Patent Center Replaces EFS-Web and Private PAIR -
On November 15, following a one-week delay, the legacy EFS-Web and Private Patent Application Information Retrieval (Private PAIR) systems were officially retired and...more
Patent Center is slated to fully replace the legacy EFS-Web system and Private Patent Application Information Retrieval (Private PAIR) tool on November 8, 2023. The USPTO continues to host virtual training events to help...more
On August 31, 2023, the Patent Trial and Appeal Board published its updated Oral Hearing Guide. Changes reflected in the update include the addition of an all-virtual hearing option for AIA trials, updated information on how...more
USPTO News -
On July 11, the USPTO Office of the Chief Economist released the 2022 updates to its Trademark Case Files Dataset and Trademark Assignment Dataset....more
8/8/2023
/ Administrative Procedure ,
Administrative Review Board ,
America Invents Act ,
Appeals ,
Artificial Intelligence ,
Comment Period ,
Congressional Investigations & Hearings ,
Copyright ,
Final Rules ,
OMB ,
Patent Litigation ,
Patent Trial and Appeal Board ,
Patents ,
Proposed Legislation ,
PTAB Precedential Opinion Panel (POP) ,
Trademarks ,
USPTO
On June 7, the USPTO released its 2022-2026 Strategic Plan. According to the USPTO, the new plan outlines the USPTO's mission-focused strategic goals, which are: (1) driving inclusive U.S. innovation and global...more
On May 23, the USPTO announced a request for comments seeking public input on whether to make permanent or modify the PTAB’s Motion to Amend (MTA) Pilot Program. The USPTO is also seeking related input on the rules of...more
6/7/2023
/ Anti-Piracy ,
Climate Change ,
Comment Period ,
Counterfeiting ,
Final Rules ,
Motion to Amend ,
Patent Trial and Appeal Board ,
Patents ,
Piracy ,
Proposed Rules ,
Registration Requirement ,
USPTO ,
USPTO Pilot Program
On April 20, the USPTO announced an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) seeking public input regarding potential PTAB reforms, including proposed changes to discretionary institution practices, petition word limits,...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
4/4/2023
/ Congressional Committees ,
Expedited Actions Process ,
Filing Fees ,
Final Rules ,
Humanitarian Assistance ,
Incentive Awards ,
Innovation ,
Inter Partes Review (IPR) Proceeding ,
Interim Rule ,
Patent Examinations ,
Patent Trial and Appeal Board ,
Patents ,
Post-Grant Review ,
PTAB Precedential Opinion Panel (POP) ,
USPTO
The USPTO published Revision 07.2022 of the Ninth Edition of the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure (MPEP). A change summary is available here....more
3/7/2023
/ Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) ,
Comment Period ,
Congressional Committees ,
Final Rules ,
Google ,
Inter Partes Review (IPR) Proceeding ,
Mylan Pharmaceuticals ,
Patent Litigation ,
Patent Trial and Appeal Board ,
Patents ,
Roku ,
Samsung ,
USAA ,
USPTO ,
Xerox
USPTO News -
On January 18, the USPTO announced the launch of the IP Identifier tool, which is designed to enable users who are less familiar with intellectual property to identify whether they have adequate protections...more
USPTO Leadership -
..Vaishali Udupa will become the next Commissioner for Patents on January 17, 2023. She was previously at Hewlett Packard Enterprise....more
USPTO Leadership -
..This month, Director Kathi Vidal delivered official remarks at the Women’s Entrepreneurship Symposium.
USPTO News -
..On November 16, the USPTO and the Department of Commerce launched the...more
USPTO News -
..On October 19, 2022 the USPTO issued a report titled “Where are U.S. women patentees? Assessing three decades of growth” examining trends in women’s patenting in the U.S. from 1990-2019.
..Director...more
11/2/2022
/ Administrative Appeals ,
Comment Period ,
Final Rules ,
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ,
Inter Partes Review (IPR) Proceeding ,
Patent Examinations ,
Patent Trial and Appeal Board ,
Patents ,
PTAB Precedential Opinion Panel (POP) ,
Public Comment ,
Standard Essential Patents ,
USPTO ,
USPTO Pilot Program
USPTO Leadership -
..This month, Director Kathi Vidal delivered official remarks at the International Copyright Institute and at the Global Forum on Intellectual Property.
..Director Vidal was appointed as a Federal...more
USPTO Leadership -
..The USPTO announced new staff additions and promotions to its leadership team.
..Shirin Bidel-Niyat was elevated to Chief of Staff, having served previously as a senior advisor to Director Vidal....more
USPTO Leadership -
..The USPTO announced Derrick Brent as the new Deputy Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Deputy Director of the USPTO (“Deputy Director”), effective August 1. His...more
USPTO Leadership -
..In June, USPTO Director Kathi Vidal delivered official remarks at the 2022 Bench & Bar Conference, a PTAB Pro Bono Fireside Chat, the 2022 SelectUSA Investment Summit, and the AI/ET Partnership Series...more
USPTO Leadership -
..In May, USPTO Director Kathi Vidal delivered official remarks at the International Trademark Association (INTA) Annual Convention, the Patent Public Advisory Committee (PPAC), and the Advanced...more
USPTO Leadership -
On April 13, Kathi Vidal was sworn in as the new Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Director Vidal offered...more
5/5/2022
/ America Invents Act ,
Google ,
International Trade Commission (ITC) ,
New Legislation ,
Patent Applications ,
Patent Prosecution Highway ,
Patent Trial and Appeal Board ,
Patents ,
Samsung ,
Trade Secrets ,
USPTO
USPTO Leadership -
Drew Hirshfeld is still performing the functions and duties of Director. President Biden nominated Kathi Vidal to be the next Director....more
USPTO Leadership -
..Drew Hirshfeld is still performing the functions and duties of Director. President Biden nominated Kathi Vidal to be the next Director and the Senate Judiciary Committee has forwarded her nomination...more
USPTO Leadership -
..Drew Hirshfeld is still performing the functions and duties of Director. President Biden nominated Kathi Vidal to be the next Director. On Jan. 13, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted 17-5 to forward...more
USPTO Leadership -
..Drew Hirshfeld is still performing the functions and duties of Director. Kathi Vidal, the Biden Administration’s nominee to be the next Director, testified at the Senate Judiciary Committee’s hearing...more
USPTO Leadership -
..Drew Hirshfeld is still performing the functions and duties of Director. Kathi Vidal, the Biden Administration’s nominee to be the next Director, testified at the Senate Judiciary...more
12/10/2021
/ Final Rules ,
Patent Fees ,
Patent Trial and Appeal Board ,
Patents ,
Presidential Nominations ,
Proposed Rules ,
Request for Examination ,
Senate Confirmation Hearings ,
Trademark Modernization Act (TMA) ,
Trademarks ,
USPTO
USPTO News -
..On October 26, 2021, President Joe Biden nominated Kathi Vidal, the managing partner of Winston and Strawn’s Silicon Valley office, as the next Under Secretary for Intellectual Property and Director of the...more
11/2/2021
/ Administrative Appointments ,
Final Rules ,
International Trademark Protection ,
Notice and Comment ,
OMB ,
Patent Trial and Appeal Board ,
Patents ,
Presidential Nominations ,
Severe Weather ,
Trademark Registration ,
USPTO