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USPTO moves to strike former USPTO director’s declaration supporting Glaxo’s PI motion

On Friday, the USPTO filed a motion to strike the declaration of Harry F. Manbeck, Jr. in support of Glaxo's motion for a preliminary injunction barring implementation of the USPTO's new claim and continuation limit rules, claiming it constitutes improper expert testimony and impermissibly augments the administrative record in the case. Why is this interesting? […]

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Glaxo’s preliminary injunction motion to be heard October 31, consolidated with earlier challenge

In orders yesterday in GlaxoSmithKline's effort to stop implementation of the new continuation and claim limit rules, the USPTO's request to continue the preliminary injunction hearing until October 31 was granted in order to give the Office more time to respond to the motion. Also, Glaxo's case was consolidated with an earlier case filed challenging […]

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No more first office actions for applications with 25+ claims? (updated 10/19)

As noted on Patently-O, it appears the USPTO has stopped issuing first office actions on the merits in applications that exceed the 5/25 claim limitations. An example: This news, combined with the fact that the new rules may be considered by USPTO management as their fix for the Office's examination woes, expect the Office to […]

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Proposed IDS rules challenged before Office of Management and Budget

Apparently the USPTO's recent forays into rulemaking are not winning friends and influencing people. The rules limiting claims and continuation applications are currently being challenged in court, and now a group of companies is challenging the proposed IDS rules before the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The rules were submitted to the OMB back […]

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Glaxo files motion for preliminary injunction and TRO to stop new rules, hearing on October 26?

On Monday, Glaxo filed a motion for preliminary injunction and temporary restraining order in its lawsuit seeking to prevent implementation of the new USPTO rules regarding claim and continuation limits. The court has set a hearing for October 26, which the USPTO has requested by extended to October 31 in order to give it the […]

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No more first office actions for applications with 25+ claims?

As noted on Patently-O, it appears the USPTO has stopped issuing first office actions on the merits in applications that exceed the 5/25 claim limitations. An example: This news, combined with the fact that the new rules may be considered by USPTO management as their fix for the Office's examination woes, expect the Office to […]

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Another lawsuit filed to stop implementation of new USPTO rules, this time by a heavy hitter

Pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline filed a lawsuit in the Eastern District of Virginia seeking to stop implementation of the new continuation and claim limit rules. The lawsuit, filed Tuesday, seeks a preliminary and permanent injunction against the rules' implementation. The complaint has eight counts: The Rules are ultra vires because the USPTO does not have the […]

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USPTO gives applicants a bit of a break during transition to new continuation and claim limit rules

In an announcement yesterday, the USPTO clarified some aspects of the new continuation and claim limit rules. Of particular note are the following: For applications filed before November 1, 2007, applicants need not identify all applications and patents having a common inventor, common assignee, and a priority date within two months. Applicants will still have […]

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Are the new continuation and claim limit rules the “cure all” for the USPTO?

It looks like the USPTO is hoping that the new rules limiting the number of claims and continuation applications will solve its problems in other areas, particularly examiner retention. Last week, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a report entitled "U.S. Patent and Trademark Office: Hiring Efforts Are Not Sufficient to Reduce the Patent Application […]

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More examination outsourcing by the USPTO?

According to a news release published today, the USPTO is exploring the feasability of having the Swedish Patent and Registration Office (PRV) perform the search and examination of international applications filed under the PCT in the U.S. receiving office. In the release, the USPTO notes that it receives about 50,000 international applications and about 400,000 […]

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