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IP community - news

USPTO, EPO & JPO To Start PCT-Patent Prosecution Highway

November 13, 2009

The Trilateral Offices (European Patent Office (EPO), Japan Patent Office (JPO) and U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)) agreed on November 13, 2009 to begin a pilot program in the Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) framework utilizing PCT work products (international search reports, written opinions, and international preliminary examination reports).
Under the PPH, an applicant receiving a determination [...]

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USPTO Director Announces New Initiative To Accelerate The Patent Process For Independent Inventors

November 9, 2009

On November 5, 2009, USPTO Director David Kappos delivered the keynote address at the 14th Annual Independent Inventors Conference held at USPTO’s headquarters in Alexandria, Va.
During the address, Director Kappos announced a new initiative that is specifically designed to accelerate the patent process for independent inventors.  He called it a “backlog reduction pilot project” that [...]

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USPTO Rescinds Controversial Patent Regulations Package

October 8, 2009

Agency Files Joint Motion with Plaintiff GlaxoSmithKline to Dismiss Lawsuit Related to Proposed Claims and Continuation Rules
Today, Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO David Kappos signed a new Final Rule rescinding highly controversial regulations, proposed by the previous administration, that patent applicants felt unduly restricted their capacity to protect intellectual property.  The regulations, which [...]

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WIPO Report Shows Growth in IP Rights before Onset of Economic Crisis

September 23, 2009

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) announced a new report monitoring recent trends in intellectual property (IP) activity.  The report shows that demand for IP rights continued to increase prior to the onset of the global economic crisis, with 1.85 million patent (+3.7% increase over 2006), almost 3.3 million trademark (+1.6%) and approximately 0.62 million [...]

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Summary of the Kappos Confirmation Hearing

Thumbnail image for Summary of the Kappos Confirmation Hearing July 29, 2009

The U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary conducted a nomination hearing on July 29, 2009 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:14 a.m. for David J. Kappos to be Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office.  Beverly Baldwin Martin (to be United States Circuit Judge for the [...]

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Parties in Tafas Litigation Jointly Seek Stay Until 60 Days after Kappos Is Confirmed As Director

July 27, 2009

The plaintiffs and the government in the litigation challenging the PTO continuation and claim rules have jointly asked the Federal Circuit for a stay of en banc proceedings until 60 days after David Kappos is confirmed as the new PTO Director.  Tafas v. Doll, Fed. Cir., No. 2008-1352, motion filed 7/24/09.
In the “Joint Consent Motion For [...]

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WIPO To Debate IP vs. Greentech

Thumbnail image for WIPO To Debate IP vs. Greentech July 13, 2009

The Financial Times reported today that efforts to avert a clash between the U.S. and emerging economies over patents at a climate change meeting later this year will top the agenda at a two-day conference that opens today on IP and public policy and organized by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
At the G8 summit [...]

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Senators Urged To Schedule Confirmation Hearing For PTO Director As Soon As Possible

Thumbnail image for Senators Urged To Schedule Confirmation Hearing For PTO Director As Soon As Possible July 9, 2009

The Intellectual Property Owners Association (IPO) on Wednesday urged Senate Judiciary Committee leaders to schedule a hearing soon on the confirmation of President Obama’s pick, David Kappos, for Patent and Trademark Office director.  IPO said it is “critical for new management to be put in place as soon as possible” to address the many challenges currently [...]

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AIPLA Invites PTO Examiners, Foreign Registered Practitioners to Join as Members

June 29, 2009

The American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA) announced June 25 that its board of directors has voted to expand its membership to include two new categories: (1) Patent and Trademark Office “professionals,” including patent examiners; and (2) foreign attorneys and agents who are registered to practice before the patent or trademark office in their country [...]

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Reminder: Voting In Survey of Patent Blogs Continues Through End of June

Thumbnail image for Reminder: Voting In Survey of Patent Blogs Continues Through End of June June 24, 2009

Gene Quinn at IPWatchdog is conducting a readership survey of patent blogs.  Voting will continue through the end of June 2009.  Question 1 asks which patent blog is your favorite and question 2 asks which patent blogs you regularly read.  Only one selection is permitted for question 1, but multiple selections are permitted for question [...]

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