Can prior public disclosures of my invention kill my chances of getting a patent? Revealing your invention to the public before filing a patent application…
How long is the utility patent application process? The USPTO is notorious for its backlog of examining utility nonprovisional patent applications. First-time utility patent applicants…
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 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…
USPTO IDS Fees Depend upon Timing Applicants have an obligation to tell the USPTO about known prior art that is relevant to their patent applications.…
What is a Request for Continued Examination (RCE)? We’ve discussed how a patent Final Office Action is not really “final.” You will still have opportunities to…
How to Deal with a Final Patent Rejection Sometimes, an ex parte appeal is your only reasonable option when your patent application has been repeatedly…
Color Drawings & Color Photographs in Utility Patent Applications Color drawings are acceptable in US patent applications, but not in international applications (see PCT Rule…
What happens after your nonprovisional utility patent application is filed? So your utility nonprovisional patent application has been filed. Now what? Expect a long wait…