Thanksgiving is a time for family, gratitude, and—let’s be honest—lots of food. But for vegetarians, it can feel more like a minefield of side dishes. While others enjoy the turkey, vegetarians are often left piecing together a meal that usually consists of mashed potatoes, stuffing, sweet potatoes, mac and cheese, cranberry sauce, and salad. The
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Get Your Wallets Ready – The Price of Patents Are Going Up!
Attention, inventors, in-house counsel, and anyone with a vested interest in the world of intellectual property: the USPTO just issued its final rule for patent fees. This is a follow-up to the 2023 proposal—but with a slightly softer landing.
Starting January 19, 2025, the cost of securing those all-important patent rights is going up…
Gourd-Geous Designs – The Halloween Patent That Makes Carving a Breeze!
Halloween is a time for goblins, ghouls, and—if you’re an inventor—a whole lot of creative thinking! Among the cauldron of Halloween patents, one particularly clever design stands out: a patented method for decorating pumpkins (and, technically, other fruits…but we’re not holding our breath for Halloween coconuts). Meet U.S. Patent 6,855,224, an invention that makes…
USPTO Bids Farewell to AFCP 2.0: Goodbye Old Friend!
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has officially announced that the After Final Consideration Pilot Program 2.0 (AFCP 2.0) will soon be laid to rest. In a notice dated October 1, 2024, the USPTO confirmed that the program will end on December 14, 2024. Despite being extended numerous times since its launch in 2013…
Olympic Thrills to Patent Skills: Understanding Apparatus and Method Claims
This year’s Olympic Games have already been packed with compelling storylines. These storylines include the somewhat controversial opening ceremony to Yusuf “hold my beer” Dikec winning hearts and the silver medal in pistol shooting, and Simone Biles clinching her tenth gold medal (with more possibly on the way). Adding to the Olympic headlines, on August…
At Least One Reason to Look Up: Celebrating 4th of July with Drone Light Shows
This 4th of July, look up and you might notice something spectacularly different lighting up the night sky. The days of stunning displays that relied solely on the crackle and pop of fireworks are numbered. In a remarkable twist of technology, drone light shows are offering a breathtaking alternative.
Imagine a fleet of hundreds, even…
101 Whack-a-Mole – Yet Another Software Patent Falls Victim to Section 101
In 2014, the Supreme Court upended U.S. patent law in the landmark ruling for Alice Corp. v. CLS Bank International. The Alice decision established new standards for determining whether inventions, especially those related to software and business methods, are eligible for patents.
Following the Alice decision, there was a significant increase in 101 rejections…
The Legal Dance Off Over the “MJ” Trademark
Before we start the show, the casts of characters may drive you Off the Wall, so here’s a little primer to help you:
Triumph International, Inc. (“Triumph”) is a merchandise licensing company for the estate of Michael Jackson.
MJJ Productions, Inc. (“MJJ Productions”) is a California-based record label and the custodians of Michael…
Embracing AI in Patent Law: Navigating the USPTO’s Latest Guidance
The USPTO’s recent guidance on AI usage marks a critical moment for legal practitioners. This document emphasizes the necessity for both technical and human oversight in mitigating the risks associated with AI tools. The agency is committed to leveraging AI’s benefits across society while ensuring that these technologies do not compromise the integrity of legal…
Revolutionizing the Patent Landscape: Navigating the USPTO’s Bold Fee Overhaul for 2025
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has proposed significant changes to patent fee structures for the 2025 fiscal year. These proposed changes mark a pivotal shift in the Office’s financial approach toward patent filings.
The proposed fee changes are available here.
These adjustments stand out not just for their size but for…