Announcing AppColl Signatures

[mike_appcoll]

We're thrilled to unveil an exciting addition to the AppColl family:
The Signatures Module!
Say goodbye to the hassle of manual document signing processes. AppColl's Signatures module is here to revolutionize how you manage signatures for essential documents within your IP management processes.
Designed with efficiency and ease-of-use in mind, our Signatures module streamlines the entire signature collection process. Whether it's inventor assignments, declarations, or client engagement letters, AppColl has you covered.

Key features of our Signatures module include:

• Automated Signature Requests: Say farewell to chasing signatures. With AppColl, sending out documents for signature is a breeze. Our automated system handles the entire process, from initiation to completion.
• Friendly Reminders: No more worrying about missed signatures. AppColl ensures that recipients are gently reminded of pending signature requests, ensuring timely completion without the need for manual follow-ups.
• Seamless Storage: Keep your documents organized and secure. AppColl seamlessly stores signed documents, making retrieval and management a hassle-free experience.

The Signatures Module is part of AppColl PM Plus. All PM Plus users will get this module by default.

https://support.appcoll.com/signatures

[GeorgeJ4336]

@gregg_appcoll And please support multiple documents per signature package. Thanks.

-George

[gregg_appcoll]

@GeorgeJ4336

This is great information. Adding multiple signatures per document is our highest priority for Signatures. We will let you know when this has been added.

[GeorgeJ4336]

@gregg_appcoll DocuSign accepts a list of people, to whom a "package" [Edit: DocuSign calls it an "envelope."] is then sent.

The package can contain several documents, which is economical, because a DocuSign subscription includes a fixed number of packages per month, regardless the number of documents in each package or number of recipients of the packages. Having each declaration and each assignment sent as a separate DocuSign package would quickly exhaust my monthly subscription limit.

After filing a patent application at the USPTO, I send a DocuSign package to the inventors, assignee, the AppColl matter-specific e-mail address, and (in some cases) in-house patent counsel. I designate the inventor and assignee addresses "Needs to sign," and I designate the AppColl matter and in-house counsel addresses "Receives a copy." "Receives a copy" recipients receive read-only copies of the package.

The package contains a copy of the application (as filed, including drawings), a declaration(s), and an assignment. It is important to include a copy of the application, to ensure there is no doubt the inventors have seen the application and can, therefore, make the required statements ("The above-identified application was made or authorized to be made by me" and "I believe that I am the original inventor or an original joint inventor of a claimed invention in the application.") I use the declarations generated by AppColl. I have a "form letter" assignment that AppColl fills in with bibliographic information (application number, inventor names, etc.) (See my Top/FormLetters/Assignment.docx)

I also have an AppColl form letter (see Top/FormLetters/DocuSign - Assignment and declaration cover letter) that AppColl fills in with specifics. I copy the contents of the generated letter into the subject line and cover letter fields DocuSign provides.

DocuSign sends the packages simultaneously to everyone (unless I specify a "signing order," which I never do.) Each recipient's e-mail message includes a link to a DocuSign page, which guides the recipient to the place or places where the recipient needs to sign (if he/she needs to sign). In-house counsel can use the link to check who has signed and hound procrastinators. (On the DocuSign page, click "Other Actions" and select "View History." Look for things like: "xxx opened the envelope," "xxx viewed the envelope," and "xxx signed the envelope.") In addition, DocuSign sends reminders every ten days (the interval is selectable) to people who have not opened their e-mail messages, and DocuSign lets me know when everyone has signed. Having DocuSign send a message to the matter mailbox is handy for documenting what has happened and when.

Let me know if you have any questions or suggestions.

-George

[gregg_appcoll]

@GeorgeJ4336 Hi George. Thank you for the feedback. How do you currently handle? Do you have inventor 1 sign and PDF back to you. Then have inventor 2 sign the same document inventor 1 signed and then PDF back the same document. And then on to the next, etc.?

[GeorgeJ4336]

@mike_appcoll The Signature module looks like it will be handy.

Hopefully you will soon be able to lift the current limitation of only one signer per document. My assignments typically include a group of inventors. Although I could generate an assignment per inventor, recording all those assignments would be a pain. Recording a single assignment with all the inventors is much simpler, and I believe clients would prefer a single document listing all the inventors.

Furthermore, I like to have an assignee sign assignments to accept the assignment. This is perhaps more important in Europe than in the US, but lack of an assignee's signature could be fatal in some jurisdictions. Having separate assignments for US rights and other jurisdiction rights would be very complex: The US assignment would have to carve out the rights that will be assigned by the "foreign" assignment.

Thanks,
George