Patent Considerations in View of the Nearshoring Trends to the Americas
What You Should Know About Seeking Patent Protection in Vietnam
Cases Updated in CNIPA Guidelines - Eligibility & Inventiveness for AI & Business Method Applications
Nonpublication Requests For Patent Applications: Disadvantages
Nota Bene Episode 99: Unpacking the Pendulum of American Patent Policy Then, Now, and Forward with Rob Masters
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's (USPTO) Prioritized Patent Examination Program, known as the Track-1 Program, provides an accelerated patent application examination in exchange for additional filing fees to those...more
In the U.S., patent rights generally go to the first inventor to file — not the first to invent. Filing early secures your place in line. But the type of application you choose (provisional vs. non-provisional) can...more
Beginning in October 2025, the European Patent Office (EPO) will accept patent drawings in color or grayscale when filed electronically. By allowing more detailed and visually accurate representations, this change enhances...more
For startup founders and CTOs navigating the patent landscape, understanding the prosecution timeline is essential for strategic planning and resource allocation. After filing your patent application with the USPTO, the...more
Patent diligence in the context of M&A and other types of commercial transactions typically involves confirmation of a patent’s chain-of-title ownership, from initial inventors through to the current assignee-owner. The...more
For startups sensitive to cash burn rate, provisional patent applications often seem like the perfect solution—lower filing fees, simplified requirements, and a full year to file the "real" application. However, this...more
In January 2025, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) implemented a broad set of fee increases and structural adjustments intended to address rising operational costs and encourage more efficient patent...more
On July 7, 2025, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”) announced that, starting July 8, 2025, the Office will be increasing the number of prioritized patent examination requests that may be accepted from...more
Design patents in the U.S. typically include two types of shading. The first and most common type of shading used in U.S. design patents is opaque shading, which illustrates a non-transparent or non-translucent surface of an...more
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued a final rule substantially adjusting patent fees. The new fee structure will take effect on January 19, 2025....more
The Unified Patent Court (UPC) is revolutionizing the way patents are enforced in Europe, and McDermott’s intellectual property (IP) team is here to help you navigate this dynamic landscape. Our Legal Lens on the Unified...more
Every month, Erise’s patent attorneys review the latest inter partes review (IPR) cases and news to bring you the stories that you should know about: What Does the End of Chevron Deference Mean for the USPTO? In June, the...more
The US Patent & Trademark Office (PTO) issued a notice of rulemaking announcing proposed patent fee increases beginning next year. 89 Fed. Reg. 23226 (April 3, 2024). The proposed increases are generally consistent with the...more
For Taiwanese corporates developing critical technologies in the face of shifting global supply chains, the need to protect intellectual property assets has never been more pressing. The biggest IP-related drag on company...more
Imagine excitedly filing a patent application, waiting years for the case to be examined, and then finding your application rejected on grounds that it is obvious or anticipated by your own previously published work. This is...more
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) released a report on innovations in COVID-19-related diagnostics as a case study of how innovation and intellectual property operate during times of crisis. The study utilized...more
Barbenheimer is a new term for consecutively watching the movies “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer.” In honor thereof, we present the Barbenheimer Legal Alert. Did you know Mattel sued, and lost, to stop the “Barbie Girl” song?...more
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has proposed a significant increase in patent fees, including the implementation of entirely new fees and revamped fee structures. The USPTO has indicated that the fee proposal is...more
In a recent press release, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) announced that, starting on April 18, 2023, the Office would begin issuing electronic patent grants (eGrants) to patent recipients....more
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”) has reduced the patent fees for small businesses and certain other applicants. This fee reduction is part of an effort to reduce financial burdens and resulting barriers...more
In its ongoing efforts to modernize patent examination practices, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has announced it will transition to electronic patent grants (eGrants) and discontinue mailing...more
Effective April 18, 2023, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) will begin issuing patent grants electronically. Here is what that means: •Patents will issue much more rapidly (such as just a few days) from the date...more
On April 18, 2023 the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) will start issuing Electronic Patent Grants (eGrants). Under the current paper-laden system and toward the end of the patent prosecution process, a...more
The U.S. Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) announced that it will no longer issue patents in a printed “ribbon copy” form as of April 18, 2023. Instead, patents will now only be issued electronically in a digital form. This...more
Why is the USPTO moving to electronic Grant (eGrant)? The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is implementing electronic patent issuance to reduce pendency of patent applications, foster a green economy by...more