Here are some Articles that you might find helpful:
3 Must-Knows For Provisional Patent Applications – Thursday, August 10, 2017
Provisional patent applications have taken on increased significance in recent years and can be a savvy business move and help inventors stake a claim to an invention, but if not done right, provisional applications can leave applicants with no protections or, worse yet, undermine their patents down the road. read more ...
Design Patents: The Under Utilized and Overlooked Patent – Saturday, September 10, 2016
Once upon a time one of the ways you could spot the scams from the legitimate operators in the patent industry was to look at who was directing clients to get design patents. Design patents have always been easy to obtain, indeed far easier to obtain than a utility patent. Of course, as with many things in life and with virtually everything in the realm of intellectual property law, the easier something is to obtain the less rights that are conveyed. The general rule about the easier and cheaper the rights the less useful they are has been turned upside down in recent years, at least to some extent with respect to design patents. Unfortunately, not nearly enough inventors are seeking design patent protection. read more ...
Fed. Circ. Recognizes Non-Lawyer Patent Agent Privilege - Monday, March 7, 2016
Communications between U.S. patent applicants and their non-attorney patent agents should be afforded some degree of privilege, a split Federal Circuit ruled Monday, in a case over smartphones that was closely watched by members of the patent bar. In a 2-1 decision, the appeals court recognized for the first time a patent agent privilege, affording the same type of protections in attorney-client privilege to communications between registered patent agents and their clients. read more ...
Am I Entitled To Small Entity or Micro Entity Fee Status?
Many USPTO fees are discounted by 50% for applicants and patentees who qualify as "Small Entities", and (through the 2011 Patent Reform Act) by 75% for "Micro Entities" . Determining whether or not you fit within the "Small Entity" or "Micro Entity" class or not can be complicated. However, it is important to do it right, because the consequences of claiming Small Entity status when you are, in fact, a Large Entity, can be draconian - complete invalidity of a patent and loss of patent rights due to "fraud on the Patent Office". read more ...
Track One Prioritized Examination Puts Your Innovation in the Fast Lane – November 2013
What Is Track One? Track One expedites the examination process of nonprovisional utility or plant applications for an additional fee (Track One is not available for design patent applications). Track One is also available for request for continued examination (RCE) applications. The goal is to provide a final disposition within 12 months of Track One status being granted, but the program is currently producing final dispositions in an average of just six months. Be aware that applications are subject to certain restrictions for Track One eligibility. To find out more about these restrictions, read more ...
The America Invests Act Of 2011 - Impact On Your (Small) Business - Wednesday, September 19, 2012
A straight forward presentation of the America Invents Act (AIA) and what it means to your business. This presentation addresses the "front end" impact of the most significant changes to the US patent laws to occur in the last 50 years. read more ...
Why Patent Attorneys (& Agents) Don't Work On Contingency - Wednesday, September 19, 2012
I frequently get inquiries from inventors who are interested in contingency fee representation. There is no such thing as contingency representation for the purpose of preparing, filing and ultimately obtaining a patent. Patent attorneys and agents just don’t take contingency clients when the matter is patent procurement. read more ...
Why Does It Cost So Much To Prepare A Patent Application? - Saturday, January 7, 2012
Applying for a patent in the United States can be an intimidating undertaking. In fact, the cost of preparing and filing a patent application can actually be quite high. Certainly, one can hunt around for a bargain basement discount service on the Internet. But engaging these services brings significant additional risk. read more ...
Pros & Cons Of A Provisional Patent Application - Saturday, January 7, 2012
Let’s be clear: There is no such thing as a “provisional patent.” Instead, what you file is called a provisional patent application. Like any other patent application, it is effective to stop the proverbial clock relative to so-called statutory bars. And immediately upon filing a provisional patent application you can say you have a “patent pending.” read more ...
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