Small Business IP Protection and Management

China Patent Rights

2008-07-03T07:56:28-04:00

Patent filings in China continue to rise, as reported in a recent article in the Financial Times (7/3, Waldmeir). Enforcement of patent rights still remains an issue. However, with the rise in filings, coupled with a few pending court cases, momentum may be beginning to swing in the direction of the patentee. It appears the next few years will be critical in the evolution of IP in China.

Independent Inventor Conference

2008-06-27T11:09:17-04:00

Registration is now open for the 13th annual Independent Inventors Conference. The conference will be held at the USPTO in Alexandria, Virginia August 8-9.

Additionally, a pre-conference workshop will be offered the evening of August 7 for anyone interested in learning about the basics of patents and the importance of intellectual property protection.

For additional information, click here.

To register, click here.

China Intellectual Property Infringement

2008-04-16T10:36:40-04:00

China is boasting a 23% increase in convictions for intellectual property infringement. Industry Week reports that 4,322 people were fined or sentenced to jail last year.

March Madness Trademark

2008-02-29T10:55:12-05:00

It is that time of year again. The time when the number of hits to this blawg increases for people trying to find out if "March Madness" is a registered trademark. Click here to find the answer.

Harold McMaster Inducted into National Inventors Hall of Fame

2008-02-19T10:22:32-05:00

Link

Decrease in Patents Issued

2008-01-03T11:00:32-05:00

The number of patents issued in the U.S. in 2007 dropped from the previous year according to a recent article in the Chicago Tribune. There has been a downward trend in recent years. According to the article, only 51 percent of applications were allowed in 2007, which is down from 72 percent in 2000.

Patent Applications Filed

Patent Applications Pending Prior to Allowance

Summary of Pending Patent Applications

Patents Issued

Independent Inventors - On-line Chat

2007-12-09T11:13:47-05:00

An on-line chat for independent inventors will be held on Tuesday, December 11, 2007 from 2:00 to 3:00 PM by the USPTO. To enter the chat, inventors can click here. The purpose of the chat is to answer questions individual inventors have regarding patents. To view transcripts of prior chats, click here. For a list of FAQ's, click here.

Impact of KSR v. Teleflex

2007-07-24T10:08:58-04:00

There has been a substantial amount of commentary on the KSR v. Teleflex decision. The impact of the decision was expected to be far reaching. Currently, the USPTO is in the process of training Examiners for examining cases in view of the KSR decision, which means we should know soon what the actual impact will be. However, based upon recent office actions received, and conversations with Examiners, the impact is not expected to be a big as what was expected. But we should have the answer soon enough.

First Patent Issued in Toledo

2007-07-01T12:20:51-04:00

What is the first patent to issue to a Toledo inventor? A preliminary search shows U.S. Pat. No. 10,606 issued March 7, 1854 to Chauncey D. Woodruff for an Improved Mode of Suspending Eaves-Troughs. Is it possible that it took 20 years for a patent to issue to a Toledo inventor after Toledo was founded in 1833? Was there an earlier one? What is the most famous patent to issue to a Toledo inventor? Who is Toledo's most famous inventor?

Funding a New Business

2007-06-15T10:11:21-04:00

For entrepreneurs struggling to fund a new business, there are some alternatives. Top 25 Alternatives to Venture Capital provides a list of funding alternatives that can be explored.