The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has published an invitation for comments regarding the possibility of lower trademark application fees. According to the notice published in the Federal Register, the lower fees would be only for applications filed electronically. The purpose of the lower fees is to incentivize applicants to use the electronic filing system… Continue reading Will Trademark Fees Be Lower in the Future?
Tag: America Invents Act
USPTO Deputy Chief of Staff in Boise Next Week
I’ve blogged multiple times about the 2011 America Invents Act and how it will affect the U.S. patenting system. Now, those of us in or near Boise will be able to learn about the Act from someone inside the Patent Office. Azam Khan, Deputy Chief of Staff of the USPTO, will be speaking at an… Continue reading USPTO Deputy Chief of Staff in Boise Next Week
Increased USPTO Fees on the Horizon
Back in November, I posted about the new micro entity fees that will eventually be available to qualifying entities as part of the America Invents Act. In that post, I discussed how the micro entity fees will only go into effect after the USPTO has followed the fee-setting process. Here is a recap of the… Continue reading Increased USPTO Fees on the Horizon
America Invents Act USPTO Roadshow
I’ve posted several times about the America Invents Act, which was passed last September by Congress. Soon, you can attend a discussion forum with USPTO officials about the rules the Office has proposed to implement the legislation. Although the attendees may be mostly patent attorneys and other legal professionals, I think it is commendable that… Continue reading America Invents Act USPTO Roadshow
Reduced Patent Filing Fees for Micro Entities
One of the changes brought about by the America Invents Act is a new status of patent applicant called the “micro entity.” The idea is similar to the current “small entity” status granted to certain applicants–but instead of reducing fees by 50% (as for small entity applicants), the Act reduces certain patent fees by 75%… Continue reading Reduced Patent Filing Fees for Micro Entities
Inventors Symposium
The United States Patent and Trademark Office and the Smithsonian American Art Museum are co-sponsoring a symposium targeted at independent inventors and small business entrepreneurs next week on Thursday, October 27 and Friday, October 28. If you are the target audience and will be near Washington, D.C., you may be interested in attending. The symposium… Continue reading Inventors Symposium
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