U.S. GOVERNMENT BRINGS ANTI-COUNTERFEITING AND PIRACY PROGRAM TO SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Posted by J Matthew Buchanan at February 27, 2006 03:10 PM
PRESS RELEASE | February 27, 2006 |
U.S. GOVERNMENT BRINGS ANTI-COUNTERFEITING AND PIRACY PROGRAM
TO SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Efforts Focus on Small Businesses that are Particularly Vulnerable
San Diego, Calif . – U.S. Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property Jon Dudas and U.S. Representative Darrell Issa (CA-49) today warned members of California's small business community that they are increasingly at risk of overseas intellectual property theft -- even if they do not export. Both Under Secretary Dudas and Representative Issa urged America's small businesses to consider protective action.
In remarks before the “Conference on the Global Intellectual Property Marketplace,” sponsored by the Commerce Department's U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), Dudas and Issa emphasized the importance to businesses of obtaining intellectual property protection both in the United States and overseas. Dudas noted that California alone has about 1.1 million small businesses employing 7.8 million residents.
“In 2004, California exported almost $110 billion in products. The top four destinations for California's exports are Mexico, Japan, Canada and China. Piracy and counterfeiting around the world are on the rise, and intellectual property-based companies—and those with widely recognized names or products—are especially vulnerable to intellectual property theft abroad,” Dudas said. “The goal of this seminar here in San Diego is to arm small businesses with the information they need to protect their intellectual property assets in the U.S. and anywhere around the world they conduct business.”
While counterfeiting and piracy pose a serious threat to all American businesses, small businesses are particularly at risk because they often lack the knowledge and expertise to effectively combat it. Because small businesses typically do not have personnel or maintain large operations in other countries, theft of their intellectual property overseas can go undetected.
The San Diego seminar is the latest in a series the USPTO is hosting across the country to help educate American small businesses about the realities of piracy and counterfeiting. During the two-day seminar in San Diego, intellectual property experts from the agency are providing attendees with details and useful tips about protecting and enforcing their intellectual property rights in the United States and around the world. Previously, USPTO seminars were held in Salt Lake City, Utah; Phoenix, Arizona; Austin, Texas; and Miami, Florida.
The San Diego seminar represents one of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's many efforts to educate small businesses about intellectual property protection. The USPTO also has a Web site specifically designed to address the needs of small businesses, and informational materials informing small businesses about the problem and steps they can take to mitigate it. Materials and other information about the awareness campaign are available at www.stopfakes.gov/smallbusiness .
The seminars and Web site are part of a much larger USPTO and federal government effort. The Strategy Targeting Organized Piracy (STOP!) initiative aims to combat criminal networks that traffic in fakes, stop trade in pirated and counterfeit goods at America's borders and help small businesses secure and enforce their rights in overseas markets. As part of the initiative, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office maintains a toll-free telephone hotline, 1-866-999-HALT, that helps businesses leverage the resources of the U.S. government to protect their intellectual property rights.
For more information about the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's effort to educate American businesses about intellectual property rights, visit www.stopfakes.gov .
# # #
Berkeley Town Hall Meeting to Focus on Improvements to Patent Review Process
MEDIA ADVISORY | February 24, 2006 |
Berkeley Town Hall Meeting to Focus on Improvements to Patent Review Process
Washington, D.C. – Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property Jon Dudas will lead a town hall meeting to provide background information regarding proposed new rule changes to improve patent examination. The changes will make the patent examination process more effective and efficient by reducing the amount of rework by the USPTO and reducing the time it takes for the patent review process. In addition, the USPTO will demonstrate its new Web-based patent electronic filing system ( EFS Web ).
| What | Town Hall Meeting An overview of the challenges the USPTO faces and the reasons why the proposed new rules are necessary. A question and answer session will follow immediately after presentations. |
|---|---|
| Who | Jon Dudas, Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO Patent attorneys, patent agents, independent inventors and members of the small business community |
| When | Tuesday, February 28, 2006 |
| Where | University of California, Berkeley International House |
For more information, please go to http://www.uspto.gov/web/patents/townhall.htm .
