Pura Vida for the European Patent Office By Gregory Lars Gunnerson On December 13, 2024, the European Patent Office President António Campinos welcomed a delegation from Costa Rica, led by the Minister of Justice and Peace Gerald Campos Valverde, for the signing of a landmark validation agreement. Costa Rica is the seventh country to sign a validation agreement with the EPO, following Morocco, Moldova, Tunisia, Cambodia, […] Continue Reading →
As We Begin Our 101st Year of Service By Cassie J. Edgar As we step into our 101st year of serving innovators, entrepreneurs, and visionaries at the intersection of technology and law, I find myself reflecting on what makes this milestone so meaningful. Throughout those hundred years, McKee, Voorhees & Sease (MVS), has continually evolved to meet new challenges, build lasting client relationships, and navigate the ever-shifting […] Continue Reading →
5 Million PCT Publications – 47 Years In the Making By Jill N. Link, Pharm.D. Samsung Electronics of the Republic of Korea received the honor of being the five millionth published PCT on November 29, 2024. This milestone for the Patent Cooperation Treaty – generally referred to as PCT – was 47 years in the making. It was also fitting that one of the largest patent filers receives notoriety and […] Continue Reading →
FDA Issues Order Noting Resolution of Tirzepatide Shortage: Update for Compounding Pharmacies By Cassie J. Edgar On December 19th, the FDA issued a FDA declaratory order noting the resolution of the shortage for tirzepatide injection products, including Mounjaro and Zepbound. The tirzepatide shortage, which began in December 2022, was driven by overwhelming demand for these breakthrough medications used in managing type 2 diabetes and obesity. The FDA’s most recent decision, effective […] Continue Reading →
A Letter Commemorating MVS’s 100th Anniversary End of Year By Luke T. Mohrhauser As we approach the end of 2024, we hope you have had a successful and fulfilling year. I cannot help but think of what a milestone McKee, Voorhees & Sease had this year making it to our 100th anniversary, an achievement less than 1% of all law firms accomplish. We have exhibited snapshots of our […] Continue Reading →
USPTO Issues Patent Fee Changes for 2025 By Andrew J. Morgan In its final rule issued on November 20, 2024, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) issued changes to set or increase certain patent fees. The revised fees will take effect on January 19, 2025. There will not be a new fee for After Final Consideration Pilot 2.0 requests as was proposed, nor will […] Continue Reading →
Increased Fees and Other Changes in USPTO Trademark Filings By Christine Lebron-Dykeman On November 18, 2024, the USPTO issued a final rule to increase certain trademark filing fees. The fees will take effect January 18, 2025. While the per Class fee for filing a standard electronic trademark application has not changed and is still $350 per Class, the USPTO has eliminated the distinction between TEAS Standard and […] Continue Reading →
The Onion Buys Alex Jones’ Infowars in Bankruptcy Auction By Julie L. Spieker Yesterday, Global Tetrahedron, the corporation that owns the satirical news website The Onion, was the winning bidder for Alex Jones’ Infowars at a Chapter 7 bankruptcy auction. Jones and Infowars owner Free Speech Systems both filed for bankruptcy in 2022 after eight families impacted by the Sandy Hook shooting won a $1.4 billion defamation award […] Continue Reading →
McKee Voorhees & Sease and the World Food Prize: A Legacy of Protecting the IP behind Agriculture and Nutritional Security By Shireen K. Bhatia In the midst of McKee Voorhees and Sease’s 100th year anniversary and the celebration of its legacy to the Des Moines, Iowa, community, it feels fitting to celebrate the firm’s history with another ever-present Iowa organization: The World Food Prize. The World Food Prize Foundation was sponsored and formed by businessman and philanthropist John Ruan, […] Continue Reading →
Leveraging Free Online Tools for DIY Patent Searches: A Guide for Garage Inventors By Connor S. Williams You’ve got an invention—now what? Protecting your work may be the next step, but perhaps you’re unfamiliar with the patent system, don’t know any patent attorneys, or don’t really want to reach out for fear of incurring attorney’s fees. Below I provide two free resources for checking to see if it is worth your time […] Continue Reading →