Below is a list of some of the new features in Version 5 of CTS.

Determines Patent Term Adjustment and shows all adjustments to the term of a U.S. Patent.

Automatic reminder to review Patent Term Adjustment after patent issues.

Trademark Opposition/Cancellation window tracks trademark Opposition, Cancellation and Concurrent use of cases. This screen tracks the opposing organization and opposing counsel, important dates, and has an actions screen, similar to the actions screen for general cases, to track any actions that need to be taken in the case.

Electronic Files. CTS is Paperless Office ready. You can attach any number of electronic files to a case, and transfer directly to the application program for the file type and automatically display the file in that application program.

Prior Art Tracking. CTS now tracks Prior Art for Cases, and prints the PTO Form 1449 automatically. You can attach an electronic file of the prior art reference and automatically display the file by clicking a button on the Reference window.

New Client window allows you to enter data for a new client and data for the first case for that client on a single window. CTS then builds the Organization and case records from the data collected on the new client window.

Related Cases window shows an unlimited number of parent cases for each case. This window also allows PCT and Foreign cases to be parents of a U.S. case.

Toolbar on the System window that allows you to access case window with a single click. It also has a Case List button that lists all cases in your database that satisfy the selection criteria (which you can set).

Case List window lists all cases in the database that satisfy selection criteria that is set up on the Case List screen.

Checkbox on both US patent and US trademark to indicate that the application was filed electronically.

Text on the Current Reminders can be set to display in black or colors.

Expanded Functionality:

Preference Rules. User can now change text and who gets reminded for each of the CTS built-in rules.

Both Preference Rules (for built-in reminders) and Reminder Rules now allow a reminder to be sent to a specific person (up to three). This is useful when specific persons are assigned to perform a task for all cases, for example foreign filing or maintenance fees.

When multiple people are being reminded by a particular reminder, only a single reminder is displayed, and this reminder shows all the people being reminded.

Reminders for first, and next, Office Actions due from the PTO.

Related cases window. US Patent cases can have Foreign case as parent. Foreign cases can have US case as parent or PCT as parent, etc.

Foreign Patent screens allow you to save assignments, inventors and most other information kept for a U.S. Patent to this information can be copied to the U.S. case when it is filed.

PCT screen allows your to save Assignment information about a case so this information can be copied to the U.S. case when a PCT371 case is filed.

Change field labels. CTS allows you to change the name of some screen fields to suit your practice. The field names can automatically be set back to the FlexTrac field names when you need to call for support.

Date format can be changed in Preferences, so CTS can now display all the dates in the database in any one of several different formats, including the typical European format.

PCT now tracks client reminders for Demand filing, Chapter I National Phase filing, Article 19 amendment, Article 34 amendment and Chapter II National Phase filing.

Foreign Patent cases now track 20 annuities.

Shows unlimited number of reminders on the first case window (only 25 were shown in V4).

For each Statement of Use Extension, CTS now also tracks sending a client reminder, receiving the postcard, and receiving the approval of the extension request.

Performance Improvements:

In version 4, the reminders for various reminder lists (e.g. case screens, Current Reminders, Print Reminder list) were calculated each time before they were displayed, which caused certain functions to be slow. In version 5, the reminders are kept in a file and are only recalculated at certain times, which improves performance, particularly the display of current reminders. In version 5, the reminders for a case are calculated each time the case is saved, all reminders are recalculated before the reminder list is printed, and on the Current Reminders screen, you can cause all reminders to be recalculated by clicking the refresh button.

New method of allowing multiple users to update the case database that avoids record locking.

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