Clarification of Filing Date Requirements for Ex Parte and Inter Partes Reexamination Proceedings, Interim rule (23Feb2006)
Posted by J Matthew Buchanan at February 24, 2006 06:34 PM
View and/or download a copy of the Notice at the following URL:
http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/com/sol/notices/71fr9260.pdf
Proposed Rule Changes to Focus the Patent Process in the 21st Century
Background
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office continues to propose new initiatives to make the Office more efficient, to ensure that the patent application process promotes innovation, and to improve the quality of issued patents. These pages have been developed to provide full transparency to the public about these ongoing efforts. We inaugurate these pages with information about rules proposed on January 3, 2006 related to claims practice and continuation practice. These proposed rule changes will make the patent examination process more effective and efficient by reducing the amount of rework by the USPTO and reducing the time it takes for the patent review process. In addition they will improve the quality of issued patents and ensure that the USPTO continues to promote innovation. The information below includes an overview of the challenges the USPTO faces, the reasons why proposed new rules are necessary, the proposed rule changes, and supporting material. We have also included a schedule of dates and places where USPTO representatives will make presentations concerning the proposed rules. We will continue to update these pages as new information or proposals are unveiled.
USPTO Chicago Town Hall Meeting Focuses on Proposed Rule Changes to Improve Patent Examination
The Commerce Department’s United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) on February 1, 2006 provided an audience of nearly 500 Chicago-area patent attorneys, patent agents, independent inventors and members of the small business community with background information regarding proposed new rule changes. Commissioner for Patents John Doll and James Toupin, the agency's general counsel, discussed the challenges the USPTO faces and the reasons why the proposed new rules limiting claims and rework are necessary. They then took questions from the audience.
Specifically, these initiatives will prioritize the claims reviewed during the examination process and better focus the agency’s examination of patent applications by requiring applicants to identify the most important claims to the invention.
The recognized value of patents to innovation has led to enormous increases in the number of patent applications filed each year. Since the USPTO's resources have not increased at the same rate as filings, it has become much more difficult to provide reliable, consistent and prompt patentability decisions. Delay in granting a patent can slow new products coming to market, and issuing patents for inventions that are not novel and non-obvious can impede competition and economic growth. Simply hiring more patent examiners will not slow the growth in the time it takes to get a patent or improve the quality of examination. This will occur only through the participation of applicants in facilitating more effective and efficient patent examination.
“Improving the patent process will take everyone working together-applicants and the USPTO,” Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Jon Dudas noted earlier. “Better quality applications mean better examination. We need more focus throughout and closure to the examination process.”
In FY 2004, almost one-third of the 355,000 new patent applications had already been reviewed and rejected by the USPTO, but applicants resubmitted them mostly with only minor changes. Also, over 40% of new applications in FY 2004 had more than 20 claims. These practices waste the limited time examiners have to review an application and prevent examiners from focusing on the most important issues in an application.
In the past two years, the USPTO has instituted a number of measures to improve patent quality and also has implemented new metrics to measure the results. Results indicate that quality is improving. The percentage of patent examiners certified for promotion to full performance level increased from 59% in FY 2004 to 70% in FY 2005. The number of office actions complying with applicable laws and rules during examination improved to 86.2% from 82% the previous year. The compliance rate for final allowances improved from 94.8% to 96% from FY 2004 to FY 2005.
Complete slide set presented at this Town Hall Meeting (html version) (zip version)
For background and justification, see slides 8-30 and 48-60.
For proposals on continuations, see slides 31-38 and 72-85.
For proposals on claims, see slides 39-47 and 61-71.
|
Federal Register - 71 Fed. Reg. 61 (03 January 2006) Official Gazette | |
|
Topics: |
Changes to Practice for the Examination of Claims in Patent Applications, Notice of proposed rule making (03Jan2006) [PDF] |
| Examples | |
| Comments from Public | |
|
Federal Register - 71 Fed. Reg. 48 (03 January 2006) Official Gazette | |
|
Topics: |
Proposed Changes to Practice for Continuing Applications, Requests for Continued Examination Practice, and Applications Containing Patentably Indistinct Claims, Notice of proposed rulemaking (03Jan2006) [PDF] |
| Examples | |
| Comments from Public | |
Presentation Materials | |
|
In addition to the Chicago Town Hall slides described and available above, the following presentation materials are available: Slides (25 January 2006 presentation regarding background and justification) (html version) (zip version) Slides (25 January 2006 presentation by Robert Spar regarding Claims Practice) (html version) (zip version) Slides (25 January 2006 presentation by Robert Spar regarding Continuation Practice) (html version) (zip version) Slides (February 2006 presentation by John Whealan regarding all proposals) (html version) (zip version) | |
NOTE: The information contained on this page was correct at the time of original publication. Some information may no longer be applicable. Amendments may have been made to the rules of practice since the original date of a publication, there may have been a change in any fees indicated, and certain references to publications may no longer be valid. Wherever there is a reference to a statute or rule, please check carefully whether the statute or rule in force at the date of publication of the information has since been amended.
