Problems with the download of USPTO Data - Changes recently implemented by the US PTO in their data exchange procedures will lead to a delay in the update of the US patent data in the EPO databases. The databases affected are Doc db, IFD, PRS and consequently also esp@cenet. The last data that was processed were publication dates 5th April (Granted Patents)and 7th April (Pre-Grants). The EPO is working with the USPTO to urgently restore the download service and will make further announcements as soon as more information is available.

Change in the layout of PT data - The Portuguese Patent Office has advised that the layout of the data has changed. Due to this reason the bibliographic as well as the legal statusdata formats will have to be adapted causing a delay in the loading of the new data.

Swedish A0 (D0) Documents - The Swedish Patent Office has officially informed INPADOC that the SE A0 (D0) documents will no longer be issued from week 8/2005 onwards. In 1999, the publications of these documents were discontinued by the Danish Patent Office.