Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Mike_L]

Would anyone know the best choice to electronically witness and attest an invention that meets the standards set forth by the patent office?  There are some on-line “lab notebooks” but I’m not sure they can be trusted.  I have also looked at the United States Post Office Electronic Post Mark which can be used to sign a document (MS Word Doc.) and retains a hash value of the document for seven years which can be used for non-repudiation.  I’m not sure this passes USPTO tests and I would like to find something that can perform attestation longer than seven years.

[JimIvey]

I don't have authority (case law, statute, rule) handy, but I'd bet that would be enough -- digital signature.  Remember, it's going to accompany your sworn testimony, so it's merely corraborative (unless you're no longer "with us" when this becomes an issue).

One thing to remember, 7 years is relatively short in the world of patents.  You may need such evidence as much as 26 years after filing.  

Regards.