An important U.S. court has ruled merely using generic machine learning does not constitute a new or useful process. This is a reminder that you need to be cunning in your patent strategy often looking out a decade to where the law will be. Be cunning as fox in your patent strategy. Background An important court for...Read More
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is stepping up enforcement against applicants who falsely claim small entity or micro entity status to receive fee discounts. This enforcement started in 2023, but a new June 2025 memo outlines a formal notice-and-order process with real consequences, such as removal from examination, penalties, and delays in patent...Read More
The Paris Convention establishes a "right of priority" that provides you with a window to file subsequent applications in other member states. Knowing the deadlines other parts of the treaty is key to an IP strategy.Read More
Anyone wanting to improve their strategic view of IP matters should look at a recent U.S. case involving a plant patent for a commercially important varietal of cherries. See how important it is to keep good records, use the appropriate IP rights, and find the right advisors for your companyRead More
The USPTO has specific and unique practices for formal documents. Understanding these practices and especially the requirements on signatures can save you a lot of time.Read More
The USPTO has announced significant fee increases for your patent applications to take effect in 2025. Many changes are cost adjustments to cover inflation, but others are designed to change your behaviour.Read More
Many organizations have patent notices and many are wrong. In some cases having the wrong patent notice creates a liability. Since these warnings are easy to write and place, most organizations should use them.Read More
Patents are the go-to method for protecting inventions but you have alternatives such as trade secrets, defensive disclosures, and utility models. Also consider filing a patent application with delayed examination.Read More
The on-sale bar in US patent law starts when the product is on sale even if the process to make the product is secret. This has an effect on the IP strategy of many companies.Read More
