When you select your international search authority and international preliminary examination authority, it is important to understand what subject ...
Countries that are not PCT contracting states as of October 2012
Afghanistan Iran (Islamic Republic of) Samoa Andorra Iraq Saudi Arabia Argentina Jamaica Solomon Islands Bahamas Jordan Somalia Bangladesh Kiribati...
Other Regional Patent Offices as of October 2012
AP ARIPO Patent EA Eurasian Patent OA OAPI Patent (regional patent only) BW Botswana AM Armenia BF Burkina Fasco GH Ghana ...
PCT contracting states as of October 2012
AE United Arab Emirates IN India NZ New Zealand AG Antigua and Barbuda JP Japan OM Oman *AL Albania KM Union of the Co...
The ABCs of PCTs
ARIPO African Regional Industrial Property Organization DO Designated Office under the PCT (Chapter I) EAPO Eurasian Patent Office EO Elected Of...
Six options to consider before your provisional patent expires
A provisional patent application expires 12 months after the filing date. As this deadline approaches, the applicant must decide what to do with the a...
Warning for companies about confidentiality agreements
Many companies, particularly in the manufacturing and investment industries, often receive unsolicited ideas. Perhaps your company has experienced thi...
Leaving your IP legacy: to whom will you pass down your intellectual property?
An often forgotten issue during estate planning is that copyrights (as well as patents and trademarks) are personal property. As such, they get passed...
Using Article 19 and Article 34 in patent amendments
After a PCT applicant receives a search report and written opinion, he may wish to respond to the Examiner’s comments “on the record.” There are...
Racing to the patent office
The AIA has started a race to the patent office. This will be especially true for technologies where several inventors, research teams or companies ...