Next up in the Patents Explained series: the summary section of the patent. The summary is similar to the background of the invention, and, in that same vein, some consider it extraneous and potentially damaging to the patent as a…
I was talking with a client about two weeks ago and explaining the benefits of a provisional application. I was telling him that a provisional application is place holder – it keeps your spot in line – but he had…
Today in the Explaining Patents series: the background and field of invention section. The background generally comprises two parts: an explanation of the field of invention and a description of the prior art. The Patent Office rules suggest that it…
Continuing the series of posts explaining the parts of a patent, today we move on the drawings. A drawing is required when it is necessary to understand the patent application. Most patent applications have drawings because drawings of the invention…
The abstract is similar to a summary of the patent. It is intended to let the Patent Office and the public quickly know what the patent is about without having to read the entire patent. There aren’t hard rules on…
People often don’t understand what exactly a patent is. I’m going to take the next few blog posts to describe the different parts of a patent. A patent generally consists of several items: Abstract Drawings Background / Field of Invention…
When you’ve come up with an invention and are looking for someone to help you obtain a patent, do your comparison shopping and choose carefully. Whether you choose a patent attorney, a patent agent, or an invention promotion service,…
Marc Graser and Dave McNary wrote a great piece over at Variety regarding the difficulties in keeping a blockbuster movie under wraps during production. Pre-release leakage of information, pictures, scripts can destroy a movie – but it can also make…
The long awaited Bilski decision was released today, and while I haven’t had the chance to read it yet, I have skimmed the blogosphere enough to know what it said. Basically, the Federal Circuit went a little too far, and…
Patent thinkers are going crazy for the Supreme Court to issue Bilski v. Kappos, a case with potential to change the patent landscape: Inventive Step Patently-O – guest post from my old Munich professor John Duffy IPWatchdog ABAJournal 271 Patent…