Vic Lin

What is the PCT national phase? A PCT application extends the deadline for filing utility patent applications in both the US and foreign countries. That…

What does the TM symbol mean? The TM symbol placed next to a mark is meant to put the public on notice that the owner…

What is a letter of protest against a trademark application? Third parties may challenge a pending trademark application by submitting a letter of protest to…

When is the right time to oppose a trademark application? Before you can oppose a trademark application, the mark must first receive preliminary approval. A…

What is a trademark Power of Attorney? A trademark Power of Attorney (POA) is required in a trademark application under certain circumstances as discussed below.…

Why does micro entity status matter? USPTO patent fees are generally proportionate to the size of the applicant. A large entity with over 500 employees…

If you have multiple inventions related to a main idea or product, when does it make sense to combine them into a single utility patent…

Why would you need an insurance extension? In an Intent-To-Use (ITU) trademark application that has been allowed, an applicant will have a deadline to submit…

How final is a Final Office Action? Don’t freak out if you’ve received a Final Office Action (FOA) in your patent application. It is not…

Recognizing and Avoiding US National Phase Common Mistakes PCT applicants entering the US national phase will benefit by understanding specific USPTO requirements and rules that…

What does it take to respond to a Patent Office Action? Since the probability is high (approximately 88%) that a utility nonprovisional patent application will…

Who can file a PCT application? Before delving into the details of PCT Receiving Offices (RO) and International Search Authorities (ISA), we should start with…