Patents and the Public Interest – As regular readers of this column may recall, our patent system was founded to serve both the interests of the inventor and the general public.1 A […]
Non-Patentable Subject Matter – Obnoxiousness Not a Bar
Do You Really Need a Patent?
Yes, If You Can Make a Business Case For One. Misfit Toys and Misfit Patents In this column, our third in a series of business related patent topics, we address the question, […]
Basic Maintenance – Keeping Patents in Force After Issue
Three Fees, Please – When a United States patent issues, the financial investment needed to obtain the patent is complete. However, further payments are required in order to maintain the patent in […]
“Under the Knife” – Patenting Surgical Procedures
Patentable Subject Matter – Federal Statute 35 U.S.C. §101 establishes the patentability of inventions, stating that, “Whoever invents or discovers any new and useful process, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter, or […]
Secrecy Orders- Protecting National Security
Patent Publication: Usually in the Public Interest… In the United States, issued patents and pending patent applications are published(1) so that all may understand the inventions that they teach. This provision in […]
Don’t Cut Corners… Consider Assigning That Provisional Patent Application
An assignment transfers ownership from one party to another. In the United States, ownership of a patent or a patent application remains with the inventor(s) until such time as an assignment is […]
Patent Drawings – Knowing the Standards
The Requirements – United States patent law1 states that “the applicant shall furnish a drawing where necessary for the understanding of the subject matter to be patented.” This does not say that […]
It’s a Numbers Game – How They Are Used in Our Patent System
Encountering Numbers on Patents and Published Applications – As engineers and scientists, we often find ourselves conducting technical research for a variety of reasons, such as to learn about a subject that […]
PATENT- A Word That Rings Clearly
A brief history of the word and the property right… The Business of Words Patent law is truly a business of words. A patent application is prepared using words and (usually) drawings […]
