IP docketing
Description
Intellectual property rights are governed by strict legal timelines. A missed deadline can result in an application being considered abandoned or a granted patent lapsing. IP docketing solves this by centralizing all correspondence and due dates into a structured system.
It involves calculating dates based on jurisdiction-specific rules – such as the 30- or 31-month deadline for PCT National Phase Entry – and alerting legal teams to take action. Effective docketing requires a combination of specialized software (IPMS) and expert review to interpret official communication from patent offices. It serves as the safety net for the entire IP lifecycle, ensuring compliance and continuity for valuable assets.
Example use cases
- Deadlines: Calculating statutory dates for office action responses.
- Renewals: Tracking annuity and maintenance fee payment windows.
- Filing: Monitoring timelines for PCT and Paris Convention applications.
- Communication: Managing correspondence between applicants and local patent offices.
- Risk: Setting alerts to prevent abandonment of rights.
Key benefits
RWS perspective
RWS integrates docketing data directly into its global IP services to streamline administration. Through our foreign filing services, we help organizations track and meet critical deadlines across jurisdictions.
Our approach combines the precision of automated docketing alerts with the oversight of IP specialists. This ensures that filing instructions, translations and renewal payments are executed on time and accurately – giving IP owners peace of mind that their portfolio is secure.