【Research Center for the Legal System of Intellectual Property】

Activities

One Friday in a Patent Attorney's Life

RA Asuka Gomi

【at 5pm on Friday】
There are five designs needed to be registered abroad for protection on my desk. The application deadline is next Monday. The applications should be filed using color CG data. I have to send the data to the attorneys abroad via email. But the data file is too big. Are the recipients' servers endurable to accept such a size?

【at 6.30pm】
My staff said to me, "I have sent the emails". I checked 5 mails and found each mail volume reached to 10MB. Was it so huge？ Why was it sent as it was, even without compression? It means that I cannot leave my office until I get their reply confirming they have received the files, as it's Friday though it's Friday.

【at 6.45pm】
There is an extension call from the reception. The British attorney called me. I am in a trouble. British people speak English. I don't want to talk in English over the phone. But my staff also doesn't want to. No choice for me but to take it. "Hello Asuka, I received the fax order letter, but got no emails". Good. I can manage to understand, but no, it's not OK for the email.
I compressed the data and resent them in several parts.

【at 7pm】
It could not get to the UK, then, Hong Kong, too? No response from Hong Kong means no receipt? Should I call them? English again? Calm down, Asuka. I don't want to　make a call. Yes, Definitely, I don't want.

【at 7.10pm】
"Yes, it came. I received it!" The British attorney called me again. Good boy. It is such a quick response. Is this because I sent him green tea as a gift at the end of last year? But I hope he uses email as a communication tool as much as possible. "I prefer emails."
And I am still waiting Hong Kong. No relief yet.

【at 7.20pm】
Still no reply from Hong Kong.

【at 7.30pm】
No reply at all from Hong Kong.

【at 7.40pm】
I have no choice. Well, I should make a call. Ring, Ring, Ring, Ring. Clang. "Hi Mary, I sent you an email about the design case with the deadline on Monday. Did you get it? " "I think I saw it" "Can you check it NOW?" "All right, I'll call back to you on checking it" "Please don't call but email. I PREFER EMAIL."
It was good to decide to make a call. If I had waited her reply, it would have been midnight.

【at 8pm】
Got a mail from Hong Kong. "Received with thanks". Thank you, Mary. Now time for drink, TGIF.
At the very moment, I got another mail from my honey. "Buy an apple juice for your son, darling". The world is connected. OK Madame, I'll go home.