For questions concerning the proposals, please contact the Office of Patent Legal Administration at 571-272-7701 or Patent.Practice@uspto.gov.
Some contents linked to on this page require a plug-in for ZIP , PDF and PowerPoint Files.
New Private Pair
Posted by Stephen M. Nipper at February 23, 2006 02:55 PM
Matt Buchanan and I (Stephen M. Nipper) listened to the USPTO presentation on Private Pair earlier. Here are our notes.
The four main new features touted:
1. web based digital certificate securityâyou donât need USPTO Direct anymore. Log in using your browser (Internet Explorerâ¦they pointed out that FireFox may or may not work (worked just fine for both of us)). All you (and your secretary) need is your digital certificate (your old .EFS file) and your EFS password. USPTO Direct will still work but will be eventually phased out.
2. first action predictionânew tab in Private Pair gives you a prediction as to when you can expect a first office action. Theyâll even generate a letter for you which you can print for your file (and your client).
3. new look and feel - a uniform, tabbed browser interface is easy to navigate and fairly intuitive
4. supplemental contentâbiosequence listings, text tables, computer program listings, etc.
Later today, the presentation (audio and slides) will be available here: http://webex.client.ninesystems.com/uspto
It is working right now! Weâve both tested it. Here is the login: http://portal.uspto.gov/external/portal/home . It says âprivate betaâ (we bet that is removed later today) but you can still log in. Then select âEnter Private Pair.â The next page is where you enter your digital certificate and password.
Kudos to the PTO team that is responsible for this effort -- the new system is a major step forward. Also, the presenation was well-organized and nicely handled. Great job!
Under Secretary of Commerce To Open Berkeley Town Meeting on Patent Claims and Continuation Practice
Under Secretary of Commerce To Open Berkeley Town Meeting on Patent Claims and Continuation Practice -- Register Now
Berkeley, California - February 28
This town hall meeting on the proposed rule changes for claims and continuations will be held February 28 in Berkeley, California. The USPTO and Berkeley Center for Law and Technology (BCLT) will co-sponsor the event at International House (across from BCLT, Boalt Hall in Berkeley) The meeting will be held from 1pm – 3pm. In addition the USPTO will have a demonstration from 3pm – 4pm at the same location of its new Web-based patent electronic filing system (EFS Web).
Jon Dudas, Under Secretary of Commerce and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office, Jay Lucas, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Patent Examination Policy and James Toupin, the agency’s General Counsel, will provide an overview of the challenges the USPTO faces, the reasons why the proposed new rules are necessary, and information on the proposed rule changes. A question and answer session will follow immediately after their presentation.
Registration is free and CLE credit may be available.
These town hall meetings are for patent attorneys, patent agents, independent inventors and members of the small business community, or anyone else interested in patent examination.
The first town hall meeting was in Chicago on February 1, 2006. Details regarding future town hall meetings in Texas and Washington, DC, will be posted at a later date.
Patent Lawsuit Filing Update (2006.02.20)
Posted by Stephen M. Nipper at February 20, 2006 04:26 PM
Patent lawsuits filed since Feburary 1, 2006 (updated).
Please forward this to anyone you think would find it useful.
