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Halloween is tomorrow, and is a favorite American holiday.  It certainly is in my house, as we have a giant spiderweb (with spider), ghosts, skeletons, and lights outside.  And of course… [...]

In the U.S., “public use” of an invention can block the inventor from being able to patent the invention.  This “public use” bar can be applied broadly.  If the public use [...]

There are six patent reform bills making their way through Congress now, with proposed changes to fee-shifting, pleading requirements, the presumption in favor of or against issued patents, and [...]

The right patent application strategy will depend on what your goals are for your business, and for the intellectual property you’re developing. You’re running a company.  Where to [...]

The term “patent troll” is common now.  News outlets are filled with pundits denouncing “trolls.”  But what does the term mean?  Where did it come from, and why is it used [...]

The Google Patent Purchase Promotion offer period ends Friday, May 22, 2015. But should you even consider submitting an offer? Can you withdraw one? What are the terms?

On Monday, Google announced that it will open an “experimental marketplace” for buying and selling patents.  That is an inaccurate description.  While it sounds experimental, and is [...]

I often hear the question “What will it cost to apply for a patent?”  Short answer: “it depends.” For more help and guidance on patent application cost, read on. What does [...]

A patent must name all inventors.  But, how do you know who is an inventor?  And, what is inventorship, and why is it important? Who is a patent inventor? Every person who contributes to the [...]

Getting a patent can be a slow process.  The USPTO is a government agency, staffed by engineers and attorneys (and nerds of all stripes!), and they are always busy.  It has forms and [...]