Event Registration: The Path to a Patent, Part II: Drafting provisional patent applications

 July 15, 2021

 12:00 PM CT - 2:00 PM CT

 The Path to a Patent, Part II: Drafting provisional patent applications

 About this event

 Join us on July 15 to learn from USPTO experts about the key differences between provisional and nonprovisional patent applications, filing requirements and fees, the different ways to file a provisional application, and more.

 

The July 15 session will be offered virtually via WebEx to those registered for the event. Please register by July 14.

 

For accessibility requests, or for more information, please call 469-295-9000, email TexasRegionalOffice@uspto.gov or visit us online at Texas Regional USPTO.

 

Register by July 14 for this virtual event.

PTRC Proposed Rules

Federal Register

Vol. 86, No. 126
Tuesday, July 6, 2021

Patent and Trademark Office

PROPOSED RULES

Standard for Presentation of Nucleotide and Amino Acid Sequence

Listings Using eXtensible Markup Language in Patent Applications to

Implement World Intellectual Property Organization Standard ST.26;

Incorporation by Reference,

35429–35443 [2021–14325]                        

Distinguishing between prophetic and working examples in a patent application

 Distinguishing between prophetic and working examples in a patent application

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has published a notice in the Federal Register reminding applicants that patent applications must properly present examples in a manner that clearly distinguishes between prophetic examples that describe predicted experimental results and working examples that report actual experimental results.

The distinction should be clear for purposes of the written description and enablement requirements and to comply with the applicant’s duty of disclosure. The notice also sets forth best practices for distinguishing prophetic and working examples.

Nominations for National Medal of Technology and Innovation due July 30

 USPTO Alert

Nominations for National Medal of Technology and Innovation due July 30

The USPTO is seeking nominations for the 2021 National Medal of Technology and Innovation (NMTI). The NMTI is the nation’s highest honor for technological achievement, bestowed by the President of the United States.

The medal is awarded to individuals, teams, and companies for their outstanding contributions to the nation’s economic, environmental, and social well-being through the development and commercialization of technological products, processes and concepts, technological innovation, and strengthening of the nation’s technological workforce.

Anyone can nominate for the NMTI by submitting the online nomination form and letters of support. Applicants must complete nominations before midnight ET on July 30. We invite a wide range of submissions that will demonstrate the breadth of innovation taking place throughout the United States. Nominations of candidates from traditionally underrepresented groups are encouraged.

For more information, view a recording of the June 2 webinar about the nomination process or visit the NMTI webpage on the USPTO website.

USPTO announces extension of the Fast-Track Appeals Pilot Program

 Patent Trial and Appeal Board

USPTO announces extension of the Fast-Track Appeals Pilot Program through July 2, 2022

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) today announced plans for the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) to extend the expiration date for the Fast-Track Appeals Pilot Program, 85 FR 39888 (July 2, 2020). We are submitting a notice of extension to the Federal Register, and we anticipate it will publish shortly. The extended pilot program continues the program for another year. The new expiration date will be July 2, 2022.

The notice of extension also eliminates the upper limit of 500 total granted fast-track petitions, but maintains the limit of 125 granted petitions per quarter.

For additional information on the Fast-Track Appeals Pilot Program, see the PTAB’s webpage on the USPTO website.

USPTO issues notice of proposed rulemaking to implement WIPO Standard ST.26

 Patent Alert

USPTO issues notice of proposed rulemaking to implement WIPO Standard ST.26

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to revise the rules of practice for submitting biological sequence data associated with disclosures of nucleotide and amino acid sequences in patent applications by incorporating by reference the provisions of Standard ST.26 into the USPTO rules. Other conforming changes based on the new standard are also included.

Under the proposed rules, an applicant will be able to submit a single, internationally acceptable, sequence listing in a language-neutral format using specified identifiers. If adopted, the proposed rules would apply to international applications filed under the Patent Cooperation Treaty and in national and regional applications filed in Intellectual Property Offices of World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) member states, for filing dates on or after January 1, 2022. In addition to simplifying the process for applicants filing in multiple countries, a requirement to submit a single sequence listing in eXtensible Mark-up Language (XML) format will result in better preservation, accessibility, and sorting of the submitted sequence data for the public.

The full text of the notice is available at the Federal Register, and can also be found on the Patent Related Notices webpage. Comments on the NPRM must be submitted by September, 7, 2021, through the Federal eRulemaking Portal at www.regulations.gov to ensure consideration.