US-related materials
[United States] Relaxation of protection eligibility requirements for neural networks (2023/12/18)
[United States] Pilot program for accelerated examination of applications related to climate change mitigation (2022/8/22) *2023.7.13updated
[USA] Introduction of US judgment (limited to negative claims) (2022/07/25)
[United States] Technology transfer from the United States to Japan and legal risks (2021/10/18)
[USA] US Intellectual Property Information Introduction (USPTO Director Review) (2021/10/04)
[United States] Reasons why “prior user rights” are not asserted in U.S. lawsuits and countermeasures (2021/09/27)
[USA] “On-Sale Bar”… Loss of novelty even in sales activities with confidentiality obligations (2021/08/23)
[USA] The influence of plain English words and symbols on claim interpretation (2021/08/16)
[US CAFC] Limited interpretation based on “the present invention” (2021/06/28)
[United States] CAFC ruling denying the enablement requirements for “quantum entanglement” application technology (2021/05/17)
[United States] Prior art documents used alone to prove obviousness must be “enabled” (2021/05/10)
[United States] Overview of the American doctrine of equivalents (2021/04/26)
[US Supreme Court] JAVA SE API US Supreme Court decision (GOOGLE LCC vs. ORACLE) (2021/04/26)
[United States] Introduction to US judgment (functional claims and enforceability requirements) (2021/04/19)
[United States] Case where IPR petition based on IDS submission document was dismissed (United States) (2021/04/12)
[US case law] Non-obviousness of composition patents (2021/04/05)
[US case law] CAFC judgment interpreting claims based on ordinary English grammar (“a plurality of A,B,C,D and E”) (2021/02/08)
[USA] USPTO Examiner/Art Unit Data ~Response Policy/Suggestion for Cost Reduction~ (2021/01/25)
[USA] Trial decision recognizing examiner's "hindsight" (2021/01/12)
[USA] CAFC judgment where the claim wording “about” was at issue (2020/12/21)
[US Trial Decision] Whether the prior art document is similar to the claimed invention (2020/11/16)
[US case law] 2020.10.2 CAFC decision (GlaxoSmithKline LLC v. Teva Pharmaceuticals) (2020/11/09)
[United States] USPTO AI Application Trend Report (2020/11/02)
[US case law] CAFC decision regarding non-obviousness and secondary considerations (license, expert testimony) (2020/10/19)
Introduction to US patent decisions - 2020.3.26 CAFC decision (GENENTECH, INC. v. ANDREI IANCU) - (2020/10/12)
[US case law] CAFC ruling invalidating the patent because the meaning of the term was unclear (2020/09/28)
[US case law] CAFC ruling ordering huge compensation for illegal acquisition of trade secrets (2020/09/07)
[US case law] CAFC ruling that denied a claim for damages before filing a lawsuit as a method claim on the ground of violation of display obligations (2020/08/31)
[US case law] CAFC decision that guides the joint inventor requirement (2020/08/24)
US Patent and Trademark Office to raise patent fees (2020/08/17)
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office launches expedited trial enforcement program for appeals (2020/07/20)
Interpretation of the preamble section and practical considerations (2020/07/06)
Patent indications and intentional infringement that affect the amount of damages (United States) (2020/06/29)
USPTO Corona Response Program (2020/05/25)
CAFC overturns district court ruling and recognizes patent eligibility of software inventions (2020/05/18)
USPTO announces informative trial decision (2020/01/27)
Recent CAFC case law showing how to determine whether a negative claim limitation is disclosed in the prior art (2019/12/16)
Recent PTAB rulings that provide lessons for maintaining patent rights when IPR proceedings are filed/IPR proceedings initiated on the grounds of obviousness (2019/12/09)
Recent CAFC case law showing that the second response to Final OA is subject to patent term adjustment calculation (2/2019/12)
CAFC makes judgment regarding in what cases cited documents are deemed to be naturally related to the problem solved by the inventor (2019/11/25)
Points to keep in mind to reaffirm the importance of prosecution history files and prevent patent holders from being disadvantaged in the event of a dispute (2019/11/12)
USPTO revised examination guidance for subject matter eligible for patent protection under Section 101 of the U.S. Patent Act (2019/11/05)
Recent CAFC case law showing in which cases the claimed invention described in the ``Caution clause'' is limited to interpretation (2019/10/21)
Keeping in mind that the prosecution history of related foreign patent applications can become part of the internal evidence in interpreting claims of US patents, seek to obtain rights for family patent applications (2019/10/15)
Recent CAFC case law showing that when interpreting the claims of a child patent that includes common inventive subject matter with the parent patent, statements in the specification of the parent patent form internal evidence in interpreting the claims of the child patent. (2019/10/07)
In light of recent CAFC precedents, things to keep in mind when specifying nonce words in claims and strategic claim creation using means claims (2019/09/30)
USPTO seeks public comment on patenting AI inventions to determine whether guidance on patenting AI inventions is needed and to support the development of such guidance on patenting AI inventions (2019/09/09)
US case law showing that drafting/amending claims based on federal district court/CAFC precedents rather than USPTO guidance is more certain in meeting the requirements for patent protection eligibility (2019/09/02 )
Notable recent CAFC case law illustrating that provisional applications can serve as a means to invalidate priority claims in IPR (2019/07/22)
Points to keep in mind during prosecution in light of the latest CAFC precedents and prominent past precedents regarding the interpretation of the preamble part of claimed inventions (2019/07/08)
Things to keep in mind when filing a first country application in another country for an invention completed in a country that imposes a first country filing obligation (2019/07/01)
Recent CAFC case law reaffirming cases where the doctrine of equivalents applies (2019/06/24)
Recent CAFC case law clarifying in what cases the Gilead principle should be applied regarding obvious type double patents (2019/06/10)
New procedures to be followed for patent holders to obtain additional PTA based on the Supernus case published in the Official Gazette (2019/05/27)
Top 2018 companies in the number of US patents obtained in FY50 and trends in the number of US patents obtained in major countries in the past two years (2/2019/05)
USPTO Revises Examination Guidance for Patent Eligible Invention Subject Matter under Sections 101 and 112 of the U.S. Patent Act (2019/05/13)
Recent CAFC case law limits USPTO's ability to reduce patent term due to applicant delay (2019/04/15)
After the Aqua Products case, the decision status of the case in which a motion for amendment was filed in the IPR procedure filed with the PTAB and matters that patent owners should keep in mind (2019/01/21)
Recent CAFC case law showing under what circumstances CAFC can review a decision to initiate IPR proceedings after the Cuozzo Supreme Court decision (2019/01/15)
Recent CAFC case law showing when computer-functionality is found to be patent-eligible subject matter (2018/12/17)
