2909.02(a) Reproductions Submitted Through EFS-Web [R-07.2022]
Reproductions of industrial designs are required in international design applications and may be submitted as drawings, photographs, or a combination thereof, and may be in black and white or in color. See Rule 9 and Part Four of the Administrative Instructions for the Application of the Hague Agreement. Reproductions may be submitted through EFS-Web as PDF or JPEG files as set forth below. Technical requirements regarding image files, such as resolution, minimum and maximum image size, border width, etc., are also set forth on the website of the International Bureau at www.wipo.int/hague/en/hague_file_renew.html.
Reproductions may be submitted as single page PDF or JPEG files by attaching the file(s) using the “Attach Reproductions” section of the “Attach Documents” screen. Alternatively, applicants may attach reproductions as PDFs (including multi-page PDFs) using the “Attach Documents other than Reproductions” section of the “Attach Documents” screen. Attaching compliant reproductions via the “Attach Reproductions” section, rather than the “Attach Documents other than Reproductions” section, may help to avoid incurring additional per page publication fees that might otherwise be required by the International Bureau. Each image file attached through the “Attach Reproductions” section should contain only one view of the design. The “Attach Reproductions” section will prompt the user to assign a design and view number to each file attached under this section.
In accordance with the technical requirements set forth by the International Bureau, EFS-Web will not permit submission of any PDF or JPEG file via the “Attach Reproductions” section that exceeds a file size of two megabytes. For JPEG submissions, EFS-Web will provide warnings where requirements pertaining to image resolution and minimum and maximum dimensions have not been satisfied; EFS-Web does not check color mode or border size for JPEG images. For PDF submissions via the “Attach Reproductions” section, EFS-Web will not permit submission of any PDF file that is more than one page. In addition, EFS-Web does not check color mode, border size, resolution, or maximum or minimum dimensions of the reproduction (other than certain minimum and maximum page size dimensions) for PDF images. It is the responsibility of applicants to ensure that reproductions satisfy all applicable requirements.
Users attaching reproductions under either the “Attach Reproductions” section or the “Attach Documents other than Reproductions” section should use the document description “drawings – only black and white line drawings” or “drawing – other than black and white line drawings”, as appropriate. EFS-Web will provide a warning to users about the possibility of incurring additional per page publication fees where reproductions are attached via the “Attach Documents other than Reproductions” section. EFS-Web will also provide a warning to users where a new international design application does not contain an indication that at least one reproduction is attached. See MPEP § 502.05 for additional information on using EFS-Web.
For further information concerning submitting reproductions through EFS-Web, filers may consult the EFS-Web Quick Start Guide: International Design Application (Hague) for filing through the USPTO as an office of indirect filing available at www.uspto.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ Hague-QSG.pdf.