The After Final Consideration Pilot (AFCP) is part of the USPTO’s on-going efforts towards compact prosecution and increased collaboration between examiners, inventors and the patent bar. Certain requirements must be met to qualify for the provisions of the AFCP. For example: 1. The amendment places the application in condition for allowance by canceling claims or [...]
The U.S. Commerce Department released yesterday a comprehensive report, entitled “Intellectual Property and the U.S. Economy: Industries in Focus,” which finds that intellectual property (IP)-intensive industries support at least 40 million jobs and contribute more than $5 trillion dollars to, or 34.8 percent of, U.S. gross domestic product (GDP). “This first of its kind report [...]
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) announced that it will open the current Patent Law School Clinic Certification Pilot Program to admit 10 additional schools for the upcoming fall 2012 academic year. This pilot program allows law students to practice patent law before the agency under the guidance of a law school faculty [...]
The USPTO, U.S. Senator Mary L. Landrieu and Cedric B. Glover, mayor of the City of Shreveport, are co-sponsoring the Second Annual USPTO Women’s Entrepreneurship Symposium. The symposium will focus on women entrepreneurs and the importance of intellectual property (IP) protection to the success of innovative businesses. The symposium will be held from March 25-26, 2012 [...]
The US Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”) has provided a 50% reduction in patent application fees for “small entity” applicants. The Leahy-Smith America Invents Act (“AIA”) created a new classification called a “micro entity”. A micro entity is expected to pay fees discounted by 75%. The discounted fees will apply to filing, searching, examination, issue, [...]