Things to keep in mind/consider when drafting a claim in light of recent CAFC precedents regarding diagnostic tests based on natural phenomena (2018/12/10)
USPTO establishes interim procedures to address PTA (Patent Term Adjustment) reduction errors caused by IDS (effective date: November 2018, 11) (2/2018/11)
A recent CAFC case law showing that when the numerical range overlaps between the claimed invention and the prior art, a rebuttable presumption of obviousness operates and the burden of proving non-obviousness is shifted (2018/11/19)
How is the patent eligibility of the subject matter of a patent application related to AI-related inventions determined in the US, EP, and China? (2018/11/12)
USPTO publishes in the Federal Register the first steps to reduce the burden of information disclosure obligations through phased implementation of the Access to Relevant Prior Art Initiative (2018/11/05)
USPTO publishes Final Rule in the Federal Register regarding changes to standards for claim interpretation in post-grant procedures (Effective date: November 2018, 11) (October 13, 2018)
U.S. Supreme Court decision clarifying under what circumstances the CAFC may review the PTAB's decision to commence proceedings (2018/10/15)
CAFC makes an interesting judgment regarding the difference between determining obviousness of device claims and determining obviousness of method claims (2018/10/09)
An interesting recent decision by the PTAB that shows how ex parte reexamination can be utilized in patent strategy (2018/10/01)
CAFC makes interesting decision regarding granting discovery for non-US proceedings (2018/09/10)
PTAB decision clarifies that the USPTO will continue to apply a lower clarity threshold than courts when evaluating the clarity of patent claims at the examination stage (2018/09/03)
USPTO official fees will be revised (scheduled effective date: January 2021) (1/2018/08)
Interesting statistical data related to IPR proceedings over the past six years (6/2018/08)
Interesting ruling by CAFC regarding the admissibility of expert testimony regarding the amount of damages calculated (2018/08/06)
Points to keep in mind in order to determine that an algorithm is sufficiently disclosed when creating a US software claim (2018/07/23)
Trends in the top 2016 companies by number of US patents obtained in 2017 and 50 (2018/07/17)
Federal Supreme Court ruling allowing compensation for lost profits outside the United States and matters to keep in mind (2018/07/09)
CAFC issues an interesting ruling regarding the USPTO/PTAB's interpretation of claims based on the BRI standard (2018/06/25)
The existence of a provisional application that plays an important role in analyzing the validity of a patent when invalidating or maintaining a patent (2018/06/18)
USPTO proposes changes to standards for claim interpretation in post-grant proceedings (2018/06/11)
Interesting recent CAFC case law where the venue of a foreign corporation was contested in a civil suit related to patent infringement (2018/06/04)
CAFC decision that provides interesting advice to keep in mind when claiming priority based on multiple patent applications within a patent application family (2018/05/21)
The actual state of examination work of U.S. patent examiners revealed from datasets related to Office Actions issued in the past (2018/05/07)
Points to note from recent CAFC precedents regarding non-obviousness objections based on “teaching away” (2018/04/23)
If the reason for amending the claimed invention is explained and the examiner includes it in the reasons for permission, abandonment will occur during prosecution in the United States (2018/04/16)
Recent US case law showing how it is determined whether or not prior art documents are similar to the technology specified in the claimed invention (2018/04/09)
USPTO releases Eligibility Quick Reference Sheet (improved version) regarding patentable subject matter (2018/04/02)
From the perspective of litigation strategy, when is it preferable to write a claim in the configured to… format? (2018/03/19)
Top 2017 patent law firms by number of patents issued in the US in 50 (2018/03/12)
Recent statistical data on cases appealed to CAFC against PTAB decisions in IPR and CBM proceedings (2018/02/19)
Application strategies that are recommended in light of interesting precedents regarding obvious type double patents (2018/02/05)
Pitfalls to keep in mind when using provisional applications strategically (2018/01/29)
PTAB publishes guidelines regarding patentability accountability for claim amendments/new claims based on CAFC Grand Bench decision in Aqua Products case (2017/12/18)
Important CAFC case law showing what to keep in mind when rebutting non-obviousness based on “teaching away” (2017/12/04)
USPTO official fees will be revised (effective date: January 2018, 1) (16/2017/11)
Statistical data for the past five years regarding the main procedures after patent grant by the PTAB (5/2017/11)
Points to keep in mind when drafting/amending claims to prevent claims from being interpreted in a limited manner due to statements in the preamble (2017/10/23)
Can a patentee claim retroactive damages if a terminal disclaimer is filed after the patent is issued? (2017/10/02)
Trends in the top 2015 universities by number of US patents obtained in 2016 and 50 (2017/09/25)
Recent CAFC case law suggesting how to respond when it is determined that it is obvious because it is nothing more than “routine optimization” (2017/09/11)
Interesting recent CAFC case law regarding patent eligibility of computer-related inventions (2017/09/04)
What benefits are brought by including means plus function element in a claim (2017/08/10)
Pitfalls to keep in mind when understanding the usefulness of U.S. reissue applications and using them strategically (2017/08/07)
A recent CAFC decision that shows the importance of confirming how it was determined when it is determined to be obvious (2017/07/24)
Trends in the top 5 companies by number of patents obtained over the past five years (2012-2016) (50/2017/07)
Recognizing the usefulness of examiner interviews and paying attention to the measures taken by the USPTO to make it easier for applicants to use examiner interviews (2017/06/26)
Statistical data showing changes in the number of patent infringement lawsuits filed in federal district courts after the U.S. Supreme Court's decision regarding venue (2017/06/26)
Ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court that clarifies that patent rights are exhausted with the first sale of a patented product (2017/06/12)
The U.S. Supreme Court unanimously reverses and remands the CAFC judgment regarding the venue where civil suits related to patent infringement can be brought (2017/06/05)
CAFC case law indicating that when the wording of a claim has multiple "plain and ordinary meanings," the clear meaning of the wording should be raised in litigation (2017/05/29)
CAFC case law showing how it is determined whether the prior art described in the application specification is workable or not (2017/04/17)
CAFC case law where the issue was whether or not a disclaimer limitation satisfies description requirements (2017/03/13)
Top 2016 patent law firms by number of patents issued in the US in 50 (2017/02/27)
A recent CAFC case law (2017/01/23) once again shows that in order to determine that something is obvious, it is necessary for the basis to be clearly and logically presented.
