Things we hate about the uspto.gov website - #2
Posted by J Matthew Buchanan at October 14, 2005 02:12 PM
Let the uspto.gov bashing continue.
One of my biggest pet peeves about the site is the linkfarm structure of several key pages. Look at the main “Patents” page, for example:
Is there a better example of a web1.0 linkfarm out there? I think not. How is this helpful to anyone? I use the site all the time and still struggle to find what I’m looking for.
For those of you not familiar with the site, please visit the farm here, so as to see it in all of its glory.
J. Matthew Buchanan 
Stephen M. Nipper 
Douglas Sorocco 
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USPTO's website is http://www.uspto.gov. Guess what happens when you go to http://uspto.gov. If you guessed "The page cannot be displayed," give yourself 10 points. If you've ever typed in uspto.gov and received the same error before, give yourself and...
Trackbacked from Things We Hate About the USPTO.GOV Website, #4 on Rethink(IP).
Comments
Daniel Says:
October 27, 2005 02:22 AM
I can't stand the irregular use of confusing bullet points (sometimes on the left, sometimes on the right, what the heck is that life preserver all about?) And please, can't we get a little padding in there?!?!
J. Matthew Buchanan Says:
October 27, 2005 08:01 AM
Daniel --
It is silly, isn't it? If you had a room full of patent attorneys, I bet you could keep them laughing with material about this site for hours....
The life preserver is hilarious. Talk about "irregular use." With the "PCT Help" section (link), I suppose it makes a little sense. But then they flag the "Mailing Addresses" section with it, too.
My current favorite (in a sarcastic sense, of course) is the "File" link in the "File Patents Online" section, as if you only need to click a link to file a patent application electronically. If only they made the system that easy. Talk about a section that needs the life preserver.....
Thanks for the comment, Daniel.