Patent Applications

How long does a utility patent last? Generally, a utility patent expires 20 years from the filing date [35 USC 154(a)]. This 20-year patent term…

Late US National Stage Entry So you missed the 30-month US national phase deadline. To file a late US national stage application, the entire delay…

Duty to Disclose Known Information Material to Patentability U.S. patent law places an obligation on applicants to notify the USPTO of known information that is…

What is the deadline for filing a certified foreign priority document in a utility patent application? Under the new AIA rules for US utility applications…

Can you file a design patent application after filing a utility patent application? Suppose you started with filing a utility nonprovisional patent application. After a…

Petition to Make Special Based on Inventor Age There’s a streamlined way to speed up utility patent applications based on the inventor’s age. An inventor…

Strict USPTO Rules for Design Patent Drawings The USPTO has strict standards for US design patent drawings. These strict rules govern which views are required…

USPTO Cost Differences Between a Small and Large Entity At the outset, one of the first questions we ask a corporate patent applicant is the…

IP resources for startups As an early stage startup, you cannot ignore the significance of IP. At the same time, your budget for protecting your…

National stage flat fee cost estimates A PCT application allows you to file your patent application in multiple countries. To do so, an applicant enters…

Can you add new content after filing a patent application? Yes, it is possible to add new content after filing a utility patent application. There…

What is an ex parte patent appeal? An ex parte patent appeal is the process to seek review of a final rejection in a patent…