Patent Applications

What is the first-to-file patent system? US patent laws no longer recognize who was first to invent, but rather who applied first for a patent.…

What is a patent priority date? Priority date refers to the earliest filing date in a family of patent applications. Where only a single patent…

Reasons for Procuring US Design Patents Chinese design patent owners will already know the benefits of design patent protection in the US. Unlike US utility patents,…

What are negative claim limitations? A negative claim limitation is language recited in a patent claim that speaks to the absence of a feature, as…

How to Transfer Patent Ownership Patent ownership starts with the inventors. It is fairly straightforward, however, to transfer ownership to a company. Every patent application…

Drawing the line between old and new The term “prior art” is frequently used in the patent world to refer to what already exists. It’s the…

What is a Section 112 indefinite rejection? Patent claims must follow certain rigid rules in terms of format and language. For this reason, claims will often…

What are excess claims? In a US nonprovisional utility patent application, the USPTO will charge additional government fees for claims that exceed certain limits. The…

What a Novelty Search Does Not Do In most cases, a novelty search will not answer the question of whether your concept or product is…

Yes, software can be patented. However, the road to a granted patent may be long, frustrating and expensive. Let’s dive into the factors that can…

What is a patent examiner interview? Patent examiners are human. This simple truth is often overlooked in the back-and-forth written communications with the USPTO. An…

What is a patent extension of time? Responses to Office Actions may typically be extended. A typical patent Office Action provides the applicant with a…