The USPTO may charge more fees as early as January 2024 for non-DOCX format patent applications.  DOCX format patent applications would serve to modernize and streamline patent application systems of the USPTO which now offers applicants the ability to file patent application documents in DOCX format through EFS-Web and Patent Center. Use of any other format after January 2024 may result in a surcharge.

DOCX is a safe and stable open source format supported by many popular word processing applications, including Microsoft Word 2007 and higher, Google Docs, Office Online, LibreOffice and Pages for Mac.

The DOCX format increases efficiency by eliminating the need to convert structured text into a PDF for filing, ensures higher data quality by reducing conversion errors that can occur when converting to a PDF file, and provides a smarter interface that detects common errors, and provides instant feedback to prevent unnecessary delays in processing your application.

The new format will further improve application quality by providing content-based validations pre-submission and identifying issues up front, allowing them to be addressed before examination begins, increase ease of use via automated document indexing, and improve compatibility by eliminating the non-embedded font error, the most common obstacle in uploading a PDF.