Aurora North Releases PracticeLink 2.1 With Advanced IDS Generator

USA/Canada News

29
Nov
2022

Editor

Aurora North today announced the release of PracticeLink 2.1, which provides an integrated desktop for IP practitioners to centralize and manage IP prosecution.

With the latest release, Aurora North is offering an optional ReferenceLink module, featuring an IDS generator that automates the inclusion of prior art into information disclosure statements.

“This latest PracticeLink update continues to deliver on an ambitious vision. It gives practitioners an unprecedented, integrated ‘desktop’ view of activity. It also provides staff with sophisticated visual workflow and reporting tools — streamlining the complete IP prosecution lifecycle – and making better use of everyone’s time,” said Adam Kenney, Chief Strategy Officer, Aurora North.

ReferenceLink

• Information Disclosure Statement generator. Law firms take seriously their obligations to identify and disclose prior art as part of the patent application process. However, the process of surveying, identifying and evaluating potential material for inclusion is often onerous and inefficient. PracticeLink now simplifies the creation of IDS through a workflow-driven process that prompts users for input and incorporates prior art information from the PTO and other sources.
• Cross-cite grid. Many IP teams today compile massive Excel spreadsheets, manually, to track relevant prior art. ReferenceLink features an interactive cross-cite grid that already has multinational public data imported into the system, enabling your practitioners and professional staff to inspect prior art and select it for inclusion into the IDS, in just a few clicks

Other new features

Version 2.1 introduces many enhancements, many of which were requested by current PracticeLink users.

• New interactive reporting engine. Compiling reports for clients and internal management the “hard way” often requires dedicated staff time, aggregating information at the database level using complex tools like Microsoft SQL Server Report Services and other tools. Even more time is required if you want reports to be presented a particular format and include graphics. PracticeLink 2.1 renders attractive, formatted, reusable, and presentation-ready reports, which can include logos, graphical charts, and summary visuals. The interactive search engine thus reduces staff hours spent compiling and formatting reports you share with clients and with management.
• Enhanced workflow design and execution. Implementing a new workflow across your docketing, document management, and other systems used to take months, often requiring an external vendor. Since the introduction of PracticeLink 2.0, your internal team can design workflows through an intuitive visual interface. Now, PracticeLink 2.1 supports more sophisticated design options, such as logical branching operations. These enable workflows to adapt to the choices made and activities undertaken by individuals executing or managing IP prosecution tasks. A common use case of this feature is a “yes/no” question that results in different follow-on tasks assignments, notifications and reporting based on the decision made.