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Does an inventor need to be secretive about disclosing an idea to a patent attorney?
I’ve been getting a recurring question lately: “Will you sign this Non Disclosure Agreement before I tell you about the invention I want you to write a patent application for?” Sometimes, the question is phrased, “how much do you charge…
What is a patent license?
Patents can be thought as a “bundle of rights.” An issued patent carries with it a number of exclusive rights, each of which can be divided up individually from the others – removed from the bundle like one of many…
Patent Office Now Allows First-Time Filers to Expedite Patent Applications for Free
In March 2023, the Patent Office launched a new First-Time Filer Expedited Examination Pilot Program. This program speeds up the examination process for patent applications filed by certain applicants. Patent applications take a long time for review. According to USPTO…
How to Reinstate An Expired Patent
This article covers how to reinstate an expired patent – not revival of an abandoned patent application. They are very different, and I’ve previously written about the reviving an abandoned patent application. After a patent issues, regular maintenance fees must…

Is the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Affected by the 2018 Government Shutdown?
The US Patent and Trademark Office is not immediately affected by the January 2018 government shutdown.
Patents Explained: The Abstract
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…