Monthly Minute | Design Patents
Your patent is finally filed in the United States Patent and Trademark Office (or the office of your local country). Then you remember your attorney saying something about patents being jurisdictional, whatever that means…....more
The United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO or PTO) recently announced proposed changes to certain fees it charges with respect to patent applications, design patents, and America Invents Act (AIA) trials. These...more
Recently, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office announced that they have completed a comprehensive patent fee review, concluding that fees must go up—some of them significantly. This is primarily due to the discounts provided...more
The US Patent & Trademark Office (PTO) announced proposed patent fee increases. Patent fees would increase by about 5% across the board because of inflation. Certain fees would be increased by substantially more than the...more
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has proposed a significant increase in patent fees, including the implementation of entirely new fees and revamped fee structures. The USPTO has indicated that the fee proposal is...more
Inventors prize their bound hardcopy patents for both sentimental reasons and because the hardcopy can be useful in negotiation. The USPTO only issues one original “Letters Patent.” If a patent is lost or destroyed, the best...more
On March 6, the USPTO announced a new Green Energy Category of its Patents for Humanity Program. Patents for Humanity is an awards competition that recognizes innovators who use technology to meet global humanitarian...more
After centuries of issuing paper patents to inventors, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office will soon transition to only electronic issuance, with patent holders able to receive a printed “ceremonial” copy to display proudly...more
On December 22, 2022, the US Patent & Trademark Office (PTO) announced the fifth extension of the Modified COVID-19 Prioritized Examination Pilot Program. The pilot program had been set to terminate on December 31, 2022, and...more
On January 14, 2022, the PTAB issued a precedential opinion granting a request for rehearing of a denial of an IPR petition that had previously found a petition to be time-barred because the wire transfer had not been timely...more
USPTO Delays Fee for Failure to File Applications in DOCX Format - In a notice published in the Federal Register earlier today (86 Fed. Reg. 66192), the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office announced that it was delaying the...more
A June 25, 2021 decision by the PTAB has clarified that when paying the filing fee via wire transfer, the inter partes review (“IPR”) petition filing date is based upon when the funds are made available to the USPTO. ...more
USPTO Director Andrei Iancu and Deputy Director Laura Peter resigned from their respective posts prior to inauguration day. Commissioner for Patents Drew Hirschfeld and Senior Counsel Coke Morgan Stewart are temporarily...more
Small Entity Government Use License Exception (Effective date: January 20, 2021) - The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is amending the rules of practice in patent cases to clarify and expand exceptions...more
On October 2, 2020, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) adjusted its patent fees for the first time in almost three years, including an approximately 5% increase to most fees impacted by the rule. For...more
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is increasing many of the patent and trademark fees effective October 2, 2020. On average, the fees are increasing by 5 – 10 percent. Below is a summary of the larger...more
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) published a Final Rule today in the Federal Register, viewable at 85 Fed. Reg. 46932 (August 3, 2020), announcing fee adjustments affecting all aspects of patent practice...more
Under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, the US Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) extended the time for small and micro entities to make certain fee payments until September 30, 2020. Also...more
Last month, the United States Patent and Trademark Office’s (USPTO) began an initiative to expedite the review of, and waive the fees related to, trademark applications for marks used to identify qualifying Covid-19 products...more
Recognizing the continued impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on many applicants and inventors, on June 29, 2020, the USPTO announced further extensions for small and micro entities to pay certain patent-related fees. In effect,...more
Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Patent Offices - In a notice posted on its website yesterday, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office announced that it was further extending the time to pay certain required fees, but only for...more
Last week, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Director Andrei Iancu sent a letter to the Chairmen and Ranking Members of the Senate and House Committees on the Judiciary, Senate Subcommittee on Intellectual Property, and House...more
On May 27, 2020, for the third time, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) extended the time to file certain patent-related documents and to pay certain required fees to July 1, 2020. With the second extension...more
On May 27, 2020, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) extended the time for patent applicants to file certain patent-related documents or fees pursuant to section 12004 of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and...more
In a notice posted on its website earlier today, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office announced that it was further extending the time to file certain patent-related documents and to pay certain required fees, but only for...more