Introduction “S-signatures” have been accepted by the USPTO for several years now. An S-signature is an electronic signature betwen forward slashes and includes any signature made by non-handwritten means (i.e. electronic or mechanical). See MPEP 502.02 and 37 CFR 1.4(d)(2). This type of signature was part of the changes made in the USPTO to support…
Category: Useful Information
The USPTO Announces A New Patent Prosecution Highway Using The PCT
On January 29, 2010, the USPTO began participating in a new Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) pilot program with the European and Japanese Patent Offices, in their capacities as PCT International Searching and/or Preliminary Examining Authorities. Under this new PCT-PPH program, certain PCT work product from either of these patent authorities acting in its PCT capacity…
The Five Requirements Of Every Petition In The USPTO
Introduction Most actions during prosecution of a patent application in the USPTO are eventually subject to quasi-judicial review by an appeal to the Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences. The classic example of an action that is subject to this type of review is an art (§102 and/or §103) rejection of a claim. Other actions,…
Claiming The Benefit Of Foreign Priority And Examples Of How To Do It
This post discusses a less common but nonetheless important point that my earlier post on this subject did not – the mechanics of how to claim priority to a foreign patent document, along with a few examples. Generally, the approach for claiming the benefit of foreign priority is similar to claiming domestic priority. There are…
Claiming The Benefit Of Priority, Examples Of How To Do It, And How To Correct A Failure To Make A Claim
This post discusses some of the mechanics involved in securing a right of priority to an earlier filed application, provides some examples of acceptable claims of priority, and ways to correct a failure to make the required claim. BACKGROUND When certain conditions are satisfied, a patent application is entitled to the benefit of the…