Claim drafting strategy for smoothly obtaining rights for computer-related inventions in the United States (2017/01/10)
Trends in the number of patent lawsuits in the United States from 2000 to 2016 (2016/12/26)
Recent statistical data showing that U.S. provisional applications are effectively used to obtain patents (2016/12/19)
USPTO presents draft rule amendments regarding “materiality standard” for information disclosure obligations (2016/11/28)
USPTO publishes memorandum on matters examiners should learn in light of recent CAFC precedents regarding software-related inventions (2016/11/21)
The U.S. Supreme Court will issue a ruling on the standards for intentional treatment and punitive damages. (2016/11/07)
USPTO publishes in the Official Gazette a partial revision (draft) of patent fee structure (October 2016, 10)
Recent CAFC case law showing how to overcome the finding that a computer-related invention is not patent eligible (October 2016, 10)
Interesting CAFC case showing when commercial success is not valid evidence of non-obviousness (2016/10/11)
CAFC issues an interesting ruling regarding in what cases common general knowledge can be used when determining the obviousness of a claimed invention (2016/10/03)
A recent CAFC decision that challenged the usefulness of attacking the reasons for combining cited documents (2016/09/26)
Notable CAFC decision regarding computer-related inventions after the Enfish case regarding patent eligibility under Section 101 of the U.S. Patent Act (2016/08/22)
Top 2015 patent firms by number of US patents issued in 100 (2016/08/08)
Preferable measures to take to prevent claimed inventions from being interpreted in a limited manner at the US patent litigation stage (2016/08/01)
USPTO starts Post-Prosecution Pilot Program (P3) as After Final practice (effective date: July 2016, 7) (11/2016/07)
In IPRs filed on multiple grounds, does Estoppel apply to the grounds that were not the basis for initiating proceedings? (2016/07/19)
The usefulness of PGR as a patent invalidation procedure and things to keep in mind when drafting specifications, learned from the US PTAB trial decision (2016/07/04)
Companies in the Asia-Pacific region are expanding their patent activities in the United States, despite an overall slowdown in patent activity in the United States (2016/06/13)
USPTO releases notice in light of Enfish case and TLI case regarding patent eligibility of software-related inventions (2016/06/06)
USPTO releases further memorandum regarding examiner's preparation of notice of reasons for refusal and examiner's evaluation of applicant's response regarding patent eligibility (2016/05/27)
Is it sufficient to obtain a foreign filing license in advance to file a patent application outside the United States for an invention made in the United States? (2016/04/25)
PTAB practice rule revision (enforcement date: May 2016, 5) (2/2016/04)
CAFC case law (2016/03/22) stating that when making an amendment in IPR, the patentee must prove that the prior art in the package is patentable.
The number of appeals from US federal district courts to CAFC exceeds the number of appeals to CAFC derived from the USPTO (2016/03/14)
Statistical data showing the reason why the number of US patent lawsuits increased dramatically in November 2015 and the remarkable trends in the number of lawsuits (11/2016/02)
Recommended strategic and effective use of a combination of provisional applications and continuation applications (2016/02/22)
A recent CAFC decision (February 2016, 02) in which the question of how to calculate the “A period” in a PTA when there is a deficiency in the Office Action
Statistical data on continuing applications in the United States and strategically effective use of continuing applications (2016/01/25)
US Request for Continued Examination (RCE) and related information (2016/01/18)
Statistical data on the number of US patent lawsuits and PTAB proceedings in the first half of 2015 (2016/01/12)
Comparison of US pre-appeal brief conference and appeal request (2015/12/21)
USPTO announces partial revisions to IDS regulations due to increase in agency fees (2015/12/11)
USPTO proposes pilot program to explore panel assignment changes regarding decision to initiate IPR review (2015/12/7)
Impact of Therasense decision on the number of requests for supplementary examination in the US (2015/11/30)
Statistics, points to note, and strategic use of information provision by third parties before patent issuance (2015/11/16)
Recent CAFC case law showing how disclosure in a provisional application affects the validity of patent claims (2015/11/02)
CAFC ruling after the Teva case showing the importance of external evidence (2015/10/26)
Extension of the 2.0th trial period of AFCP 4 and its effective use (2015/10/19)
Determination of patent eligibility for software-related inventions based on recent precedents of the U.S. District Court (2015/10/13)
US application publication, its statistical data, and information provision using application publication (2015/09/28)
PTA rules regarding RCE procedures in the US are revised in response to the Novartis case (2015/09/14)
A proposed amendment to the substantive rules for US PTAB trial practices is proposed (2015/09/07)
Regarding first country filing obligations in major countries (1) (2015/08/24)
CAFC remand judgment regarding induced infringement in the United States (2015/08/24)
USPTO issues July 2015 Updated Guidance on Patent Eligibility Analysis (2015/08/07)
What is "error without intent to deceive" in US reissue patent applications? (2015/08/03)
CAFC makes judgment on PTA of continuing application (2015/07/27)
CAFC indicates when computer-related inventions should disclose algorithms in the specification (2015/07/21)
CAFC judgment stating the requirements for claimed inventions (excluding process claims) to be patent-eligible subject matter (2015/07/13)
CAFC Grand Bench decision regarding when a functionally stated claim is recognized as a means claim (2015/06/29)
USPTO launches pilot program for expedited review of ex parte trials (2015/06/22)
US PTAB practice rules to be revised (2015/06/15)
Statistical data on patent eligibility decisions handed down after the Alice case (2015/06/01)
USPTO establishes new patent application warning email service to promote use of information provided by third parties (2015/05/25)
Statistical data related to US litigation over the past 20 years (2015/05/25)
