AFCP Pending Appeal
We recently saw a practitioner request feedback regarding a potential strategy under the After Final Consideration Pilot (AFCP) 2.0 Program. The practitioner noticed that an… Read More »AFCP Pending Appeal
Dependent Claim Drafting Strategy
In view of our continued emphasis on the importance of dependent claims during US patent prosecution, we often receive questions regarding what sort of features… Read More »Dependent Claim Drafting Strategy
New 101 Video on YouTube
We posted our February 2023 seminar entitled, “101 for Practitioners,” on our YouTube channel.
Broadly Interpreting References
We received a question about an Examiner broadly interpreting the prior art by generalizing its teachings and then applying a species within the generalized teachings… Read More »Broadly Interpreting References
The Onion Papers, Session C
Session C of The Onion Papers recently was posted to YouTube. This session considered non-statutory double patenting rejections, Terminal Disclaimers, and best practices for 2023.
JPO/USPTO Software-Related Inventions
At the outset, let’s make clear this blog post will be more academic than practical. Still, the explanation might (i) help practitioners understand reasons behind… Read More »JPO/USPTO Software-Related Inventions
USPTO（米国特許商標庁）への日本式反論
自明性の拒絶に対して日本式の反論を行っても、USPTO（米国特許商標庁）では多くの場合上手くいきません。理由を説明します。
まず、米国の特許審査には次の手順があります。「当該クレームが先行技術に照らして自明である理由を示す一応の証拠を特許審査官がはじめに示す。［そこで］立証責任が［出願人に］移り、出願人が証拠を提出するかまたは反論する。」MPEP 2142（ACCO Brands Corp. v. Fellowes, Inc., 813 F.3d 1361, 1365–66, 117 USPQ2d 1951, 1553-54 (Fed. Cir. 2016)引用）。
Read More »USPTO（米国特許商標庁）への日本式反論Japanese-Style Arguments at the USPTO
Japanese-style obviousness arguments typically are ineffective at the USPTO. Why? Initially, during prosecution, “the patent examiner must first set forth a prima facie case .… Read More »Japanese-Style Arguments at the USPTO
Obviousness Rejections with Several References
We received a question about responding to obviousness rejections with several (e.g., 3 or more) references. Such a rejection complicates drafting a response. The natural… Read More »Obviousness Rejections with Several References
The Name Game
We received a request to discuss the titles and names used by Examiners, attorneys, and guests during interviews at the USPTO. It’s an area in… Read More »The Name Game