A New Look for MVS

By Richard Marsolais

McKee, Voorhees & Sease, PLC is excited to introduce a fresh new look for our firm that highlights a new logo, the use of a modern and vibrant color scheme, updated firm materials and a new website. “The new branding reflects the unparalleled intellectual property expertise, professionalism, and exceptional client service that has been the […]

MVS Announces the Retirement of Patricia A. Sweeney

By Blog Staff

Heidi S. Nebel, Managing Member of McKee, Voorhees & Sease, PLC announced that long-time attorney, Patricia A. Sweeney, will be retiring from the firm effective December 31, 2020. Pat has the distinction of being the first female patent attorney in Iowa, beginning her practice at MVS in 1985. She then joined Pioneer Hi-Bred International as […]

Patent Analytics Provider Tracks “Examiners Who Procrastinate”

By Gregory Lars Gunnerson

Patent Analytics Provider Juristat blogged on May 28, 2020 that Juristat is capable of tracking procrastination habits of examiners at the USPTO. To better understand how examiners procrastinate and why some would choose to or choose to avoid doing so requires some background knowledge of how examiners are internally evaluated by the USPTO. Examiner performance is evaluated […]

USPTO Publishes Revised Ninth Edition of the MPEP

In June, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) published the newest revisions to the Ninth Edition of the Manuel of Patent Examination Procedure (MPEP). The revisions update the MPEP to include all the changes that became effective as of October 2019. This revision updates every section of the MPEP, except for Chapters 1100 […]

Generic.com: SCOTUS Rules that Addition of Top-Level Domain to Generic Term Can Create Protectable Trademark

By Nicholas J. Krob

When the United States Supreme Court granted certiorari in U.S. Patent and Trademark Office v. Booking.com back in November, the question was whether a generic term such as “booking” could constitute a protectable trademark when accompanied by “.com.” In an 8-1 decision issued last week, the Court has answered this question with a resounding “yes.” The case before the Court […]

USPTO Introduces Fast-Track Appeals Pilot Program

On Thursday, July 2, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) will begin to accept petitions for expedited resolution of ex parte appeals at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB). The petitions will cost $400 and will be made possible under a program known as the “Fast-Track Appeals Pilot Program”. Petition grants for […]

Dropbox’s Patents Invalidated for Patent-Ineligible Subject Matter

By Julie L. Spieker

On June 19, 2020 The United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (hereinafter the “Federal Circuit”) affirmed a district court’s ruling that Dropbox’s three patents claim abstract ideas and further provide no inventive concept transforming the abstract idea into patentable subject matter. Dropbox and their wholly owned subsidiary, Orcinus Holdings, (hereinafter referred to […]

Expedited Examination for Certain COVID-19 Related Trademarks

By Christine Lebron-Dykeman

As a part of the USPTO’s ongoing effort to support innovation of life-saving treatments during the COVID-19 pandemic, the USPTO recently announced a new prioritized trademark examination program for trademark applications covering certain COVID-19 related products and services. The new process will fast track these trademark applications and save two plus months of the standard […]

Political Campaigns and Unauthorized Music

By Brandon W. Clark

As the 2020 presidential election approaches so does the opportunity for political candidates to end up in the headlines for using unauthorized music in their campaigns. In nearly every campaign cycle you hear about a recording artist or songwriter upset that a politician or campaign used the artist’s music without authorization. In fact, Tom Petty’s […]

Technology Week in Iowa 2020

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed a proclamation designating the third week in June as Technology Week in Iowa with the first one taking place the week of June 22 – 26, 2020. In her proclamation Governor Reynolds stated: Iowa has excelled in the advancement of technology from our countless startups to tech giants like Google, […]