Category Archives: Uncategorized

2006 was a record-breaking year for patents and pre-grant publications. In the final quarter of 2006 the USPTO published 76,032 applications, an increase of 1.49 percent over the previous quarter and a new record high. The total for the calendar … Continue reading →

The WIPO has released two new reference works for PCT users: The PCT Glossary contains definitions for dozens of terms commonly used in PCT rules and documentation. Terms are linked to appropriate PCT articles, rules, administrative instructions and forms. The … Continue reading →

Here are some interesting facts from the FY 2006 USPTO annual report: # of new applications: 443,652 (up from 409,532 in FY05)# of pending applications: 1,077,042 (up from 885,002 in FY05)# of provisional applications: 121,307 (up from 111,753 in FY05)# … Continue reading →

The October 2006 issue of Patent Information News is now available. This issue contains articles on: Worldwide database moves to XML EPO patent information conference, Nov. 6-8 esp@cenet user statistics Open Patent Services: new features Legal status from New Zealand … Continue reading →

The educational workbook Inventions and Patents is now available in English, Spanish and French. The workbook is geared toward students 8-13 years old. The workbook is the first in the WIPO student learning series, Learn from the Past, Create the … Continue reading →

The World Intellectual Property Organisation has published its annual report on Statistics of Worldwide Patent Activity. (Data current to 2004.) According to the report, the number of patent applications file in 2004 rose to 1,559,000. More than 600,000 patents were … Continue reading →

Independent inventors often underestimate the hurdles they must overcome in order to get their invention to market. Most don’t even consider the government regulations and industry standards that could derail their attempts. Take the case of Stephen Gass reported in … Continue reading →

The USPTO issued a record-breaking 54,749 patents from April-June and an impressive 50,253 patents in the Q3 from July-September, the first and second highest totals since early 2002. The increase is surprising given the sharp drop in patents in late … Continue reading →

Earlier this year the USPTO requested comments from the public on the proposed elimination of the Document Disclosure Program (DDP). The USPTO established the DDP in 1969 as a simple, low-cost way for inventors to document the date of conception … Continue reading →

OCLC Canada has a new media campaign that links economic growth to libraries. The campaign features testimonials from individuals who have been helped by a librarian. One patent-related story comes from Sam Holman, owner of the Ottawa-based Original Maple Bat … Continue reading →