Subscription information can be found here: http://www.rethinkip.com/archives/rss_email_patent_lawsuit_filing_notices.html
Allergan Inc v. Alcon Laboratories Inc cacdce 8:2006cv00116 2/3/2006
Alt v. Medtronic Inc txedce 6:2006cv00067 2/15/2006
Applied Interact, LLC v. Primedia Inc. nyedce 1:2006cv00656 2/14/2006
Astrazeneca AB, et al v. Impax Laboratories dedce 1:2000cv00479 2/9/2006
BACHMANN INDUSTRIES, INC. v. ATI MODEL PRODUCTS, INC. paedce 2:2006cv00571 2/7/2006
Baden Sports Inc v. Molten USA Inc wawdce 2:2006cv00210 2/13/2006
Blessing Associates, Incorporated et al v. Toledo Tool and Die, Incorporated et al miedce 2:2006cv10618 2/10/2006
Bookham, Inc. v. Unaxis Balzers AG et al candce 4:2006cv00885 2/9/2006
Braun Corporation The v. Vantage Mobility International LLC inndce 2:2006cv00050 2/10/2006
Built NY, Inc. v. Franmara, Inc. et al nysdce 1:2006cv00968 2/7/2006
BULLET LINE, INC. vs. DJB IMPORTS flsdc 1:2006cv20310 2/3/2006
Callaway Golf Company v. Acushnet Company dedce 1:2006cv00091 2/9/2006
Calnetix Inc et al v. Arete Power Inc et al cacdce 2:2006cv00735 2/8/2006
Calzados Anatomicos Calana, S.L. v. Helle Comfort, Inc. nvdce 2:2006cv00169 2/9/2006
Cannon Rubber Ltd, et al v. 1st Years Inc ilndce 1:2003cv04918 2/13/2006
Caponey v. ADA Enterprises Inc scdce 8:2006cv00435 2/13/2006
Caught Fish Enterprises, LLC et al v. Action Manufacturing, LLC et al codce 1:2006cv00194 2/3/2006
CHAMELEON, INC. et al v. BROWN SHOE COMPANY, INC. njdce 3:2006cv00553 2/7/2006
CHAMELEON, INC. et al v. NEXTTEC INTERNATIONAL, INC. njdce 3:2006cv00552 2/7/2006
Color Match Pool Fittings Inc v. Aquastar Pool Products Inc et al cacdce 2:2006cv00781 2/10/2006
Comfortex Corporation v. Springs Window Fashions Division, Inc. nyndce 1:2006cv00160 2/14/2006
CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGIES, LLC vs. PLA-COR wiwdc 3:2006cv00092 2/16/2006
Dale Chavez Co Inc v. Schneiders Saddlery Co Inc cacdce 5:2006cv00161 2/9/2006
Diversi-Plast Products, Inc. v. Henderson et al mndce 0:2006cv00524 2/8/2006
ELI LILLY AND COMPANY v. SICOR PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. et al insdce 1:2006cv00238 2/15/2006
ELI LILLY AND COMPANY v. SICOR PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. et al insdce 1:2006cv00238 2/15/2006
EON-NET, L.P. v. EDMUND OPTICS INC. njdce 1:2006cv00584 2/6/2006
Eon-Net, L.P. v. Sawhorse Enterprises, Inc. candce 3:2006cv00881 2/9/2006
Eran Industries v. GP Industries et al nedce 8:2006cv00051 2/8/2006
GP Industries v. Eran Industries et al nedce 8:2006cv00050 2/7/2006
GRASTY v. PTO paedce 2:2006cv00524 2/3/2006
Grayline Housewares Inc. et al v. Garden Ridge Corporation ilndce 1:2006cv00699 2/6/2006
HUNTER DOUGLAS NORTH AMERICA, INC., et al v. HT WINDOWS FASHIONS CORP.,et al njdce 2:2006cv00616 2/14/2006
Karsten Manufacturing Corporation v. Focus Golf Systems, Inc. azdce 2:2006at10146 2/16/2006
Koninklijke Philips Electronics N V et al v. New Sensations Inc et al cacdce 2:2006cv00694 2/6/2006
Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. et al v. Expedia Media, LLC et al nysdce 7:2006cv00934 2/7/2006
Leatherwood v. Burris Company Inc txndce 4:2006cv00092 2/1/2006
Leonard et al v. Home Depot nyedce 2:2006cv00591 2/9/2006
Litebook Company, The v. Apollo Health utdce 2:2006cv00117 2/8/2006
M&R MARKING SYSTEMS, INC. v. MILLENNIUM MARKING CO. njdce 2:2006cv00569 2/7/2006
Mag Instrument Inc v. Laser Devices Inc et al cacdce 5:2006cv00117 2/2/2006
Majestec 125, LLC v. Sealift, Inc. miwdce 1:2006cv00104 2/9/2006
