Patent Concerns

Dissatisfaction with the current U.S. patent system is being expressed by various groups. Several patent lawyers and inventors from California have filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia contending that Margaret J.A. Peterlin, the recently appointed Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Deputy Director of the USPTO, does not have the qualifications to move the USPTO forward.

Congress is also concerned about patent issues. On Feb. 15, 2007 the Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet and Intellectual Property held an oversight hearing entitled American Innovation at Risk: The Case for Patent Reform. Suzanne Michel, Chief Intellectual Property Counsel and the Deputy Assistant Director for Policy Coordination, FTC testified as did public witnesses from Brandeis University, the National Academy of Sciences, and the Public Patent Foundation. Additionally, Congressman Howard L. Berman sponsored The Patent Reform Act of 2007 with thanks to Senator Leahy, Congressman Rick Boucher, and Congressman Lamar Smith. The act expresses concern about a "decrease in patent quality and an increase in litigation abuses."

On July 9 Business Week published "Look Who's Fighting Patent Reform" which reveals that universities, venture capitalists, and trade groups are concerned that "Big Tech" firms ( America's largest software and computer companies) are trying to rewrite patent law to lessen litigation from smaller entities.

One Million for Wearable Power Supply

The Department of Defense is offering a $1,000,000 prize to the inventor(s) (individual or teams) of a wearable power supply for soldiers that will provide 96 hours of equipment operation and weigh 4kg or less.The contest includes a $500,000 2nd place prize and a $250,000 3rd place prize. Rules of the contest are available at http://www.dod.mil/ddre/prize/rules_doc.html. Registration for the contest ends Nov. 30, 2007..

Be a Community Patent Reviewer!

The Peer to Patent Project, a community patent review pilot project, went live on Friday, June 15. This pilot project depends on community reviewers (yes, you can be one too!) to review patent applications in the area of computer architecture, software and information security. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office published guidelines for the project and the New York Law School created the website for the project. Participants hope to show whether the collaborative submission and review of prior art documents will contribute to better patent examination results. The project is schedule to run for a year or until 250 applications have been selected and reviewed. Community reviewers will be asked to review and discuss submitted patent applications; locate and share prior art; comment on each other's prior art submissions; and help create up to 10 prior art references to be forwarded to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office with the patent application.

Patent Reexamination Certificates Available

The Reexamination Certificates File (zipped file) is now available on the USPTO website. The certificates reveal claims that have been cancelled, confirmed, or newly incorporated for normal or reissue patents.

Patent Application Survey Comments

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is soliciting comments on or before August 3, 2007 on its proposed Patent Application Survey as discussed in the Federal Register. Two different versions of the survey will be disseminated, one for large domestic corporations and small and medium-size businesses, and another for universities, non-profit research organizations, and independent inventors. Although the survey is primarily a mail survey, participants will have the option to complete it electronically or by phone.


According to the USPTO, comments are invited about:

• a) Whether the proposed collection of
  information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of
  the agency, including whether the information shall have practical
  utility;


• (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden
  (including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information;


• (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the
  information to be collected; and


• (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of
  information on respondents, including through the use of automated
  collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

Comments may be sent the following ways:

• E-mail: Susan.Fawcett@uspto.gov. Include ``0651-0052 comment'' in
  the subject line of the message.


• Fax: 571-273-0112, marked to the attention of Susan Fawcett.


• Mail: Susan K. Fawcett, Records Officer, Office of the Chief
  Information Officer, Customer Information Services Group, Public
  Information Services Division, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, P.O.
  Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313-1450.