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 […]
The US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) announced that it will reduce the time between receiving an Issue Notification for a United States Patent Application and the actual Issue Date. Currently, a patent Applicant can budget between three and four weeks from the date they receive an Issue Notification to the actual Issue Date. What […]
In the world of intellectual property, inventorship is a critical and often misunderstood concept. Determining who qualifies as an inventor on a patent is not just a matter of recognition—it carries significant legal and ownership implications. Getting it wrong can lead to costly disputes, loss of patent rights, or even invalidation of the patent itself. […]
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) recently announced an upcoming fee increase slated to take effect on January 19, 2025, impacting trademark applicants, owners, and practitioners. This adjustment, which follows the USPTO’s periodic reviews of operational costs, aims to ensure the agency maintains its ability to deliver quality services and uphold the intellectual […]
