The USPTO has released its performance “Patent Dashboard” for the month of August, 2011. The dashboard is a webpage showing numerous metrics related to the PTO’s patent application backlog, pendency rates, quality scores, and other data. The dashboard is a measuring stick for the USPTO’s patent quality measurement procedures (how the USPTO started measuring its… Continue reading USPTO August 2011 Patent Examination Performance Overview
New and Old Section 103
35 U.S.C. § 103 deals with the non-obviousness requirement for patentability. Here is a side-by-side comparison of the current Section 103 of Title 35 with the new version from the America Invents Act: Old Section 103 New Section 103 35 U.S.C. 103 Conditions for patentability; non-obvious subject matter. (a) A patent may not be obtained… Continue reading New and Old Section 103
New and Old Section 102
35 U.S.C. § 102 deals with the novelty requirement for patentability. Here is a side-by-side comparison of the current Section 102 of Title 35 with the new version from the America Invents Act: Old Section 102 New Section 102 35 U.S.C. 102 Conditions for patentability; novelty and loss of right to patent. A person shall… Continue reading New and Old Section 102
Major Changes Coming to the U.S. Patent System
Last Friday, September 16, 2011, President Obama signed the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act (available here) into law. The America Invents Act makes significant changes to the U.S. patent system. Among other things, the America Invents Act: changes the patent system from a first-to-invent to first-to-file regime eliminates the year-long grace period following public disclosure What… Continue reading Major Changes Coming to the U.S. Patent System