USPTO presents 6 proposals for quality improvement in Enhanced Patent Quality Initiative (2015/05/18)
USPTO official fees will be revised (2015/05/11)
USPTO releases fiscal year 2014 performance and accounting report (2015/04/20)
Distinctive trends in US patent litigation in 2014 (2015/04/13)
USPTO further extends trial period of Glossary Pilot Program (2015/03/16)
CAFC judgment showing that completion of IDS affects the duration of patent rights (2015/03/09)
CAFC ruling on PTAB decision in first post-grant proceeding under AIA (2015/03/02)
USPTO releases Examples for determining patent eligibility for abstract concepts of computer-related inventions (2015/02/23)
Top 2014 companies with the most US patents in 50 (2015/01/26)
Main IP statistical data of IP2013 (5 major IP agencies) in 5 (2015/01/13)
Revised interim examination guidance for determining whether "patentable subject matter" under 101 U.S.C. 2014 is published (December 12, 19)
CAFC ruling clarifies when a functionally stated claim is recognized as a means claim (2014/12/15)
Notes on the application of the collateral estoppel doctrine in the United States (2014/12/08)
Further requirements that the original patent must satisfy regarding inventions claimed by reissued patents in the United States (2014/12/01)
Differences in claim interpretation standards between the USPTO and courts and standards for reexamination in higher courts (2014/11/25)
Effective utilization of US provisional applications under AIA (2014/11/10)
Statistical data regarding US priority examination announced (2014/11/4)
CAFC case law showing that undisclosed information can satisfy the “but-for materiality” standard even if it is determined after the patent is granted that it does not negate patentability (October 2014, 10)
Points to note regarding the U.S. IDS to avoid being recognized as unfair conduct (2014/10/20)
A recent CAFC decision that indicates considerations regarding functional claims in the United States and criteria for determining functional claims (2014/09/29)
Allowance rate and unexamined backlog of US patent applications (2014/09/22)
CAFC's interpretation of claims and device claims that include method features when an infringement lawsuit is filed before error correction (2014/09/16)
Allowance rate and unexamined backlog of US patent applications (2014/09/08)
First trial decision by the PTAB after the U.S. Supreme Court decision in the Alice Corp case (2014/08/25)
Notes on the term of patent rights in the United States (2014/08/18)
Top 2013 US patents acquired by university in 100 (2014/08/04)
Statistics showing the percentage of issued patents that include functional claims in the United States (2014/07/28)
Statistical data regarding patent lawsuits filed in US federal district courts in 2013 (2014/07/22)
Ranking by company by number of US patents acquired in 2013 (2014/07/07)
U.S. Supreme Court rules on computer-related patentable subject matter (2014/06/30)
Trends in the time required for prosecution of US patent applications over the past 10 years (2014/06/23)
U.S. Supreme Court’s criteria for determining clarity as provided in Article 112, Paragraph 2 of the Revised Patent Act (2014/06/16)
Trends in the time required for prosecution of US patent applications over the past 10 years (2014/06/09)
Various USPTO-led programs/procedures to facilitate prosecution (2014/05/26)
US IPR, CBM, and DER statistical data (2014/05/19)
Points to note regarding amendments in Inter partes review (2014/05/12)
Latest CAFC ruling regarding Section 101 of the U.S. Patent Act (2014/04/21)
U.S. Examination Guidelines for 35 U.S.C. 112(f) (2014/04/14)
Changes in the number of certiorari appeals filed by the U.S. Supreme Court over the past 2014 years (14/14/04)
USPTO decides to trial Glossary Pilot Program (2014/04/07)
Revision of interim rules regarding US Prioritized Examination (2014/03/31)
USPTO creates examination guidelines that take legal precedents into consideration regarding laws of nature and natural products (2014/03/24)
CAFC Grand Bench decision questions whether it is necessary for higher courts to respect the lower court's interpretation of claims (2014/03/17)
USPTO proposes rule amendments regarding Assignment Recording (2014/03/10)
Statistics on AIA-related procedures including US Inter Partes Review (2014/03/03)
Trends in the percentage of priority claims in US patents over the past 8 years (2014/02/17)
Points to note when responding to the U.S. Limited Requirement Directive and Selective Requirement Directive (2014/02/10)
Changes in the number of independent claims in US patents over the past 40 years (2014/02/03)
CAFC judgment and statistics regarding extension of patent term in the United States (2014/02/03)
USPTO recognizes that and or is clear in claims (2014/01/20)
Trends in the number of US patents granted over the past 50 years (2014/01/14)
Innovation Act H.R. 3309 passed by the plenary session of the U.S. House of Representatives (2014/01/14)
Data on recent US IPR proceedings (2013/12/24)
US Supreme Court grants certiorari on statutory subject matter of computer-related inventions (2013/12/16)
Final Rule regarding amendments to U.S. patent practice rules in line with implementation of the Patent Law Treaty (2013/12/02)
USPTO extends QPIDS trial period for fifth time (5/2013/11)
USPTO re-extends After Final Consideration Pilot (AFCP) 2.0 trial (2013.11.26)
Expressions raising doubts regarding restrictive effect in US claims (2013/11/25)
USPTO re-extends After Final Consideration Pilot (AFCP) 2.0 trial (2013/11/25)
Recent precedents regarding unfair practices after the Therasense case (2013/11/18)
Points to note regarding reasons for refusal based on U.S. obvious type double patent (2013/10/28)
Pre-Appeal Brief Conference Program notes (2013/10/28)
USPTO search site GPSN expands the range of searchable Chinese documents (2013/10/21)
USPTO re-extends QPIDS trial period to consider IDS after payment of issue fee (2013/10/07)
Recent case law regarding patentable subject matter in the United States (2013/09/24)
Statistical data on trial decisions in US ex parte trial cases (2013/09/17)
Recent US precedents regarding obviousness determination using common sense (2013/08/05)
Measures that can be taken against the US Final OA and points to keep in mind (2013/07/29)
USPTO launches search site (Global Patent Search Network) (2013.07.22)
