What is the Image File Wrapper (IFW) system and how does it affect patent examination?

The Image File Wrapper (IFW) system is a digital storage and retrieval system for patent application files. It has significantly impacted the patent examination process: Examiners can view application papers from their desktop via the Patent Examiner’s Toolkit. IFW files are readily accessible, eliminating the need for physical file retrieval in many cases. Non-IFW files…

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