Summary judgment motions due December 20 in lawsuit challenging new claim and continuation rules It's been awhile since our last update on the lawsuit challenging the USPTO's new claim and continuation limit rules. Here's a brief rundown of what's happened since the court granted Glaxo's motion for preliminary injunction, temporarily preventing implementation of the rules: Tafas noticed the depositions of Jon Dudas (USPTO director), John Doll (commissioner for patents), […] Continue Reading →
USPTO to be closed December 24 In a press release today, the USPTO announced it will be closed on December 24. December 25 is, of course, a federal holiday, meaning the USPTO will be closed for four consecutive days. From the release: Any action or fee due on those days (or the preceding Saturday (December 22, 2007) or Sunday (December 23, […] Continue Reading →
New IDS rules approved by Office of Management and Budget Yesterday the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approved without change the USPTO's new rules regarding information disclosure statements. The rules had been challenged at the OMB in an effort to prevent their implementation, but that challenge was apparently unsuccessful. The text of the final rules is not yet available, but the abstract and previous […] Continue Reading →
Corroboration of reduction to practice must corroborate that invention worked for intended purpose In a decision today, the Federal Circuit affirmed the BPAI's decision in an interference proceeding awarding priority to the senior party. The junior party attempted to show an actual reduction to practice before the senior party's priority date. While the junior party offered evidence of an earlier actual reduction to practice, the corroborating evidence was […] Continue Reading →
USPTO releases 2007 annual report, Patent Reform Act to be considered in January? The USPTO has released its 2007 Performance and Accountability Report. Here are a few highlights: Average time for first office action (patent): 25.3 months Average total application pendency (patent): 31.9 months Percent of patent applications filed electronically: 49.3% Average time for first office action (trademark): 2.9 months Average total application pendency (trademark): 15.1 months Percent […] Continue Reading →
USPTO posts comments to proposed rule changes regarding BPAI appeals and Markush claims The USPTO has posted the comments received regarding the proposed rule changes regarding appeals at the BPAI, as well as those received regarding the proposed rules regarding claims with "alternative claim language," namely Markush groups. At first glance, the comments appear to be overwhelmingly negative. Of course, that likely won't stop them from being implemented, […] Continue Reading →
Analysis of order enjoining claim and continuation limit rules: almost 100% in Glaxo’s favor All in all, the order granting Glaxo's motion for a preliminary injunction barring enforcement of the USPTO's new claim and continuation limit rules is about everything Glaxo (and patent prosecutors) could have hoped for. The court found that each of the four factors considered when deciding whether to grant an injunction favored Glaxo, although the […] Continue Reading →
Claim and continuation limit rules preliminarily enjoined According to reports, enforcement of the USPTO's new claim and continuation limit rules has been enjoined. Judge James C. Cacheris issued the ruling from the bench after the hearing today on GlaxoSmithKline's motion for preliminary injunction. We'll have more as it develops, including any orders or decisions issued by the court. Update: More detail regarding […] Continue Reading →
Opinion enjoining continuation and claim limit rules released The court's opinion enjoining the USPTO's new continuation and claim limit rules has been released. We'll have more once we've had a chance to analyze the court's reasoning. Update: click here for our post with more detailed analysis. Opinion granting preliminary injunction The AIPLA, who joined the case as an amicus supporting Glaxo, provides this […] Continue Reading →
The Witching Hour approaches: hearing on Glaxo’s preliminary injunction motion today at 10 Eastern Today at 10:00 AM Eastern time, Judge James C. Cacheris in the Eastern District of Virginia will hear GlaxoSmithKline's motion for preliminary injunction to prevent enforcement of the USPTO's new claim and continuation limit rules. No word on how long the hearing will last, but we'll post as soon as we hear of a ruling. […] Continue Reading →