Trends in untried cases of ex parte judgments against the US PTAB (2013/07/16)
Practical notes regarding incomplete descriptions in the US (2013/07/08)
USPTO extends QPIDS trial period to consider IDS after payment of issue fee (2013.06.03)
USPTO begins trials of After Final Consideration Pilot (AFCP) 2.0 (2013.05.27)
USPTO releases draft final rule regarding procedural amendments to Patent Term Adjustment (2013/05/20)
USPTO plans to take necessary measures to reduce unexamined RCE backlog (2013/04/08)
Examiner interview in US patent prosecution (2013/03/25)
Points to note regarding “transition application” and voluntary amendments due to the shift to the first-to-file system in the United States (2013/03/18)
USPTO releases Final Rule and examination guidelines regarding AIA (2013/02/25)
Practical notes regarding writing functional claims in the United States (2013/02/12)
Proposals by the USPTO to improve examination efficiency and quality in US patent applications (2013/02/04)
USPTO announces partial revision of fee structure (Effective date: 2013-03-19) (2013/02/12)
Measures to speed up the examination of US patent applications (2013/01/28)
Points to note regarding the description of the preamble of US patent claims (2013/01/25)
Trends in backlog of ex parte trial cases by BPAI and prediction of future trends (2013.01.15)
A bill to amend the U.S. Revised Patent Act AIA (H.R. 6621) passed in the House of Representatives (2013/01/15)
Notes on amendments when filing RCE (2013/01/15)
The U.S. Supreme Court again grants certiorari in the Myriad case (2012/12/25)
Recent CAFC case law regarding extension of patent term in the United States (2012/12/25)
A bill to amend the United States Patent Act (H.R. 6621) is submitted to the House of Representatives (December 2012, 12)
Increase in patent registration rate and decrease in abandonment rate in US patent applications (2012.12.10)
Usefulness of laboratory notes under AIA (2012/11/06)
Matters clarified regarding AIA and Final Rules at Road-show sponsored by AIPLA (2012.11.02)
Joint patent classification by USPTO and EPO will be available from January 2013, 1 (1/2012/10)
Responding to reasons for refusal under Section 103 of the U.S. Patent Act (2012/10/19)
Regarding the US provisional application (2012/10/19)
Correction of mistranslation of US patent application (2012/10/18)
CAFC decides to reexamine the statutory subject matter of computer-related inventions (2012/10/15)
Impact of estoppel arising from post-grant opposition proceedings on continuing applications (2012/10/01)
CAFC Grand Court Judgment on Requirements for Indirect Infringement in the United States (2012/09/24)
USPTO announces partial revision of fee structure (2012.09.18)
USPTO reclassifies Searchable MPEP (2012.09.18)
The number of patents issued by the USPTO has increased significantly for the third consecutive year (2012.09.10)
Final Rule on US Inventor’s Oath or Declaration (2012/09/03)
Final Rule regarding Supplemental Examinations (2012/08/27)
Final Rule on Inter Partes Review & Post Grant Review by USPTO (2012.08.27)
Final rule regarding the US information provision system by third parties (2012/07/23)
USPTO plans to open three more satellite offices (3)
USPTO decides to extend After Final Consideration Pilot (AFCP) trial period (2012.06.25)
Even if the patent specification does not clearly state that it has a meaning different from the general meaning or excludes a specific meaning, taking into account the effect of the patent specification and the application history, Case law suggesting that claim language should be interpreted (2012/06/18)
Even if the problem of statutory subject matter of invention can be avoided in US patent applications, the problem of descriptive requirements remains (2012/06/11)
Ranking of patents acquired in the life science field in the United States in 2011 (2012.06.11)
USPTO releases proposed rule amendments regarding Micro Entities (2012/06/04)
Top 100 US Intellectual Property Law Firms and State Rankings of US Patent Lawyers (2012.05.28)
US Free Patent Tools
Top 2012 trademark registrations in 25 by US trademark office (2012.05.28)
Case law showing that if a reissued patent application claim is limited in a way that is broader than the patent claims but substantially narrower than the original claims, such an amendment does not fall under “recapture” (2012 /05/21)
USPTO releases proposed fee revisions for fiscal year 2013 (2012/05/21)
Consequences of reducing the number of unexamined U.S. patent applications (2012/05/14)
USPTO will try pilot program (QPIDS) that takes IDS into account after issue fee payment (2012.05.14)
Survey of the status of US patent applications over the past 8 years (2012/05/07)
Number of enforceable US patents (2012.05.07)
References cited in early stages of US patent applications are available from the EPO database (2012/04/23)
Therasense, Inc. v. Becton Dickinson & Co, remand decision (2012/04/16)
Trends in the percentage of issued US patents with more than 20 claims over the past 40 years (2012.04.16)
USPTO launches pilot program to ensure further reconsideration time after final response (2012/04/09)
Trends in the number of Pre-AIA applications filed before the U.S. AIA effective date (2012/04/01)
US Supreme Court decision on Mayo v. Prometheus (2012.03.26)
The number of patent infringement lawsuits is rapidly increasing in the United States (2012/03/19)
Regarding the backlog of unexamined patent applications at the USPTO (2012.03.12)
Comparison table of various procedures after patent grant in the United States (2012/03/05)
Case law in which, in cases where numerical ranges overlap, whether a claim defining a narrow range has novelty over a broader range disclosed in the prior art is disputed (2012/02/27)
USPTO's Proposed Rule Amendments to the Amended Patent Act (AIA) (4) - Post-grant Review (2012.02.20)
USPTO's Proposed Rule Amendments to the Amended Patent Act (AIA) (3) - Inter Partes Review (2012.02.13)
Enforcement of revised rules for US ex parte trial procedures (2012/02/06)
Various procedures for correction of issued US patents (2012.02.06)
USPTO's Proposed Rule Amendments to the Amended Patent Act (AIA) (2) - Supplementary Examination (2012.01.30)
USPTO extends trial period of Extended Missing Parts Pilot Program (2012/01/23)
USPTO's Proposed Rule Amendments to the Amended Patent Act (AIA) (1).pdf (2012.01.16)