Martek Biosciences v. Nutrinova Inc., et al dedce 1:2003cv00896 2/16/2006
Martin Industries, LLC et al v. Yetter Manufacturing Company iasdce 3:2006cv00017 2/15/2006
Millennium, L.P. v. Captaris, Inc. nysdce 1:2006cv00964 2/7/2006
Nellcor Puritan, et al v. Masimo Corporation cacdce 2:2003cv00603 2/10/2006
Netac Technology Company LTD v. PNY Technologies Inc txedce 5:2006cv00029 2/13/2006
Nike, Inc. nvdce 2:2006cv00164 2/9/2006
Nike, Inc. v. Bryon Jones, Inc. ordce 3:2006cv00204 2/13/2006
Nike, Inc. v. Mega Trends LLC ordce 3:2006cv00205 2/13/2006
Nike, Inc. v. Romeo & Juliette, Inc. nvdce 2:2006cv00172 2/10/2006
Ogio International, Inc. v. Nicklaus Golf utdce 2:2006cv00122 2/8/2006
P&G Solutions, Inc. v. Alum-A-Pole Corporation mndce 0:2006cv00584 2/10/2006
Paper Manufacturing Controls Service, Inc. v. Ice House America, LLC gamdce 6:2006cv00012 2/14/2006
Park City Group Inc. v. 360Commerce utdce 2:2006cv00123 2/8/2006
Pfizer Inc v. Sandoz Inc. et al dedce 1:2006cv00090 2/8/2006
Pfizer Inc v. Teva Pharmaceuticals USA et al dedce 1:2006cv00089 2/8/2006
Poly-Flex, Inc. v. Versa Corporation txndce 3:2006cv00226 2/6/2006
Rauckman Utility Products LLC v. Tyco Electronic Logistics AG et al ilsdce 3:2006cv00133 2/13/2006
Richmond IP Holdings, LLC. v. K&P International Holdings, Ltd. et al vaedce 3:2006cv00121 2/16/2006
Rogers v. Peterson Manufacturing Company tnmdce 3:2006cv00101 2/9/2006
Saturn Biomedical Systems Incorporated v. Aircraft Medical Limited wawdce 2:2006cv00202 2/9/2006
Schreiber Foods Inc v. Land O'Lakes Inc wiedce 1:2006cv00170 2/8/2006
SDGI HOLDINGS, INC. et al v. EBI LP et al njdce 2:2006cv00490 2/1/2006
Secure Elements Inc. v. Citadel Security Software Inc. dedce 1:2006cv00098 2/14/2006
Simpleair Holdings Inc v. Accuweather Inc cacdce 2:2006cv00799 2/10/2006
Spangrud v. Lane Furniture Industries, Inc. nvdce 2:2006cv00175 2/13/2006
Sun Chemical Corporation v. Markem Corporation nhdce 1:2006cv00051 2/8/2006
Sun Chemical Corporation v. Markem Corporation nhdce 1:2006cv00052 2/8/2006
Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc. v. Pfizer Inc. nysdce 1:2006cv01134 2/14/2006
The Garvey Corporation v. Nercon Engineering & Manufacturing, Incorporated ilndce 1:2006cv00668 2/3/2006
The Ohio Willow Wood Company v. Fillauer Companies, Inc. et al ohsdce 2:2006cv00108 2/10/2006
Thomas W Grayson et al v. Zumar Industries Inc et al cacdce 8:2006cv00130 2/6/2006
USPTO To Hold Live On-Line for Independent Inventors
Posted by J Matthew Buchanan at February 17, 2006 08:24 AM
USPTO To Hold Live On-Line for Independent Inventors
Senior officials of the United States Patent and Trademark Office, as well as a representative from the Patent and Trademark Depository Library Program, will be available live on-line on Wednesday, February 22, from 2 to 3 pm (ET). They will be answering questions and offering tips for independent inventors. Instructions for taking part in the online will be posted on the home page of the USPTO website at 10:30 am (ET) on Wednesday. Inventors can begin logging on for the on-line at 1:30 pm.
The independent inventor on-line is part of the USPTO's continuing efforts to promote and protect America 's independent inventors. This effort includes educating inventor-entrepreneurs about the risks of working with invention development companies.
We have transcripts and frequently-asked questions and answers from previous onlines available on the Inventors Resources pages. Check them out and save time — your question may already have an answer waiting for you!
