The web page (HTML) version of MPEP is incredibly convenient for quick access, particularly if using the best web browser for viewing multiple pages, iRider.

The new web version of MPEP 8r3 differs significantly from the 8r2 HTML version. MPEP 8r2 was fine, while 8r3 is not.

Here are the known problems with MPEP 8r3 HTML:

1] Astonishingly, the Table of Contents hyperlinks don't work. In other words, the HTML MPEP 8r3 as distributed by the Patent Office is worthless as a hyperlinked set.

2] Reliance upon the USPTO web site. You've downloaded a local copy of MPEP, but it relies on scripts and stylesheets from the USPTO web site. If the PTO site is down, your local copy may not work, or your browser will nag you about the problem. If the USPTO site is slow in responding, the page will be slow in loading.

3] Internet Explorer now treats JavaScript like demon spawn, so loading a MPEP 8r3 web page generates a warning each and every page. The Javascript is only used for a unworthy header that is generated on every page. So, not only does the page load slower, but your browser may complain as well.

4] Page titles are largely absent. If using iRider, or a tabbed browser, this can make a real difference in easily traversing pages.

The good news is that Patent Hawk took the time to correct these errors, and it's available for downloading. Well, mostly corrected. Page titles for all section pages, and the most heavily traveled subsections, have been restored, but restoring page titles is necessarily manual, so that work is only partly done.

Still, the Patent Hawk MPEP 8r3 loads as fast as can be, and, except for a few pages where PTO linkage may make sense (such as the blue pages and introduction), does not require JavaScript, and so is truly local, i.e., doesn't hitch to the PTO site.

Download the Patent Hawk MPEP 8r3 here (a 30 MB zip file). The zip file extracts into its own folder. There is a shortcut link to the Table of Contents you'll immediately see inside the folder where the extracted MPEP 8r3 is.

Enjoy, and happy patenting!