Ranking by company by number of US patents acquired in 2011 (2012.01.16)
Trial decision regarding amendment to expand claims in inter partes reexamination proceedings in the United States (2012/01/10)
EP related materials
Amendment to Article 139(1) of the German Patent Act - Request for injunction - (2023/05/25)
Revision of European Patent Office Examination Guidelines (2023) (2023/05/10)
Overview of “European Unitary Patent System” and “European Unitary Patent Court System” (2022/07/01)
Matters to be considered before the Unified Patent Court (UPC) Agreement comes into force (2022/07/01)
Patent strategy under the new system (2022/07/01)
Revision of the European Patent Office Examination Guidelines (2022) ~ Relaxation of requirements for specification amendment ~ (2022/04/25)
European Unified Patent/Unified Patent Court System Current Status and Prospects (2021/11/08)
[Germany] Standard essential patent (SEP) litigation in Germany (2021/07/05)
[Europe/EPO] Revision of examination standards - Stricter description requirements - (2021/03/29)
[Europe] Patents and the Fourth Industrial Revolution ~World technology trends~ (2020/12/14)
[Europe] Commercialization of inventions by universities/public research institutions (2020/11/30)
European Patent Office releases report on battery and energy storage field (2020/10/05)
Introduction to European Judgments – 2020.7.9 CJEU Judgment (C-673/18) (2020/08/17)
European Patent Office holds oral proceedings via video conference (2020/07/27)
Trial decision useful for obtaining rights for business-related inventions in Europe (2020/07/13)
The French patent system has changed significantly due to the PACTE law (Vol.2) (2020/07/13)
Early means of obtaining German patent rights (2020/06/01)
Eligibility for protection of patents related to plants and animals obtained using essentially biological processes (Europe) (2020/05/25)
Significant delays in European patent with unitary effect and unified patent court system (2020/04/13)
Notable trial decisions regarding priority claims in EPO (2020/02/10)
The French patent system has changed significantly due to the PACTE law (2020/02/03)
European Patent Office/UK Patent Office reject patent application with AI as inventor (2020/01/14)
Oral hearing will be held in a notable pending appeal case regarding priority claims in the EPO (2019/12/23)
EPO revised examination guidelines to make patentability decisions for inventions related to computers, chemistry, biotechnology, parameters, etc. more stable (effective date: 2019-11-1) (2019/11/15)
EPO President publishes comments regarding eligibility for patent protection of computer-implemented simulation inventions referred to the Enlarged Board of Appeal (G1/19) (2019/09/24)
A potential solution to solve the problem of AI inventorship and ensure the patentability of AI inventions when novel ideas are generated by AI (2019/09/17)
Significant amendments will be made to the EPO Trial Procedure Rules that will have a significant impact on first instance procedures (effective date: January 2020, 1) (1/2019/08)
Notes on participating in the PACE program, which brings early patent grant to improve legal certainty for EP patent applications (2019/07/29)
EPO standards for persons skilled in the art that are expected to be problematic when determining inventive step for inventions arising from the Fourth Industrial Revolution (2019/06/03)
EPO releases various statistical data related to patent applications in 2018 (2019/05/07)
Decision of the EPO Technical Board of Appeal regarding the protection of subject-matter of inventions relating to plants and animals obtained using essentially biological processes and subsequent terms of reference to the Enlarged Board of Appeal (2019/04/22)
Interesting information about self-driving vehicles seen from EP patent application statistical data over the past 10 years (2018/12/03)
How is the patent eligibility of the subject matter of a patent application related to AI-related inventions determined in the US, EP, and China? (2018/11/12)
In addition to the revision of the examination guidelines for computer programs and mathematical methods, examination guidelines for AI improved inventions will be newly added to the EPO examination guidelines (scheduled effective date: November 2018, 11) (1/2018/10)
Recent EP case law showing that it should be noted that the criteria for determining priority restoration may differ between the international phase under the PCT and the EP regional phase (2018/09/25)
Recent trends regarding the European Unitary Patent System and the European Unified Patent Court System, preparations/confirmations before the above systems come into force, and patent strategies under the new system (2018/07/02)
EPO official fees will be revised (effective date: 01/04/2018) (26/03/2018)
EPO Enlarged Board of Appeal provides criteria for determining the legality of amendments regarding undisclosed disclaimers in a recent trial decision (2018/02/26)
Revisions to EPO examination guidelines excluding claim amendments and oral proceedings (effective date: November 2017, 11) (1/2017/12)
EPO examination guidelines will be revised regarding lack of unity of invention at oral proceedings and search stage (effective date: November 2017, 11) (1/2017/11)
EPO updates Form 1200 for EP regional phase entry applications to facilitate accelerated procedures for applicants (2017/11/06)
Revised content regarding claim amendments in the examination guidelines at the EPO is announced (effective date: November 2017, 11) (1/2017/10)
Statistical data on EP opposition procedures in 2016 (2017/09/19)
EPO trial decision (July 2017, 07) in which the question was whether ambiguity in disclosure in a claimed invention could lead to insufficient disclosure.
European Patent Information The EPO's Technical Board of Appeal confirms that the gold standard test is superior to the essentiality test (2017/07/03)
Preparations to be made before the European Unified Patent Court system takes effect, how to request opt-out, and points to keep in mind (2017/06/19)
Recent EPO decision setting out when an applicant will be found to have exercised all due care in restoring rights in an EP patent application (2017/05/22)
A recent EPO decision (2017/05/08) shows that it is necessary to clearly prove a series of rights relationships in order to be identified as the proper applicant when claiming priority.
