This column highlights some of the more notable recent internet notices, newsletters and blogs dealing with IP prosecution issues.
The Wegner Red Letter – Hal Wegner is continuing a thirty-five year tradition of newsletter information to colleagues about patent developments that started on June 16, 1980, with a G II fax transmission to colleagues in Europe and Asia about that the decision that day in Diamond v. Chakrabarty, 447 U.S. 921 (1980), and until the end of January 2015 had evolved into a series of usually daily emails to “The List.” Hal posts the Wegner’s Red Letter at the website of the Los Angeles Intellectual Property Law Association .

  • The March 2015 Wegner Red Letter discussed the delay in confirming a director of the USPTO.PDF here.
  • The April 2015 Wegner Red Letter discussed in detail the USPTO’s “Glossary Initiative” along with related rules and regulations.PDF here”

Wenger’s Writings – Hal Wegner still posts discussions on patent law – View here

  • On March 27, 2015 Hal discusses the USPTO’s “Glossary Initiative” in relation to the rules of practice Read here.

IPWatchdog – a patents and patent law blog – IPwatchdog.com

  • The March 2, 2015 post discusses the USPTO’s abrupt “retirement’ of the secret SAWS program (Sensitive Application Warning System) that internally flagged applications with “highly controversial” claims. Are we confident that it is really gone?

Patent Docs – a patent blog – patentdocs.typepad.com/patent_docs

  • On March 5, 2015 the post discussed the USPTO’s launching of an “Enhanced Patent Quality Initiative. PDF here Details here .
  • The March 16, 2015 post described the USPTO’s publication of a final rule to revise the rules of practice to implement the Federal Circuit’s decision in Novartis AG v. Lee PDF here Details here .

Patently-O – a blog written by Dennis Crouch – www.patentlyo.com.

  • On March 19, 2015 Professor Crouch discussed a Federal Circuit opinion, Two-Way Media LLC v. AT&T, Inc., 2014-1302 (Fed. Cir., March 19, 2015). PDF here. AT&T had calculated a deadline based on an erroneous entry in the court’s PACER docket and email notification, which the Federal Circuit said was insufficient to excuse a delay in filing a notice of appeal. Oops. Details here.

USPTO – the PTO’s website – uspto.gov

  • On March 2, 2015 the USPTO posted a notice on its website that it has retired the secret SAWS program (Sensitive Application Warning System) that internally flagged applications with “highly controversial” claims since 1994. I “SAWS” that announcement coming
  • * The March 24, 2015 Official Gazette contained a notice that the USPTO is extending the Extended Missing Parts Pilot Program until December 31, 2015. Details here

Miscellaneous –

  • The American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA ) is offering its 2015 Spring Meeting in Los Angeles April 30-May 2, 2015 More info
  • The USPTO’s Glossary Pilot Program failed to attract the minimum 200 participants, requiring an extension through June 2, 2015. More info .
  • The Chisum Patent Academy holds an upcoming patent law seminar on August 12-14, 2015 (Seattle, Washington). There are a possible 18 CLE credits for this seminar. More info.

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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