PTO’s FY 2012 Budget Signed into Law; Access to All Collected Fees Still in Doubt

Congress approved Nov. 17 “minibus” appropriations legislation that includes funding for the Patent and Trademark Office matching its projected fee collections…

Senate Votes in Landslide to Move on Patent Reform Bill; Quick Passage Expected

In its first day back from a month long recess, the U.S. Senate voted 93-5 Sept. 6 on a motion for cloture to proceed to H.R. 1249, the patent reform bill passed by the House of Representatives on June 23…

BNA INSIGHTS: How to Get the Most from the PTO’s Full First Action Interview Pilot Program

On May 16, the Patent and Trademark Office expanded its Enhanced First Action Interview Pilot Program to all technologies…

BNA INSIGHTS: Taking the Guess Work Out of Selecting from the Plethora of Accelerated Patent Prosecution Options

Unfortunately, there can be a significant delay between the time that a U.S. non-provisional patent application is filed and the time that an examiner reviews the application and issues either a first office action or a notice of allowance…

President Obama Signs into Law Copyright Cleanup Act and Telework Enhancement Act

President Obama signed into law Dec. 9 two bills—the Copyright Cleanup, Clarification, and Corrections Act of 2010 (S. 3689) and the Telework Enhancement Act of 2010 (H.R. 1722)…

Patent and Trademark Office, European Patent Office Agree to Work toward Joint Patent Classification System

The Patent and Trademark Office has agreed to work with the European Patent Office towards the formation of a joint patent classification system, according to…

Commerce Department’s Internet Policy Task Force Seeks Comments on Online Copyright Issues

The Department of Commerce’s Internet Policy Task Force announced Oct. 5 that it is seeking public comments on the relationship between the availability and protection of online copyrighted works and innovation in the internet economy. 75 Fed. Reg. 61,419…

ANALYSIS: Former PTO Leaders Commend Kappos’s First Year as Director

Stakeholders with prior work experience at the Patent and Trademark Office generally commended the “state of the PTO” comments made by Director David J. Kappos in a…

PTO Unveils Patent Pendency Dashboard; Director Kappos Recaps First Year Accomplishments

Patent and Trademark Office Director David J. Kappos, in a half-hour conference call with the press Sept. 8, recapped the major initiatives the agency has implemented since he took over the position in…

PTO, Russian Counterpart to Launch Patent Prosecution Highway Agreement September 1

The Patent and Trademark Office announced Aug. 23 another Patent Prosecution Highway pilot program, this time with the Federal Service for…

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