What measures can be taken to delay the grant of a pending EP patent application in order to obtain a European unitary patent (2017/04/24)
EPO launches a new service to notify applicants of a preliminary written opinion regarding the patentability of claimed inventions even if unity of invention is not satisfied (2017/04/03)
EPO releases various statistical data related to patent applications in 2016 (2017/03/21)
EPO Technical Board of Appeal refers disclaimers in recent decision to EPO Enlarged Board of Appeal (2017/02/06)
Points to note based on recent case law regarding late-filed submission(s) in patent opposition and appeals against opposition decisions at the EPO (2016/12/12)
EPO revised examination guidelines (effective date: 2016-11-01) (2016/11/14)
英国特許規則が2段階で改正される（第一段階の発効日：2016-10-1、第二段階の発効日：2017-4-6）(2016/09/20)
In Euro-PCT applications, measures to reduce claims fees may have the unintended result of claims being deemed abandoned (2016/08/29)
EPO will amend the law regarding refund of examination request costs (effective date: July 2016, 7) (1/2016/07)
EPO announces amendments to opposition procedures (effective date: 2016-07-01) (2016/06/27)
EPO trial decision clarifying whether the change from Swiss-type claim format to EPC 2000-style pharmaceutical second-use claims corresponds to expansion of the scope of protection (2016/06/20)
Matters to consider before the European unified patent and the unified patent court system come into effect and patent strategies under the new system (2016/5/16)
Recent developments and notes on the European Unified Patent Court (UPC) system (2016/04/11)
EPO releases various statistical data related to patent applications in 2015 (2016/03/28)
Is sending a reminder included in the EP agent's "duty of due care" when the deadline for paying the application maintenance pension has passed? (2016/2/15)
Attack and defense measures in EP opposition (2016/01/12)
PACE program to promote substantive examination procedures for EP applications will be revised (2015/12/16)
Strategic acquisition of rights using German branch-off application (2015/11/24)
A case is referred to the EPO Enlarged Board of Appeal regarding how priority should be determined in relation to claims that incorporate specific disclosures (2015/10/02)
EPO sets option to simplify patent granting procedures under Rule 71(3) EPC (2015/07/06)
EPO proposes amendments to the amount of patent maintenance pension under the European unified patent system (2015/06/08)
Enlarged Board of Appeal issues decision regarding amendments during EP patent opposition proceedings (2015/04/06)
EPO proposes the amount of patent maintenance pension under the European unified patent system (2015/03/23)
EU unified patent system and EU unified patent court (2015/02/16)
EPO trial decision in which the quality of machine translation of prior art documents became an issue when determining inventive step (2015/01/19)
EPO revised examination guidelines (effective date: 2014-11-01) (2014/10/14)
EPO introduces new framework for examination of pending EP patent applications (2014/09/01)
TBA decision regarding double patented subject matter in EP application (2014/07/14)
Matters regarding amendments during patent opposition proceedings at the EPO are referred to the Enlarged Board of Appeal (2014/06/02)
The number of EP patent applications in 2013 increased by 2.8% compared to the previous year (2014/01/27)
Amendment to Rule 164 EPC allows additional search in case of violation of unity (2013/11/05)
Points to note when adding new matters when amending an EP patent application (2013/10/07)
Notes on self-conflict in EP patent applications (2013/09/30)
EPO proposes amendments to rules for voluntary split procedures (2013/09/24)
Practical notes regarding incomplete descriptions in EP patent applications (2013/07/22)
How to reduce the number of claims in EP applications (2013.06.24)
Request for early processing of Euro-PCT applications at the regional stage (2013/05/27)
Amendment to Rule 53(3) EPC regarding submission of translation of priority certificate (2013.04.15)
Filing period for divisional applications will be extended or restarted for some EP applications (2013.03.04)
Usefulness of Auxiliary Request(s) in EP practice (2013/02/18)
Top 2012 countries by number of EP applications in 50 (2013.01.21)
The path is paved for the entry into force of the EU unified patent system (2012.12.17)
Changes in the trial decision regarding the exhaustion of priority rights in the EPO (2012/10/31)
Joint patent classification by USPTO and EPO will be available from January 2013, 1 (1)
EPO Enlarged Board of Appeal issues trial decision regarding correction of patent text under Rule 140 EPC (2012/08/06)
Handbook for conducting quality procedures at the EPO (2012.07.17)
Historic breakthrough of EU unified patent (2012.07.09)
EPO announces entry into force of 2012 examination guidelines (2012.06.25)
Interviews and oral proceedings at the EPO can be conducted via video conference (2012.05.07)
EPO launches new machine translation service (2012.03.12)
Rule 71 Amendments to the rules regarding patent granting procedures stipulated in EPC come into effect (2012.02.06)
Two relief procedures for expiration of deadline under EPC2000 (2)
Ranking by country by number of EP patent applications in 2011 (2012.01.23)
India related materials
~Revision of Indian Patent Rules (enforced on October 2020, 10)~ (20/2020/12)
Introduction of the Delhi High Court judgment regarding Article 3(k) (grounds for non-patentability) of advice for obtaining rights for software inventions in India (2020/07/13)
Japan-India PPH Trial Program - Started from 2019.12.05 - (2019/12/05)
Appropriate interpretation of the provisions of Section 3(d) of the Indian Patents Act with reference to the definition of generic drugs in the European Parliament Directive (2019/08/05)
Indian Patent Office presents draft amendments to patent rules regarding certified English translation of priority document and patent implementation report (Form 27) (2019/06/17)
Examination guidelines for computer-related inventions in India will be partially revised (2017/07/18)
The Indian Patent Office announces that the period required to issue First Office Action for Indian patent applications will be shortened to 18 months (2017/05/15)
Recent trends in the number of Office Actions issued in Indian patent applications (2017/03/06)
Amendment of Indian Patent Rules (Effective date: May 2016, 5) (16/2016/05)
Examination guidelines for computer-related inventions in India will be revised again (3) (2016/03/07)
Examination guidelines for computer-related inventions in India will be revised again (2) (2016/03/07)
Examination guidelines for computer-related inventions in India will be revised again (1) (2016/03/07)
Recommendation of additional patents in Indian patent practice (2016/02/01)
Points to note regarding Indian divisional application practices learned from recent IPAB decisions (2015/11/09)
Regarding first country filing obligations in major countries (3) (2015/09/07)
Examination guidelines for computer-related inventions in India are revised (2015/08/31)
Measures that can be taken to expedite examination of Indian patent applications (2015/02/02)
Delhi High Court issues a new judgment regarding the provisions of Section 8 of the Indian Patent Act (2014/11/17)
Statistical data related to Indian patents in the past 12 years (2014/05/07)
Notes on amendments in Indian patent practice (2013/11/11)
Regarding obtaining permission to file a patent application for the first time outside India (2013/10/15)
Comparison of the start times of substantive examinations in four Indian patent offices (2013/07/01)
Obligation to disclose information regarding corresponding foreign applications stipulated in Article 2012 of the Indian Patent Act (09/09/11)
ASEAN related materials
Patent enforcement is now required for issued Indonesian patents (2018/09/18)
Among the revised matters of Vietnam Patent Law, matters considered to be important in practice (2018/03/05)
