The Digital Access Service (DAS) at the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) is a secure, electronic system designed to facilitate the sharing and exchange of priority documents among participating patent offices around the world. Here is a breakdown of its…
In April, we had a major success for a client. I am thrilled to announce it here now. Over the years, I’ve drafted, prosecuted, and granted utility patents, design patents, and trademarks for The Comfy. Recently, a jury awarded them…
Information disclosure statements are filings made with the Patent Office to disclose references that might be relevant to an invention described in a patent application. The Patent Office imposes a duty on everyone associated with a patent application to submit…
Cementing your brand identity in the digital realm requires more than just a catchy slogan or vibrant imagery—it demands legal foresight and strategic planning. Even with social media, businesses still rely on email as the primary mode of communication, and…
A common law trademark is a trademark used with the offer or sale of products and services. Most trademarks start out as common law trademarks and then the owner later decides to register them federally. Until they become federally registered,…
The Trademark Office may send you an office action or notice after you’ve filed maintenance paperwork in your trademark registration. The notice refuses to accept your maintenance filing until the Office is convinced that you are using your trademark on…
Recently the website IPWatchdog published an article that addressed a topic important enough that I thought I should mention it here as well. It concerns patent maintenance fees and the possible accidental payment of maintenance fees on already-expired patents. Patent…
If a Patent Examiner at the United States Patent and Trademark Office believes that your application claims more than one invention, he or she will issue a restriction requirement. Restriction requirements are incredibly common and are a normal part of…
Continuation-in-part patent applications are a strange type of continuing patent application. They are a tool that can extend the life of a patent family and protect improvements to inventions covered by prior patents. They have significant risks, however, and should…
A trademark cancellation is one process available at the Trademark Office for clearing trademarks that, for various reasons, should no longer be registered. Filing or defending a trademark cancellation can be complicated and requires knowledge of nuances of both trademark…