This column highlights some of the more notable recent internet notices, newsletters and blogs dealing with IP prosecution issues.
Patently-O – a blog written by Dennis Crouch – www.patentlyo.com.

  • A post on August 10, 2015 by Professor Crouch detailed historical data on the USPTO’s allowance rate. Seems that allowance rate is now running at about 70%. Read full post here.
  • Another post on August 15, 2015 detailed historical data on the USPTO’s patent grant rate by technology area. “Electronic commerce” is now running below 10%. Read full post here.
  • On August 21, 2015 a post mentioned that recently issued U.S. Patent No. 9,057,604 that was filed as an application in 1989 but did not issue till 2015 because of a secrecy order by the U.S. Government. The patent will have a maximum term extending seventeen years from the issue date. Read full post here.
  • Professor Crouch’s September 22, 2015 post plots the percentage of patents using “said” as opposed to “the” for elements. Said data indicates that the “the” is prevailing. Read full post here.

USPTO – the PTO’s website– uspto.gov.

  • In the August 25, 2015 Official Gazette the USPTO requested public comments on the
    recently issued July 2015 Guidance on Subject Matter Eligibility. The deadline for written comments is October 28, 2015. To find more information see  full post here.
  • On September 3, 2015 the USPTO New emailed a notice from the USPTO Director’s Forum Blog that announced a new Patent Petitions Timeline. The new timeline will provide information on a single page about petitions filed with the USPTO. The timeline provides information on each specific petition (such as to revive an application, for correction of inventorship, or to file a Track 1 acceleration request), along with historical grant rates and pendency of decided petitions. The timeline may be reviewed at  here.
  • The USPTO released a new web-based application for scheduling an examiner interview, “USPTO AIR” Read full post here.

AIPLA – the profession’s national organization– AIPLA.org.

  • AIPLA will hold its 2015 Annual Meeting October 22-24, 2015 in Washington, D.C.  (703-415-0780). To make reservations click here, or call 1-877-212-5752

Miscellaneous –

  • The Chisum Patent Academy holds an upcoming patent law seminar in Cincinnati, Ohio in March 2016. seminars/advanced-patent-law-seminars-cincinnati-oh/). The seminar explores blockbuster Supreme Court and Federal Circuit patent decisions of 2014-2015 and
    considers responsive strategies. The round table format is intended for experienced practitioners (litigators and patent prosecutors) and is limited to 10 participants. Other seminars are scheduled in Seattle, Washington on August 4-5, 2016 and August 8-9, 2016. There are a possible 18 CLE credits for these seminars. More info here.

For more information about any of the patent topics mentioned consult Patent Application Practice. Trademark topics are discussed in Trademark Registration Practice. Both are published by West and updated twice a year. For litigation questions, contact Fred Douglas at 949/293-0442 or by email at fdouglas@cox.net.

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