Product Overview of ClaimMaster
ClaimMaster is a comprehensive software tool designed specifically for patent attorneys, agents, and paralegals to streamline and enhance the process of patent proofreading, drafting, and prosecution. Here’s an overview of what ClaimMaster does and its key features:
Purpose and Integration
ClaimMaster is integrated with Microsoft Word and serves as a powerful collection of utilities that help prevent common drafting errors and save time on everyday patent prosecution, litigation, and analysis tasks. It automates error-checking of patent documents, ensuring internally consistent and well-written patent applications.
Key Features
Error-Checking and Proofreading
- ClaimMaster checks patent documents for numerous errors and inconsistencies, including inconsistent part numbers, missing antecedents in claims, incorrect claim numbers and dependencies, wrong status identifiers, and claim terms without support in the specification. It also identifies “patent profanities” that may limit claim scope.
Automation of Patent Prosecution Tasks
- The software automates various time-consuming tasks such as auto-populating IDS forms, generating summaries of claims for Office Action responses, manipulating amendments in claim sets, creating claim charts, and renumbering claims and part numbers. It also computes excess claim fees for both the USPTO and EPO.
Drafting Tools
- ClaimMaster offers several drafting tools, including the generation of shell Office Action responses, USPTO forms, and the use of OCR for downloaded documents. The Drafting add-on for the Pro version provides additional patent application drafting tools.
Custom Reporting and Analysis
- Users can generate custom all-in-one proofreading reports in various formats (sidebar, HTML, PDF, Word) and run specific checks on documents. The software also allows for parsing claims and part numbers in selected text regions, enhancing the efficiency of the review process.
Time-Saving Tools
- ClaimMaster includes a range of time-saving tools such as viewing and printing claim trees, generating document section maps for quick Word navigation, and inserting pre-defined boilerplate paragraphs. It also auto-suggests predefined terms and acronyms.
Document Management and Downloading
- The software enables the download of PDFs and texts of patents and applications from the USPTO and EPO, as well as documents from PEDs, Public PAIR, and Patent Center. It visualizes patent family dependencies and automates Private PAIR access for downloading documents and generating family dependencies.
Specialized Functions
- ClaimMaster allows users to find citations for all claim terms in a document, which is particularly useful for working with foreign associates. It also supports the use of placeholder claim numbers for easy renumbering of claims and dependencies.
Versions and Customization
ClaimMaster is available in several versions to cater to different needs:
- Lite: Includes task automation features for patent prosecution and analysis.
- QA: Focuses on quality assurance and proofreading features.
- Pro: Combines features of Lite and QA versions with additional unique features.
- Pro Shells: Adds shell Office Action responses, USPTO forms, and OCR capabilities.
- Pro Drafting: Includes additional patent application drafting tools.
- Pro Shells Drafting: Combines all the features of the other versions.
Security and ROI
ClaimMaster operates without requiring the upload of confidential patent documents to a third-party cloud, ensuring high security. The software is designed to pay for itself through significant time savings and the avoidance of costly errors in patent documents.
In summary, ClaimMaster is a robust tool that enhances the efficiency and accuracy of patent drafting, proofreading, and prosecution tasks, making it an indispensable asset for patent professionals.