March 25, 2006
Magic Number Test
Test Posr
August 20, 2005
Notice of Availability of and Request for Comments on Green Paper Concerning Restriction Practice
http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/com/sol/notices/70fr45370.pdf
U.S. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CHIEF SALUTES AMERICA’S INDEPENDENT INVENTORS
Group Reminded to Guard Their Inventions Against Intellectual Property Theft
Alexandria, VA – U. S. Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property Jon Dudas today asked independent inventors to protect American ingenuity by safeguarding their inventions from intellectual property theft. Small businesses—such as independent inventors—are often at particular risk for IP theft, a growing problem around the world. Dudas urged attendees at the 10th annual Independent Inventor’s Conference to make patent, trademark and copyright protection a core part of their business strategy.
“The strength of our nation’s economy rests on the ingenuity of American inventors,” Dudas said. “In the 21st century, securing protection for your inventions is almost as important as the invention itself.”
“As inventors turn their ideas and discoveries into viable, marketable products, it is critically important for them to get the protection they need to safeguard their inventions and help protect our overall economy,” he continued.
From Willis Carrier’s air conditioning to Clarence Birdseye’s frozen food technology, independent inventors have shaped the American economy throughout history. More than 200 independent inventors at the conference heard from Al Langer, the engineer on the medical team that invented the first automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator, a life-saving device. Langer’s device has revolutionized the way doctors treat heart patients, and his success as an inventor and entrepreneur provided valuable insights for conference attendees.
“Throughout history, inventors have helped people discover new worlds, build communities, and cure sickness and disease, said Deputy Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property Steve Pinkos. “This conference celebrates all that inventors have accomplished in our nation’s history, and will create in the future.”
The U.S. continues to be the driver of ingenuity around the world, evidenced by the surge in patent, trademark and copyright applications from inventors and the resulting patents issued by USPTO. In 2004, the USPTO received more than 376,000 applications for patents, and patent applications have more than doubled since 1992. In fact, the USPTO issued more patents in 2004 than it did during its first 40 years.
Dudas and Pinkos also used their remarks to talk to inventors about what the U.S. government is doing to combat intellectual property theft. While they pointed out that intellectual property theft poses a threat to all American businesses, both officials said that most small businesses and independent inventors are particularly at risk because they often lack the knowledge and expertise to effectively combat it. To address this, Dudas said that the USPTO is hosting the Independent Inventor’s Conference—which is co-sponsored by the National Inventors’ Hall of Fame—and a series of seminars across the country to help educate American inventors and small businesses about the realities of piracy and counterfeiting. During these events, intellectual property experts from the agency will provide attendees with details and useful tips about protecting and enforcing their intellectual property rights in the United States and around the world.
The USPTO is also currently conducting a nationwide awareness campaign that is providing information to small businesses about when to file for intellectual property protection, what type of protection to file for, where to file and how to go about it. The effort features outreach targeting industry sectors especially at risk of intellectual property theft, a Web site specifically designed to address the needs of small businesses, and informational materials informing small businesses about the problem and steps they can take to mitigate it. Materials and other information about the awareness campaign are available at www.stopfakes.gov/smallbusiness.
For more information about the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s effort to educate American small businesses about intellectual property rights, visit www.stopfake.gov/smallbusiness or www.uspto.gov.
USPTO REDUCES FEES FOR TRADEMARK ELECTRONIC APPLICATION FILING
The Department of Commerce’s United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) announced today that beginning July 18, 2005, the agency will offer applicants for trademark registrations a new Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS) known as TEAS Plus that will add up to considerable savings for many filers.
The fee for filing a trademark application will be reduced by $50 per class for those using TEAS Plus. Most filers seek trademark protection for more than one class of goods and services in their application. In return for paying the lower filing fee, applicants who file using TEAS Plus agree to submit complete applications electronically, and to communicate electronically only with the USPTO about the application.
"This change reflects the mandate of the President's Management Agenda for citizen-centered, results-oriented government," noted Under Secretary of Commerce of Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO Jon Dudas. "Specifically, TEAS Plus offers applicants an opportunity to save money by filing and managing their applications electronically. We hope the TEAS Plus option will make our already popular system even more useful to the public."
Nearly 82 percent of all trademark applications filed so far this year were transmitted electronically. That represents an increase of nearly 20 percent over last year.
John J. Doll Named Commissioner for Patents
U.S. Secretary of Commerce Carlos M. Gutierrez has named John J. Doll to be Commissioner for Patents at the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Doll has been Acting Commissioner for Patents since April 2005.
In response to the appointment, Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property Jon Dudas noted, “I am pleased that the Secretary has chosen John Doll to be the Commissioner for Patents. John has excellent management skills combined with a dedication to outstanding service to the public and a focus on internal reform.”
As Commissioner for Patents, Doll is responsible for the productivity and quality of the work done by more than 4,000 patent examiners, paralegals and other support professionals, for patent examination policy, budget decisions, and for patent-related Information Technology (IT) decisions.
From January – April 2005, Doll served as the Deputy Commissioner for Patent Resources and Planning directing information processing and technology, and budget formulation and execution for patent operations. He previously served as Special Assistant to the Under Secretary. Doll was a group director from 1995-2005 in the technology center responsible for examination of biotechnology, organic chemistry, and pharmaceutical patent applications. He was an integral part of the team responsible for last year’s implementation of the Image File Wrapper (IFW), the USPTO’s electronic patent application processing system.
Doll has received numerous awards throughout his USPTO career, including the Vice Presidential Hammer Award for his work in establishing the Biotech Customer Partnership; a Department of Commerce Gold Medal for his work on the team that implemented IFW; and a Silver Medal for his work on automating patent examiner tools.
During his tenure as a group director, Doll managed the development and implementation of training materials used by patent examiners to apply the enablement provisions of the patent statute in reviewing applications. He also helped develop and implement the guidelines and training materials used by examiners evaluating patent applications for compliance with the utility and written description provisions of patent law.
Doll holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Bowling Green State University in chemistry and physics and a Master of Science degree in physical chemistry from Penn State University. He joined the USPTO in 1974.
April 27, 2005
RE: Patent Searching
I totally agree. This discussion clearly illustrates how complex the
issue is. I've started a MindManager map on the topic (I'm learning how
to use MindManager)...I'll work on it with Matt and Doug to see what we
can come up with. [remind us in a few weeks and we'll send you
the completed map]
-- Steve
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RE: Patent Searching
To fully round out the circle, let me offer this:
In many art areas, the most relevant art may come from sources other
than the USPTO databases (think chemical, biotech, etc). The electronic
services that merely index the USPTO sources are completely missing
these other sources (as are "hand search" techniques conducted at the
PTO).
My position is this -- every invention is different. Some may justify a
search (a hedge on the gamble to which Steve refers), and some may not.
Some may only need a quick electronic search of USPTO-based info, while
others may need a more comprehensive look that includes non-USPTO
sources.
The attorney's role, in my mind, is to help the client make a decision
on "the gamble" and, if a search is in order, match it with the most
appropriate approach. All while keeping expenses in mind.
I hope this adds to the already fascinating discussion.
-- Matt
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