Patent Applications

Utility or design patent? In order to know how to get a patent, first determine the type of IP you need. Do you need a…

What is a Notice of Allowance in a patent application? A Notice of Allowance (NOA) is a USPTO document indicating that a patent application has…

Do you need a design or utility patent application? At the outset, you will not be able to tell whether your patent application is any…

What is a patent application attorney (patent prosecutor) versus a patent litigator? Patent practitioners generally fall under one of two practice areas: 1) patent litigation,…

What makes for a successful patent Office Action response? When it comes to responding to patent rejections, you have essentially two weapons. First, you can…

How long does it take for the initial review of a utility patent application? Experienced utility patent filers know something that might be a shock…

Unfavorable Patent Appeal Decision An ex parte patent appeal decision by the PTAB that affirms an examiner’s rejections can seem like the end of the…

What is the meaning of new matter in patent applications? New matter in a patent application typically refers to something recited in the claims that…

What is a multiple dependent claim? A multiple dependent claim is a dependent claim that refers to more than one claim. The USPTO will not…

Can you change a patent application after it has been filed? Do ideas simply stop churning in your head after a patent application has been…

Patent Claims vs. Description of the Invention: What is the key difference? A utility patent is not a simple thing to understand. In a typical…

What are preferred embodiments? In any other context besides patents, “preferred embodiment” would sound quite strange. Yet, the term is used so commonly and frequently…