Category: patent application
How long does it take to get a patent in 2021? And what about COVID-19?
Thursday | June 10, 2021By Shane Skwarekpatent applicationpatent eligibilitypatent lawpatent officepatent office guidancePatent ProtectionAn applicant secures a patent after successfully prosecuting the patent application at the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). When the USPTO believes an application embodies an invention worthy of a patent, the USPTO grants a Notice of Allowance.…
Read MoreTesla’s Lasers on Vehicle Patent
Tuesday | March 30, 2021By Shane Skwarekfiling patent applicationpatent applicationpatent attorneypatent claimpatent draftingpatent eligibilitypatent lawpatent lawyerpatent officepatent pendingPatent ProtectionIn May of 2019, Tesla filed a patent application for “Pulsed Laser Cleaning of Debris Accumulated on Glass Articles in Vehicles and Photovoltaic Assemblies.” Instead of using conventional windshield wipers, Tesla envisioned a system to clean debris from any glass…
Read MoreWhy Perform a Patentability Search before Filing Your Patent Application?
Monday | March 1, 2021By Shane Skwarekpatent applicationpatent attorneypatent claimpatent draftingpatent eligibilitypatent lawPatent ProtectionPatentability searches can be useful to get a better idea of whether an invention can be patented. A good search may prevent the cost of a wasted patent application on an already-invented and published invention, but can also be useful…
Read MoreWhat is the life of a patent in the US?
Monday | November 30, 2020By Shane Skwarekpatentpatent applicationpatent attorneyHow long does a US patent last? The term for which a utility patent is valid is generally 20 years from the date of filing, and the term for which a design patent is valid is generally 15 years from…
Read MoreWhen is it too late to file a patent application?
Wednesday | October 7, 2020By Shane Skwarekfiling patent applicationpatent applicationpatent lawyerPatent ProtectionGetting the timing right for filing a Patent Application can be tricky. While there are several factors that will bar you from pursuing a Patent if you file too late, it is also possible to file too early. For this…
Read MoreLife After Patent Expiration
Wednesday | September 16, 2020By Shane Skwarekpatent applicationpatent expirationPatent ProtectionWhy can’t patents be renewed once they’ve lived out their 20 years? A patent becomes public domain (free for use by the public) upon its expiration, which is defined as 20 years from the patent’s earliest non-provisional filing date. MPEP…
Read MoreFiling Amendments under Articles 19 and 34 of the PCT
Wednesday | September 2, 2020By Shane Skwarekpatent applicationPatent Cooperation TreatyPatent ProtectionPCTPCT applicationInventors who file an international application under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) have an opportunity to amend their application before moving onto filing national applications in participating countries. Articles 19 and 34 are the two provisions from the PCT that…
Read MoreCustomedia Techs. Patent for Storing Ads Invalidated
Saturday | March 14, 2020By Shane Skwarek35 U.S.C. § 101court rulingpatent applicationpatent eligibilityPatent Protectionpatentability searchsoftware patentsubject-matter eligibilityPatent claims to storing ad data based on user preferences locally at a user's video player were confirmed invalid in Customedia Techs., LLC v. Dish Network Corp., No. 2018-2239, 2020 U.S. App. LEXIS 7005 (Fed. Cir. March 6, 2020). To…
Read MoreHow can the First Action Interview (FAI) pilot program save me money and time in getting a U.S. patent?
Tuesday | March 3, 2020By Shane Skwarekfirst action interviewintellectual propertypatent applicationpatent lawpatent lawyerThere is no denying it: the First Action Interview Pilot Program at the USPTO is controversial in U.S. patent law. However, if you play your cards right, you can save your company both time and money when applying for a…
Read MoreThe Patent Office Wanted Us to Pay for What?!?
Monday | December 16, 2019By Shane Skwarekfiling patent applicationpatent applicationpatent lawyerpatent officePatent Protectionsupreme courtThe U.S. Supreme Court held that the costs borne by an appellant seeking review of a rejection from the U.S. Patent Office by a District Court do not include the apportioned salaries of the Office's employees in Peter v. Nantkwest.…
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