fee that we don’t owe.

2 responses to “Israel PTO Says Its Updated Patent Electronic Filing System is Fixed. Israel PTO Doesn’t Tell the Truth.”

  1. Sharon Rosen Avatar
    Sharon Rosen

    thank you – I had the exact same thing yesterday, same dates (31.12.2024 PK26 – response filed or trying to file yesterday, 30.04.2025). System insisted I had to pay.
    I managed to upload via the old system, just before they sent the notice only to use the new one. (btw, the old system lets you file without paying, even if fees are due, but I digress)
    I thought I’d file with the new one as well, and the same happened, as you described above. Agreed, not paying for something we don’t have to, so I sent screen shots etc. to Tali.
    waiting to hear back.

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  2. Dan Feigelson Avatar
    Dan Feigelson

    What “old system”? It didn’t give me a choice – I logged in, clicked on “פניה בבקשה קיימת”, and it did what it did.
    I understand that the people behind this think they’re being helpful by only presenting the actions that the system thinks is available at a given moment, and by doing the calculations for use, but in the USSR they had central planning too and the result was long lines for bread etc.
    How about, instead of trying to force us into paying a fee we don’t owe, a warning notice: “According to our records you need to pay for X months’ extension, but you haven’t chosen to pay any extension fees. Do you wish to do so?”

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I’m Dan Feigelson. I’ve been practicing patent law for over 30 years. I’m also opinionated, as you may discover in reading my writings here.