IPOS launches new service to provide the public with improved access to patent documents in Singapore (2017/10/10)
Proposed amendments to the Patent Act and Patent Regulations and revised examination guidelines in Singapore (2017/08/28)
Advantages and pitfalls of the “foreign route” as an option for obtaining a patent in Singapore (2017/02/20)
Things to keep in mind when considering accelerated examination strategies as Cambodia becomes the 151st PCT member country (2016/10/17)
Amendments and points to note regarding possible amendments to Malaysian patent applications after issuance of Clear Examination Report (2016/09/12)
Indonesia's revised patent law comes into effect (enforcement date: 2016-08-28) (2016/09/05)
Regarding first country filing obligations in major countries (2) (2015/08/31)
Points to note about the Indonesian patent system (revised edition) (2015/04/27)
Utilizing the ASPEC program to obtain early patent rights for applications in ASEAN countries (2015/02/09)
Forms of substantive examination and accelerated examination in Malaysia and practical considerations (2014/10/06)
(Revised on 2014.07.18) Points to note about the revised Singapore patent system (Enforcement date: 2014-02-14) (2014/07/18)
Increase in Japan's intellectual property activities towards ASEAN (2014/02/24)
Points to note regarding the revised Singapore patent system (enforcement date: 2014-02-14) (2013/11/25)
Points to note about the Indonesian patent system (2013/09/17)
Points to note regarding the revised Malaysian patent system (2013/09/09)
Points to note about the revised Singapore patent system (2013/08/26)
Points to note about the revised Australian patent system (2013/08/19)
Proposed amendments to the Hong Kong patent system (2013/03/11)
China-related materials
-China Current Affairs-Intellectual property, economy, society, politics now March 2021 issue (03/2021/03)
-China Current Affairs-Intellectual property, economy, society, politics now March 2021 issue (01/2021/01)
-China Current Affairs-Intellectual property, economy, society, politics now March 2020 issue (12/2020/11)
-China Current Affairs-Intellectual property, economy, society, politics now March 2020 issue (11/2020/11)
-China Current Affairs-Intellectual property, economy, society, politics now March 2020 issue (10/2020/10)
Divisional application in Chinese patent practice (2019/10/15)
How is the patent eligibility of the subject matter of a patent application related to AI-related inventions determined in the US, EP, and China? (2018/11/12)
The importance of examiner interviews in Chinese patent practice and its strategic use (2018/07/30)
Interesting statistical data regarding invention patents, etc. in China (2018/01/15)
Chinese intellectual property information (about additional experimental data in the chemical field) (2017/10/10)
Introduction to Chinese patent examination status 3 (2017/09/04)
Introduction to Chinese patent examination status 2 (2017/04/20)
In light of China's revised examination guidelines, preferred measures to take in substantive examination regarding computer program inventions (2017/04/10)
Regarding the revision of China Examination Guidelines (2017/03/21)
Introduction to China's patent examination status – China's patent registration rate has fallen significantly for two consecutive months – (2016/11/14)
Utility model application Japan-China comparison and recent trends in China (2016/02/01)
Regarding first country filing obligations in major countries (3) (2015/09/07)
Regarding determination of inventive step of Chinese utility model (2013/08/05)
Effective measures to speed up the examination of Chinese applications (2013/06/24)
Points to note regarding incomplete descriptions in Chinese patent practices (2013/06/17)
Recommendation for filing patent and actual applications on the same day in China (2013/01/21)
One year extension of the Japan-China PPH trial program period and relaxation of required documents (1/2012/11)
Points to note regarding divisional application procedures in Chinese patent practice (2012/04/09)
Points to note regarding amendment procedures in Chinese patent practice (2012/04/02)
Materials from other countries
“Excess page fee” for patent specifications ~ Points to note when filing foreign applications ~ (2023.05.15)
[South Korea] Promulgation of revised laws such as patent law (enforced on April 2022, 4) (20)
[Brazil, Australia] Latest intellectual property information in the medical field (2021.05.24)
Revision of "Korean Patent/Utility Model Examination Standards" regarding description requirements for parameter inventions (enforced on December 2020, 12) (14/2021/02)
Utilization of WIPO GREEN by research institutions such as universities - From the perspective of SDGs and ESG - (2020.12.24)
[Korea] Changed the crime of patent infringement from a crime of complaining to a crime of impunity against intention (2020/12/07)
(2020.11.30)
[Foreign Intellectual Property Information] Law revisions in Indonesia and Mexico (patent) (2020/11/24)
Utilization of WIPO GREEN -From the perspective of SDGs and ESG- (2020/10/30)
Latest intellectual property information for Taiwan and Brazil (2020/09/14)
(2018) Application and examination status of AI-related inventions in Taiwan (2020/06/22)
South Korea will move to a policy that will allow compensation for damages even for sales of infringing products that exceed the patentee's production capacity (scheduled to take effect from December 2020) (12/2020/06)
Korean patent system latest trends (2020/01/20)
PCT collaborative survey ~For smooth acquisition of rights overseas~ (2020/01/14)
Points to note regarding amendments to the Canadian Patent Regulations that require clearing the “due care” standard (2019/10/28)
Points that patent practitioners should keep in mind due to amendments to the Canadian Patent Regulations (effective October 2019, 10) (30/2019/08)
Brazilian Patent and Trademark Office releases Resolution containing new steps to reduce patent backlog by at least 2% in two years (80/2018/07)
Points that patent practitioners should keep in mind in light of (draft) amendments to the Canadian Patent Regulations (2018/12/25)
WIPO releases statistical data on global trends in IP (2018) (28/28/05)
WIPO releases statistical data on global trends in IP (2018) (14/14/05)
In order to eliminate the problem of unexamined patents all at once, the Brazilian Patent Office proposes a plan to automatically grant patent applications without examination (2018/01/22)
Claim interpretation in each country (1) - Focusing on the application of the doctrine of equivalents and estoppel - (11/12/12)
Claim interpretation in each country (2017) - Focusing on the application of the doctrine of equivalents and estoppel - (11/11/12)
The examiner interview system for patent applications in Taiwan has been revised, increasing the utility of examiner interviews (effective date: July 2017, 7) (1/2017/12)
Report on trend guidelines for global patent application strategies in 2016 (2017/10/16)
Utilization of the amendment review system in Korean patent practice and practical strategies using amendment review (2017/02/13)
Patent term adjustment system in South Korea and its considerations (2016/05/09)
WIPO releases various statistical data on international applications based on PCT in 2015 (2016/04/04)
Statistical data related to international applications based on PCT in 2014 (2015/03/30)
Points to note regarding the reexamination request system in South Korea (2013/10/15)
Patent and real identical application in Taiwan (2013/06/10)
UKIPO submits bill to amend the Patent Act, etc. to Parliament (2013/06/10)
Taiwan Patent Law Amendment (Effective date: January 2013, 1) (1/2012/12)
Third party information provision system for Korean patent applications (2012/12/10)
UK Patent Office relaxes requirements for priority examination (2012/08/06)
Australian IP official fee revision (2012/05/14)
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