Category Archives: Uncategorized

In the first three weeks of 2006 the USPTO published 15,973 applications and issued 7,315 patents. This is a drop of about 2,000 patents from the same period a year ago. The number of published applications in the first three … Continue reading →

According to a recent article in the London Times, the Vatican has implemented a new, strict copyright policy on the writings of Pope Benedict XVI and his predecessors going back fifty years. This includes the writings of John Paul II, … Continue reading →

According to an article in the Washington Times on Jan. 20, the USPTO is warning inventors not to put sensitive information such as Social Security and bank account numbers on patent applications and related documents, lest it be used to … Continue reading →

The USPTO has released Classification Order 1853, covering classification changes to design classes: D9 – Packages and containers for goodsD23 – Environmental heating and cooling; fluid handling and sanitary equipmentD32 – Washing, clearning, or drying machine The classification order includes … Continue reading →

The EPO has announced a new ECLA section, Y01N, for nanotechnology-related patents. The new section has not yet been added to the esp@cenet classification search, but the schedule is available on the espacenet online forum and Y01N codes are searchable … Continue reading →

Presentations and other materials from the EPO’s 2005 Far East Meets West: Patent Information from Japan and the Far East conference is now available on the EPO’s web site. Topics include searching Japanese, Chinese and Korean patent documents, implementation of … Continue reading →

The EPO has published new guideliness for searching IPC codes under IPC8, which went into force on Jan. 1. IPC8 is divided into “Core” and “Advanced” levels. The Core level will be updated every three years; the Advanced level is … Continue reading →

If you’re a patent news hound like me, you`re probably in the habit of visiting 3-6 patent office web sites a week looking for the latest official press releases, notices and announcements. Of course, all of that clicking and typing … Continue reading →

The USPTO issued 2,512 patents and published 5,059 applications the week of December 18 and issued 3,049 patents and published 5,796 applications the week of December 25, the final week of 2005.* The sharp drop in the number of issued … Continue reading →

Stephen Barr’s recent column in the Washington Post (Dec. 21) noted the retirement of Ronald J. Stern, president of the Patent Office Professional Association (POPA), the union representing patent examiners and other USPTO professional staff, including librarians. Stern worked as … Continue reading →