Patent applications typically take quite a while to become actual patents. It’s currently taking between 2 and 4 years just to get the First Office Action from the Patent Office. There are a few ways to speed up the examination…
Patent Office Issues New Internal Guidance on Subject Matter Eligibility
When an application has been fully examined and approved for issuance, the Patent Office issues a Notice of Allowance. The Notice of Allowance does not confer patent rights, however. You must still respond to the Notice of Allowance by both…
My invention has both functional and ornamental aspects – can I file for both utility and design patent protection? Absolutely. Both aspects of the invention can be protected. Some considerations (there will probably be others): Timing: Ensure that both applications…
The Patent Prosecution Highway speeds up the often very lengthy examination process for patent applications filed in intellectual property offices around the world.
Reissues can be used to capture missing, forgotten, or narrower claims. In some cases, they can be used to broaden a patent.
