Generally speaking, the various Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) programs in which the United States has participated since 2006 have all allowed patent applicants to use successful examination of a patent application in one jurisdiction to expedite examination of a related application in another jurisdiction. However, despite improvements in usability after years of pilots, the rules […]
Widerman Malek Law Blog
First-To-File … So What?
March 16, 2013 has come and gone, and United States patent law has shifted from a first-to-invent system to a first-to-file system. So what does that mean to you as an inventor? First, you need to understand what may qualify as prior art that can render your invention unpatentable.
Provisional Patent Applications
I have an idea that needs some sort of protection, should I get a provisional patent? The term provisional patent is actually a misnomer as the United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) does not issue provisional patents. However, you may submit your application to the USPTO as a provisional patent application. Design inventions may […]
