I/P Updates

USPTO Publishes Common Application Format for EPO and JPO

As the result of a trilateral conference ending November 9,2007, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) announced that it had signed a memorandum of understanding with the European Patent...

Temporal Relationship to Amendment Does Not Make Equivalent Unforseeable

In Honeywell International Inc. v. Hamilton Sundstrand Corp. (April 18, 2008), the Federal Circuit held that even though Sunstrand developed its equivalent after the claim amendment at issue,...

AIPLA Model Patent Jury Instructions

The AIPLA Model Jury Instructions are "provided as general assistance for the litigation of patent issues."

TGIF for Debate Over Mandatory Patentability Searches

On Friday, March 28, 2008, the IPO issued an urgent legislative alert to all U.S. members urging them to contact their two Senators to express opposition to mandatory “applicant quality submissions”...

Differing Views on the Value of Pre-Filing Searches

On Friday, March 28, 2008, the IPO issued an urgent legislative alert to all U.S. members urging them to contact their two Senators to express opposition to mandatory “applicant quality submissions”...

UK-IPO Reports on Artist's Resale Royalties

The UK Intellectual Property Office (UK-IPO) has published the report it commissioned into the impact on Artist’s Resale Rights on the UK art market. This report examines in detail both the costs and...

USPTO Enjoined from Implementing Proposed Rules on Claims, Continuing and Related Applications, and

In Tafas v. Dudas (April 1, 2008), the United States Patent and Trademark Office was permanently enjoined from from enacting its proposed “Changes to Practice for Continued Examination Filings,...

Compound Claim Insufficient to Support SPC for Combination Product

In "Can A + B= SPC?," Rob Burrows of Bristows notes that while a pharmaceutical patent containing broad claims may be desirable for the prevention of infringement by competing products, the patent...

WIPO Adopts Transitional Budget, Reduces Filing Fees, and Starts Race for New Leadership

On March 31, 2008, WIPO Member States finally adopted a 2008/09 Program and Budget. According to the press relase,The agreement included a decision to reduce the international filing fee under the...

Differeng Views on the Value of Pre-Filing Searches

On Friday, March 28, 2008, the IPO issued an urgent legislative alert to all U.S. members urging them to contact their two Senators to express opposition to mandatory “applicant quality submissions”...