News & Analysis as of

Examiners United States Patent and Trademark Office Patents

Jones Day

LKQ v. GM: PTAB and Examiner Guidance on Design Patent Obviousness from USPTO

Jones Day on

Those following this blog knew change was coming to design patent obviousness in the LKQ v. GM decision by the en banc Federal Circuit. In its May 21, 2024 decision, the court overruled the long-standing Rosen-Durling test...more

Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox P.L.L.C.

Sterne Kessler’s Reissue, Reexamination, and Supplemental Examination Practice Tips - April 2024

In the mid-2000s, the U.S. Patent Office (USPTO) determined that reexaminations would be more consistent and legally correct if performed by a centralized set of experienced and specially trained Examiners. As a result, the...more

MoFo Life Sciences

USPTO Issues Reminder To Examiners On Proper “Means-Plus-Function” Analysis

MoFo Life Sciences on

On March 18, 2024, the USPTO issued a memorandum to its Examiners reminding them of the resources and proper analysis for interpreting limitations under 35 U.S.C. § 112(f), which are commonly referred to as...more

McDermott Will & Emery

PTO to Patent Examiners: Make Interpretation of Means-Plus-Function Claims Clear in the Record

McDermott Will & Emery on

On March 18, 2024, the US Patent & Trademark Office (PTO) issued a memorandum to patent examiners addressing means-plus-function and step-plus-function claim limitations and how to clearly articulate, in the prosecution...more

McDermott Will & Emery

New PTO Guidance: Use KSR Flexible Approach to Obviousness

On February 27, 2024, the US Patent & Trademark Office (PTO) published updated guidance for examiners on how to make a proper determination of obviousness. The guidance expands upon and reinforces the legal framework for...more

WilmerHale

PTAB/USPTO Update - January 2024

WilmerHale on

On January 4, the USPTO announced the appointment of new leaders for the agency’s policy and communications teams. Sharon Israel will serve as the Chief Policy Officer and Director for International Affairs, and Jack...more

Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP

Distinguish “Smart Contract” From Abstract Idea To Pass Blockchain Patentability Scrutiny

The Situation - Smart contracts are often mentioned in blockchain-themed patent applications and recited in claims. However, Examiners without a thorough understanding of this concept or unfamiliar with blockchain technology...more

Mintz - Intellectual Property Viewpoints

USPTO Weighs in on IT Modernization in CXOTalk Interview

How does an important U.S. government agency modernize its operations, especially during a global health crisis? What IT modernization approach can U.S. patent and trademark practitioners expect from the United States Patent...more

Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP

Software Inventions Face New USPTO Standards for Patenting

The lack of clarity in the law with regards to patent subject matter eligibility under 35 U.S.C. § 101 has made it difficult for patent attorneys to advise their clients with regards to patent protection for software...more

Snell & Wilmer

Proper Prosecution of a U.S. Utility Patent Application

Snell & Wilmer on

I. Introduction. “Prosecution” of a patent application is the process by which an application moves through the United States Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”) after being filed. Prosecution is often a more lengthy and...more

Fenwick & West LLP

Intellectual Property Bulletin - Fall 2018

Fenwick & West LLP on

In This Issue - Gender Diversity in Patenting: Current Landscape and Recommendations - The gender gap in patenting is a current challenge that companies face. While this issue seems pervasive, companies and lawyers can...more

Womble Bond Dickinson

Arguing Definitions in Patent Prosecution

Womble Bond Dickinson on

Claim terms are given a broadest reasonable interpretation (BRI) consistent with the specification, ideally. Occasionally, a USPTO examiner interprets a claim term in a manner different from what the applicant in a patent...more

Mintz - Intellectual Property Viewpoints

Patent Quality Chat: How Is A USPTO Examiner’s Work Product Reviewed?

In patent prosecution, the feedback loop between interested parties including patent prosecutors, inventors, and in-house counsel helps to provide the best patent applications and office action responses for a high quality...more

Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox P.L.L.C.

3 Tips For Thinking Like An Examiner To Maximize Your Consumer Products Patent's Shelf Life

Due to the relatively short shelf life for some consumer products, it can be important to quickly obtain patent protection for such products. Obtaining patent protection early in the life of such products can help inventors...more

McDonnell Boehnen Hulbert & Berghoff LLP

Patent Prosecution Data Analytics

Preparing patent applications for examination at the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) requires proficient writing, detailed knowledge of the requirements of the Patent Act, and technical acumen. Once a patent...more

Mintz - Intellectual Property Viewpoints

Why You Should Use the USPTO’s Automated Interview Request (AIR) Form

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has launched a new Automated Interview Request (AIR) Form that allows practitioners to submit an online request for an interview with an examiner. The online form allows...more

Maynard Nexsen

Improving the Examiner Interview with a Little Psychotherapy

Maynard Nexsen on

Wandering through the aisles of iTunes for interesting podcasts, I came across several on psychotherapy. Wow, I thought to myself; I can sure use these! Many of them are hosted by women who have nice voices and who interview...more

McDonnell Boehnen Hulbert & Berghoff LLP

Supplemental Examination: Potential Benefits vs. Guaranteed Risks

The America Invents Act of 2011 introduced supplemental examination of patents as a post-grant process intended to limit expensive and unpredictable inequitable conduct litigation and improve patent quality. As codified, 35...more

Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP

Patent Office Adds Another After Final Option for Applicants – P3

This week, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) announced1 the Post-Prosecution Pilot Program (“P3”) for applicants to respond to a final rejection in a utility patent application. Under the P3, an applicant...more

Knobbe Martens

USPTO Creates New Alternative For Responding to Final Rejections

Knobbe Martens on

The new Post-Prosecution Pilot ("P3") program provides a pathway for patent applicants to make an in-person presentation to a panel of patent examiners as an alternative to existing options for responding to final rejections....more

Foley Hoag LLP

Federal Circuit Offers Path Through Section 101 Thicket for Biotech Method Patents

Foley Hoag LLP on

In its July 5, 2016 decision in Rapid Litigation Management Ltd and In Vitro, Inc. v. CellzDirect, Inc. and Invitrogen Corp., the Federal Circuit held that patent claims directed to an improved method of cryopreserving...more

K&L Gates LLP

USPTO Clarifies Subject Matter Eligibility Procedure

K&L Gates LLP on

On May 4, 2016, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”) published a memorandum to assist patent examiners (“Examiners”) in crafting subject matter eligibility rejections and analyzing applicant responses to...more

Foley & Lardner LLP

USPTO Issues New Patent Eligibility Examples

Foley & Lardner LLP on

The USPTO has issued new patent eligibility examples, including several examples relating to diagnostic methods and “nature-based” products. Surprisingly, most of the claims are said to satisfy 35 USC § 101. The USPTO also...more

Mintz - Intellectual Property Viewpoints

What are the USPTO’s Patent Plans for Fiscal Year 2017?

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) explains several patent prosecution trends, goals, and programs to justify proposed spending of its collected fees in its recently-issued Fiscal Year 2017 Congressional...more

Foley & Lardner LLP

Share Your Patent Quality Pet Peeves

Foley & Lardner LLP on

The USPTO is inviting stakeholders to suggest topics for patent quality case studies. As explained in the December 21, 2015 Federal Register Notice, “the USPTO performs case studies to investigate specific quality-related...more

31 Results
 / 
View per page
Page: of 2

"My best business intelligence, in one easy email…"

Your first step to building a free, personalized, morning email brief covering pertinent authors and topics on JD Supra:
*By using the service, you signify your acceptance of JD Supra's Privacy Policy.
- hide
- hide