Patent Law

Will the USPTOs proposed supplemental examination rules help patent holders
In January 2012, the USPTO proposed new rules for a supplemental examination proceedings, as mandated by the America Invents Act.  A supplemental examination proceeding will permit a patent owner to request supplemental examination of a patent by asking the USPTO … Continue reading →

Tafas v. Doll.
CAFC Finds the USPTO Final Rules Limiting Continuations to Conflict With 35 USC 120, But Final Rules Limiting Claims, RCEs, and ESDs are Within USPTO’s Rulemaking Authority. (Fed...

Hunkering Down
The USPTO is battening the hatches for the turbulent waves of the current economic storm. Herein, today's "USPTO Weekly Extra - Budget Update: Supplemental on Training and Other Issues...

USPTO Announces PCT Fee Increase
Yesterday, the USPTO announced that it is revising its rules of practice to adjust Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) transmittal and search fees. As summarized in the USPTO announcement and provided in detail within the Federal Register (links below), the PCT transmittal fee (37 C...

UPDATE - Additional USPTO Fee Changes Take Effect Today
As noted in my previous blog post, the USPTO introduced seven (7) patent fee changes effective January 1, 2009. As noted in a recently-updated fee schedule taking effect today (January 12, 2009), three (3) additional fee changes have been implemented, also impacting PCT applications filed with the U...

USPTO Publishes New Ex Parte Appeals Rules
Yesterday, the USPTO announced that it will be publishing its ?final rule? in an attempt to ?improve the process of ex parte appeals before the USPTO?s Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences (BPAI)...