Category: Patent Applications

What is a Restriction Requirement?

Is my patent application being rejected? If a patent examiner thinks that the pending claims in a patent application are directed to more than one invention,…

Why file a continuing patent application?

Reasons for Filing a Continuing Application A continuing application is basically a child patent application that must be filed while the parent patent application is…

Patent term: When does a utility patent expire?

How long does a utility patent last? Generally, a utility patent expires 20 years from the filing date [35 USC 154(a)]. This 20-year patent term…

Late US National Stage Entry and Nonprovisional with Foreign Priority Claims: How to Recover from Missed Deadlines

Late US National Stage Entry So you missed the 30-month US national phase deadline. To file a late US national stage application, the entire delay…

Should foreign Office Actions or foreign prior art references be cited in an IDS?

Duty to Disclose Known Information Material to Patentability U.S. patent law places an obligation on applicants to notify the USPTO of known information that is…

When must foreign priority document be filed in a US utility patent application?

What is the deadline for filing a certified priority document in a utility application? Under the new AIA rules for US utility applications filed on…

Can a design patent application claim priority to a utility patent application?

Can you file a design patent application after filing a utility patent application? Suppose you started with filing a utility nonprovisional patent application. After a…

How to speed up patent application based on inventor age

Petition to Make Special Based on Inventor Age There’s a streamlined way to speed up utility patent applications based on the inventor’s age. An inventor…

What are USPTO requirements for design patent drawings?

Strict USPTO Rules for Design Patent Drawings The USPTO has strict standards for US design patent drawings. These strict rules govern which views are required…

Small Entity vs. Large Entity USPTO Filing Fees: What are the differences?

USPTO Cost Differences Between a Large and Small Entity At the outset, one of the first questions we ask a corporate patent applicant is the…

Where can I find IP resources for startups?

IP resources for startups As an early stage startup, you cannot ignore the significance of IP. At the same time, your budget for protecting your…

How much are flat fee estimates for PCT national phase entries?

National stage flat fee cost estimates A PCT application allows you to file your patent application in multiple countries. To do so, an applicant enters…

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