February 18, 2015

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”) recently announced that the United States has deposited the official instruments needed to ratify the Geneva Act of the Hague Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Industrial Designs (the “Hague System”). The…

December 31, 2014

Beginning on January 17, 2015 the fee for electronically filing a trademark application will drop $50 to $225 for an application with confirms to an existing classification (TEAS Plus) and $275 for all other applications. The USPTO just issued a…

December 26, 2014

The USPTO has publicly launched a beta version of its new website. The site is part of the agency’s rollout of “next Generation” technologies that will improve the experience of doing business with the USPTO. The USPTO’s new site aims…

December 19, 2014

On December 16, 2014, the USPTO released its interim guidance (2014 Interim Guidance on Patent Subject Matter Eligibility) for use by USPTO personnel in determining subject matter eligibility under 35 U.S.C. 101. The new guidance was prepared in view of…

September 26, 2014

The USPTO has announced that it will extend the After Final Consideration Pilot 2.0 (AFCP) Program through September 30, 2015. The program was previously scheduled to expire on September 30, 2014. The PTO further announced that Examiners will begin sending…

May 7, 2014

The Federal Circuit recently released its opinion for the case In re Packard, providing guidance as to when the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) may properly reject a claim as failing to meet the definiteness requirements of 35…

November 15, 2013

35 U.S.C. § 154(b) allows for extension of patent term for design and utility patents filed after May 29, 2000. The statute provides for patent term adjustment for delays caused by the USPTO. “A Term” adjustments result from untimely responses…

October 2, 2013

The United States Patent and Trademark office will remain open during the government shutdown that began October 1, 2013. The Office will remain open, using prior year reserve fee collections to operate as usual for approximately four weeks. If the…

September 4, 2013

The presentation discusses different techniques for using US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) invalidity proceedings to invalidate issued patents. The presentation specifically discusses the new procedures available under the America Invents Act (AIA). Topics include Post-Grant Review (PGR) and Inter…

August 28, 2013

The presentation discusses techniques for speeding up the issuance of patents at the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). The presentation focuses on the newly implemented Quick Path Information Disclosure Statement (QPIDS) Program which allows applicants to submit Information Disclosure…

August 21, 2013

The presentation discusses techniques for speeding up allowance of patent applications at the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). In particular, the presentation discusses the After Final Consideration Pilot Program 2.0 which can help applicants avoid Requests for Continued Examination…

August 14, 2013

The presentation discusses the different techniques for speeding up examination at the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Topics covered in this presentation include petitions to make special, accelerated examination, prioritized examination, Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH), and the First Action…