Prior Art/International Search Via Google

Google has introduced a prior art search tool to search journal articles, books, and trade publications in addition to patents. Once you've done a search and opened a result page, look for the blue "Find prior art" box at the top.
Google is also now searching patents from the European Patent Office. For more information about the international patent search and the prior art search tool, see the Google blog entry, Improving Google Patents with European Patent Office patents and the Prior Art Finder.
For a more definitive classification search of international patents, Fondren Library is now offering a one-hour introductory class about how to search for international patents online using the European Patent Office Espacenet interface directly. For class times call 713-348-5483 or access the patent searching class schedule.
A tutorial for using PubWest to search for both U.S. and international patents is also loaded on a library computer used for accessing PubWest.

Intellectual Property Webinar Series

NIST MEP (National Institute of Standards and Technology Manufacturing Extension Partnership) began a patent webinar series on June 13, 2012 that continues every 2nd Wednesday of the month until January 29, 2013 from noon-1:30 pm (1:00-2:30 pm ET). The webinars seek to "bridge the knowledge gap on Intellectual Property Law Issues between the US Government and various stakeholders." One registration provides access to all webinars including archives for those already presented. Archives are also available on the webinar information and sign-up page. Upcoming topics include:

• September 12 – Researcher’s Life After Invention Disclosure Topics: Working with university TTOs, agreements, within the context of AIA
• October 10 – Working with a Patent Attorney/Agent and USPTO Topics: Working with the right TT Officer and law firm, addressing the documents needed for a proper application submission, drafting proper specification/drawings/claims, effective use of interview, understanding a final and non-final rejection
• November 14 - Patent Trial and Appeal Board Topics: Post-final rejection, post-grant review, appeal process, inter partes re-exam
• December 12 – Protecting IP in Global Markets: Understanding a PCT, international issues on IP procurement, markets and competitors
• January 9, 2013 - Picking the Right Global Markets Topics: To where and how do I export? What programs are out there to help?

Past topics included:

• June 13 - Patents 101 Topics: Overview of the patent process with examination of each of the statutory requirements for patentability: useful, novel, non-obvious, enabling, and acceptable patentable subject matter
• August 8 – Intellectual Property, non-patented Topics: Trade secrets, trademarks, copyrights

Revision of Patent Term Adjustment Provisions Relating to Appellate Review

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (Office) is revising the patent term adjustment provisions of the rules of practice in patent cases to better reflect the period of appellate review. The patent term adjustment provisions of the American Inventors Protection Act of 1999 (AIPA) provide for patent term adjustment if, inter alia, the issuance of the patent was delayed due to appellate review by the Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences (Board) or by a Federal court, and the patent was issued under a decision in the review reversing an adverse determination of patentability. The Office is specifically revising the rules of practice to indicate that the period of appellate review under the patent term adjustment provisions of the AIPA begins when jurisdiction over the application passes to the Board rather than the date on which a notice of appeal to the Board is filed.

For more information see the August 16, 2012 Federal Register Final Rule.

Amend First Filing Deadline for Trademark Use Affidavits

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (``USPTO'') is seeking public comment on a potential legislative change to amend the first filing deadline for Affidavits or Declarations of Use or Excusable Nonuse under Sections 8 and 71 of the Trademark Act from between the fifth and sixth years after the registration date, or the six-month grace period that follows, to between the third and fourth years after the registration date, or the six-month grace period that follows. The change would require Congress to amend the Trademark Act, and the USPTO is interested in receiving public input on whether and why such an amendment is or is not favored.

For more information see the August 16, 2012 Federal Register Comment Request.

American Invents Act (AIA) Roundtable

As a part of the implementation of the AIA, the USPTO is conducting a roundtable at the USPTO to obtain public input from organizations and  individuals on issues relating to the USPTO's implementation of the first-inventor-to-file provisions of the AIA. The USPTO plans to invite participants from patent user groups, practitioners, industry, independent inventor organizations, academia, and government to provide input. The roundtable likewise is open to any member of the public to provide input. The USPTO will provide an agenda prior to the roundtable in order to focus the discussion and enhance the efficiency of the proceedings. The agenda will be posted on the USPTO's Internet Web site at www.uspto.gov/AmericaInventsAct. The USPTO plans to make the roundtable available via Web cast. Web cast information will be available before the roundtable on the USPTO's Internet Web site at www.uspto.gov/AmericaInventsAct.

For more information, see the August 16 Federal Register notice.