Category Archives: USPTO

USPTO satellite offices; European patent moves forward

Posted on July 4, 2012 by mjwhitekingston

Big patent news from Europe and the US: The USPTO is planning to open three new satellite offices in Dallas, Denver and Silicon Valley, bringing the total number of regional offices to four. The first USPTO satellite office will open … Continue reading →

Posted in EPO, European Patent, European patent court, USPTO, USPTO satellite offices | Leave a comment

Changes to US Patent Law – New Rules for Prior Art

Posted on January 17, 2012 by mjwhitekingston

There’s a nice summary of the recent changes in U.S. patent law in the Jan. issue of Physics Today, and their relevance to academic scientists and engineers. The American Invents Act moves the U.S. from a first-to-invent system to a … Continue reading →

Posted in America Invents Act, first-to-file system, Prior art, publications, USPTO | Leave a comment

USPTO Series Code 13

Posted on December 29, 2011 by mjwhitekingston

The USPTO is now using series code 13 for patent application serial numbers assigned from the end of 2010 forward. The first application in the series, 13/000,001, was published on May 26, 2011 (2011/0121738A1). Series code 12 was in use … Continue reading →

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2011 U.S. Patent Statistics

Posted on December 29, 2011 by mjwhitekingston

In 2011 the USPTO issued 225,777 patents and published 321,181 applications for a total of 568,577 patent documents, a 1.5 percent decrease from 2010. The USPTO has published approximately 2.9 million utility and plant patent applications since March 15, 2001. … Continue reading →

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USPTO Resdesigns Website

Posted on December 23, 2011 by mjwhitekingston

The USPTO has updated its homepage, the first major redesign in more than five years. The new design is modern and eye-catching. Unfortunately, the search interface of the USPTO patent database looks like it did in 1999. 

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Cooperative Patent Classification Project

Posted on November 27, 2011 by mjwhitekingston

The USPTO and EPO have launched a website for information about the Cooperative Patent Classification Project, which aims to create a shared patent classification system based on ECLA.

Posted in ECLA, EPO, USPC, USPTO | Leave a comment

New Patent Library in Iowa

Posted on August 31, 2011 by mjwhitekingston

The Davenport Public Library is the newest member of the USPTO’s library network and the first new site to be designated a Patent and Trademark Resource Center (PTRC). There are now 81 libraries in the network, which was formerly known … Continue reading →

Posted in libraries, PTDL, PTRC, USPTO | Leave a comment

US Patent 8,000,000

Posted on August 17, 2011 by mjwhitekingston

On Tuesday, August 16, the USPTO issued patent no. 8,000,000 to Second Sight Medical Products for a visual prosthesis apparatus. The provisional application was filed on Oct. 19, 2006. Second Sight’s patent portfolio consists of about 90 U.S. patents and … Continue reading →

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US Patent Counts, Q2 2011

Posted on August 11, 2011 by mjwhitekingston

The USPTO issued fewer patents but published more applications in the second quarter of 2011. The number of patents declined by 5.1 percent to 58,920. The number of published applications increased by 6.1 percent to 83,279. The USPTO has issued … Continue reading →

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Happy 175th, U.S. Patent No. 1

Posted on July 20, 2011 by mjwhitekingston

July 13, 2011 was the 175th anniversary of the granting of U.S. patent no. 1, issued to Senator John Ruggles of Thomaston, Maine. Senator Ruggles was chair of the Committee on Patents and the Patent Office and the chief framer … Continue reading →

Posted in 19th century patents, Patent Act of 1836, Ruggles, USPTO | Leave a comment