Monthly Minute | Design Patents
If the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is going to implement fee changes in January 2025, we should see a Federal Register Notice detailing the proposed fees soon. The USPTO started this round of fee-setting in April...more
The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry has recently published a set of draft amendments (“Draft Rules”) to the Indian Patent Rules, 2003. The amendments are...more
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
In June 2023, the European Union (EU) will introduce the European Unitary Patent. At the outset, the European Unitary Patent will be enforceable in the 17 States that have ratified the agreement between the EU and the EPO:...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 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
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
Each year, IP Spotlight updates our readers who often ask: how long does it take for a patent or trademark registration to grant? In previous years, we’ve done that by reviewing the USPTO’s annual Performance and...more
Since the number of claim items of a patent application and the number of pages of the description and drawings directly affect the amount of work of the examiner, additional filing fees, i.e., excess claim fees and excess...more
Canadian Patent Examination - Significant fee increases will be effective at the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (“CIPO”) on October 3, 2022 related to excess claims (claims over 20) and the number of examination...more
The European Patent Office has published a decision to increase official fees in the January 2022 issue of The Official Journal of the EPO, see Decision of the Administrative Council of December 15, 2021 (CA/D 13/21). After...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
Due within 5 years of international filing date or within 2-months of issuance of a Direction to Request Examination, whichever is earliest (additional $1800). Excess fees of $125 for each claim over 20 are payable at...more
Once a month, we cover an interesting topic in 60 seconds. This month, Partner Richard Goldstucker and Counsel Megan Bussey discuss design patents....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
The USPTO has announced yet another COVID-19 pilot program, which began on September 17, 2020. Under this new pilot, the USPTO allows applicants to defer the application fee for any provisional patent application directed to...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
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
For the life science industry, patents are more than just tools for restricting the commercial activities of direct competitors. Patents are being used more and more to generate substantial additional returns on research and...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