Patent applicants facing a Section 101 rejection often struggle to demonstrate that an invention represents a technological improvement rather than an abstract idea. The United States Patent and Trademark Office’s recent guidance on Subject Matter Eligibility Declarations (SMEDs) may provide applicants with an additional evidentiary tool. By using a Rule 132 declaration to explain how […]
Florida’s innovation ecosystem received significant news this week when the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) announced that the University of South Florida (USF) has been selected as the site of the agency’s newest Community Engagement Office (CEO) in the Southeast Region. The new office will be located at USF’s Research Park in Tampa and […]
In a recent press release, the USPTO announced some big news – groundbreaking, if you will! It’s official. The USPTO will no longer accept faxed documents effective July 1. That’s right, the government agency that is the forefront of technology in the United States has been accepting faxed documents. In all truth, I did not […]
Daniel Pierron, Registered Patent Attorney, Widerman Malek, PL | Published March 19, 2026 | Last Reviewed: March 19, 2026 If your patent application includes even one foreign-domiciled inventor, a new USPTO rule taking effect in mid-July 2026 requires you to have a registered U.S. patent practitioner – starting now. A significant change is coming to U.S. […]
As you build your business, your brand name, logo, and identity are some of your most valuable assets. Many business owners don’t realize that you can get trademark rights just by using your brand, even if you haven’t registered it. These are called common law trademark rights. While they offer some protection, they are much […]
You’ve invested your time, money, and creativity into building your brand. But have you truly protected it? Just as you would not skip homeowners’ insurance, especially in coastal Florida, where hurricanes are common, your business name should be protected from potential storms like copycats, competitors, and brand confusion. Why Registering a Federal Trademark with the […]
For many U.S. innovators, Europe is a priority market for commercialization and for preventing competitor encroachment. Historically, securing protection across multiple European countries required filing a European Patent Office (EPO) application, prosecuting the application until receiving a grant, and then validating the granted application in each country where protection was needed. This system works, but […]
When the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) announced its new Streamlined Claim Set Pilot Program, Widerman Malek partner and patent attorney Dan Pierron quickly shared his analysis with the IP community. His LinkedIn article outlining the program’s details and implications sparked attention across the industry. It even caught the eye of MLex, who later […]
As of midnight on October 1, 2025, the United States government has shut down as Congress has been unable to reach a deal on a funding bill for the 2026 fiscal year. How does this affect the United States Patent and Trademark Office? At the time of writing this post, the USPTO remains open for […]
