Author Archives: mjwhitekingston

EPO and USPTO Agree to Develop New Patent Classification

Posted on October 26, 2010 by mjwhitekingston

Yesterday the EPO and USPTO announced that they have agreed to jointly develop a patent classification system based on ECLA and the IPC. The press releases are here and here. Both offices have yet to work out governance and operational … Continue reading →

Posted in classification, ECLA, IP5, USPC | Leave a comment

Patent # 8,000,000 in 2011?

Posted on October 24, 2010 by mjwhitekingston

The USPTO is fast approaching another milestone… Patent number 8,000,000 might be less than a year away. The highest numbered utility patent (as of Oct. 19, 2010) is 7,818,816. At the current rate of about 60,000 patents per quarter, the … Continue reading →

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How Complete is the USPTO Patent Database?

Posted on October 18, 2010 by mjwhitekingston

There was an interesting discussion last week on the Intellogist blog about the number of allegedly missing patent documents in the USPTO’s PatFT database. Of course, this is an important question for anyone who uses the database, but especially for … Continue reading →

Posted in Patent databases, PatFT, USPTO | Leave a comment

U.S. Patent Counts, Q3

Posted on October 14, 2010 by mjwhitekingston

The USPTO issued 63,859 patents from July 1 through Sept. 30, a fraction less than the previous quarter but a large increase over last year’s Q3 total of 47,042. Published applications set another record with nearly 90,000 released, a 17 … Continue reading →

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New Database of IP Case Studies

Posted on October 13, 2010 by mjwhitekingston

The WIPO has launched a new database that contains profiles of intellectual property case studies from around the world. The collection of 100+ cases cover patents, trade marks and copyright and could be an excellent source of material for presentations … Continue reading →

Posted in Innovation, IP, WIPO | Leave a comment

Changes to Class 386 – Classification Order 1900

Posted on September 21, 2010 by mjwhitekingston

The USPTO has changed the title of Class 386, Television Signal Processing for Dynamic Recording or Reproducing. The new title is Motion Video Signal Processing for Recording or Reproducing. These and other changes are detailed in Classification Order 1900, issued … Continue reading →

Posted in classification orders, USPC | Leave a comment

Happy Birthday, Etch A Sketch!

Posted on July 28, 2010 by mjwhitekingston

Etch A Sketch, the iconic drawing toy of the 1960s and 1970s, is celebrating its 60th birthday this year. It was invented in the mid 1950s by Andre Cassagnes, an electrician in France. Lacking funds to patent his invention, Mr … Continue reading →

Posted in Etch A Sketch, Toys | Leave a comment

Patent Models Index

Posted on July 9, 2010 by mjwhitekingston

The Smithsonian has published new guide and index to patent models owned by the National Museum of American History. The two volume work is available for free online and can also be purchased in hard copy from the Smithsonian Institution … Continue reading →

Posted in 19th century patents, Patent models | Leave a comment

U.S. Patent Counts, Q2 2010

Posted on July 8, 2010 by mjwhitekingston

There was a huge jump in the number of issued U.S. patents in Q2. The USPTO issued 64,037 patents from April through June, 15.4 percent more than in Q1 and 31.7 percent more than the same period in 2009. The … Continue reading →

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What’s Your Poison?

Posted on June 11, 2010 by mjwhitekingston

Actor Dan Ackroyd’s latest venture into the wine/spirits market has run afoul of Ontario bureaucrats. The Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) has refused to sell Ackroyd’s Crystal Head brand vodka at its retail stores because it comes in a … Continue reading →

Posted in design patents | Leave a comment