What is a patent? A patent is an intellectual property right granted by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”) that gives a patent owner the right “to exclude others from making, using, offering for sale, or selling the invention throughout the United States or importing the invention into the…
WASHINGTON – New resource offers intellectual property education resources for parents, teachers, and students of all ages. The U.S. Department of Commerce’s United States Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”) recently announced the launch of its newly redesigned KIDS! Web pages aimed to encourage students of all ages to learn about…
WASHINGTON, D.C. – USPTO officials will discuss the First Inventor to File provision of the America Invents Act. The U.S. Department of Commerce’s United States Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”) announced this week that it will host seven roadshows across the country between September 16 and October 9, 2014. These…
Alexandria, Virginia – The United States Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”) has repeated its warning about unsolicited communications regarding maintenance fees. Many patent owners have received unsolicited communications that at first glance appear to be “official” but are not actually from the USPTO. These communications usually contain warnings about the…
Indianapolis, Indiana – The U.S. Department of Commerce’s United States Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”) yesterday announced the selection of 19 law schools, including Indiana University Maurer School of Law, that will join the USPTO’s Law School Clinic Certification Pilot Program this fall. Indiana University Maurer School of Law (pictured) and…
Washington, D.C. – The United States Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”) recently announced the launch of a new Glossary Pilot as part of a White House Executive Action designed to enhance claim clarity in the specification of software-related patent applications. The pilot runs for six months from the start date…
Washington, D.C. – The opinion in Blackhorse v. Pro Football, Inc., TTAB Cancellation No. 92046185, resolved the petition of five Native Americans who filed for the cancellation of six “Redskins” trademarks with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”). Yesterday, in a 177-page opinion, the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board…
Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Commerce Department’s United States Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”) recently issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (“NPRM”) proposing to reduce fees for many new trademark applications and most renewals of registration. USPTO also proposes a new Trademark Electronic Application System Reduced Fee (TEAS RF) filing…
Washington, D.C. – Public meetings called for in U.S. Commerce Department’s Green Paper on “Copyright Policy, Creativity, and Innovation in the Digital Economy” will be held in Tennessee, Massachusetts and California. The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Internet Policy Task Force will host roundtable discussions in cities around the country on…
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Commerce’s United States Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”) recently announced the creation of a new Office of International Patent Cooperation (“OIPC”). The OIPC will be led by Mark Powell who will serve as USPTO’s first Deputy Commissioner for International Patent Cooperation. Deputy Commissioner…