A USPTO electronic file history is simply an image of the individual pages of the file wrapper that the USPTO maintains in electronc form.  WIthout a searchable file history, attorneys have no choice but to read this material through to find even a single reference of interest.  In today's highly competitive IP marketplace, one cannot afford to use image only file histories.  Although not all patent file histories are available from the USPTO in electronic IFW format, file histories for patents issued since approximately August-2003, and all pending patent applications are available from searchablefilehistories.com for only $79. 

Keyword searching is a well known and commonly used practice for analyzing patent literature; yet critical patent file history information is not accessible by keyword with USPTO image only file histories. 

A searchable patent file history provides the full visual representation of all the officially recorded documents in a patent file history with a robust keyword search capability.  In this way, a searchable patent file history allows for quick access of the targeted subject matter of interest while supporting access to all of the examiner hand written notes and marks. 

WIth searchable patent file histories, all of the text on all of the pages, forms, office actions, amendments, declarations, assignments, IDS, petitions, and all other patent matter of a file history are made fully available for keyword searching, computer analysis, and easy reference for citing in opinions, memorandums, and office action responses.