Patent infringement occurs when someone makes, uses, markets, advertises, sells or imports a patented invention or, in some circumstances, its equival...
Should you file a provision patent application first?
Provisional patent applications are often used to establish an earlier priority date until the inventor is ready and able to invest in a non-provision...
Limits of patent protection
It is important to understand the limits of patent protection. For example, an inventor must be in possession of the invention at the time of the pate...
How does the new Fast Track option compare to the Accelerated Examination procedure for patent applications?
In 2006, the USPTO introduced the accelerated examination process. If an application conducted a pre-filing search and submitted an examination suppor...
Implications of the new patent bill (America Invents Act)
On September 8, 2011, the Senate passed the Leahy-Smith America Invents acts (AIA), which was signed by President Obama on September 16, 2011. The AIA...
USPTO Response Times for RCEs
After a patent application is filed, the Patent Office assigns an Examiner to review the merits of the invention and determine if a patent should be i...
What is a PCT patent and why should I choose it?
Most individuals begin their patent process by filing an application in their home country (in this case, the U.S.), and before the 12-month deadline,...
Will there be a unitary EU patent?
Those seeking to obtain patent protection in Europe may already be aware of the hype on creating a unitary EU patent. Given the added time and expen...