Commerce Under Secretary to Highlight North Carolinaâs Innovation and Competitiveness
Posted by J Matthew Buchanan at February 16, 2006 04:20 PM
MEDIA ADVISORY | February 16, 2006 |
Commerce Under Secretary to Highlight North Carolina’s Innovation and Competitiveness
Charlotte event to focus on UNC Charlotte leadership in health care–related innovation
Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) Jon Dudas will speak at UNC Charlotte to highlight President Bush’s competitiveness initiative and a genda to make the health care system more efficient while continuing to lead the world in cutting edge medicine .
| What | USPTO event celebrating competitiveness and innovation in health care technology-as follow-up to President’s State of the Union address. Learn about UNC Charlotte’s leadership in bringing ideas to market, their benefits to the region and the country, and important role of the U.S. patent and trademark systems. A question and answer session will follow immediately after the speech. |
|---|---|
| Who | Jon Dudas, Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office Congressman Robin Hayes (N.C.-8 th District) Researchers and administrators at University of North Carolina-Charlotte and the Charlotte Research Institute, independent inventors, local technology-oriented companies. |
| Where | UNC Charlotte Campus |
| When | Friday, February 17, 2006 |
United States Patent & Trademark Office Issues 7 Millionth Patent
Posted by J Matthew Buchanan at February 14, 2006 01:06 PM
United States Patent & Trademark Office Issues 7 Millionth Patent
Patent Assigned to DuPont for Novel Fibers
WASHINGTON, D.C.– The Department of Commerce’s United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) today issued patent No. 7 million to DuPont senior researcher John P. O’Brien for “polysaccharide fibers” and a process for their production. The fibers have cotton-like properties, are biodegradable and are useful in textile applications.
It took 75 years to get from patent No.1 to patent 1 million. It has taken less than one tenth of that time to go from 6 million to 7 million patents.
- Patent No. 1 million was issued on August 8, 1911, for a tubeless vehicle tire.
- Twenty-four years later, on April 30, 1935, patent No. 2 million issued for a vehicle wheel to increase the safety and longevity of pneumatic tires.
- Patent No. 3 million issued 26 years later on September 12, 1961, to an inventor at the General Electric Co., for an automated system that translated letters, numbers and symbols to data processing code.
- Patent No. 4 million issued 15 years later on December 28, 1976 for a process for recycling asphalt aggregate compositions.
- Fifteen years later, on March 19, 1991, Patent No. 5 million issued to a University of Florida inventor, for a more efficient way to produce fuel ethanol.
- Only eight years later, patent No. 6 million issued on December 7, 1999, to 3Com Corporation’s Palm Computing for its HotSync® technology.
- And now just a little more than six years later, patent No. 7 million issues.
Patent No. 1 was issued in 1836. Earlier patents were not numbered, although the first U.S. patent was issued in 1790. Approximately 10,000 patents were issued between 1790 and 1836. The USPTO issued 151,079 utility patents in fiscal year 2005.
# # #
USPTOâs Town Hall Meeting on Proposed Rules on Claim and Continuation Practice Coming to Berkeley CA, February 28, 2006
USPTO’s Town Hall Meeting on Proposed Rules on Claim and Continuation Practice Coming to Berkeley CA, February 28, 2006
Register Now
The second in a series of town hall meetings on the proposed rule changes for claims and continuations will be held February 28 in Berkeley, California. The USPTO and Berkeley Center for Law and Technology (BCLT) will co-sponsor the event at International House (across from BCLT, Boalt Hall in Berkeley). The meeting will be held from 2pm – 4pm. In addition the USPTO will have a demonstration from 1pm – 2pm at the same location of its new Web-based patent electronic filing system (EFS Web).
Jay Lucas, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Patent Examination Policy and James Toupin, the agency’s General Counsel, will provide an overview of the challenges the USPTO faces, the reasons why the proposed new rules are necessary, and information on the proposed rule changes. A question and answer session will follow immediately after their presentation.
Registration is free and CLE credit may be available.
These town hall meetings on the proposed changes to the rules are for patent attorneys, patent agents, independent inventors and members of the small business community, or anyone else interested in patent examination.
The first town hall meeting was in Chicago on February 1, 2006. Details regarding future town hall meetings in Texas and Washington, DC, will be posted at a later date.
Patent Lawsuit Filing Update (2006.02.08)
Posted by Stephen M. Nipper at February 8, 2006 02:47 PM
Cases filed since January 8, 2006 (updated).
Please forward this to anyone you think would find it useful.
Subscription information can be found here: http://www.rethinkip.com/archives/rss_email_patent_lawsuit_filing_notices.html
ABB Power T & D Co. v. Landis & Gyr, et al
dedce
1:1997cv00417
1/19/2006
Accu-Time Systems, Incorporated v. Zuccetti U.S.A. et al
madce
1:2006cv10178
1/24/2006
Advanced Analogic Technologies, Inc. v. Linear Technology Corporation
candce
3:2006cv00735
2/2/2006
After Six, Inc. v. Lord West et al
gamdce
3:2006cv00006
1/20/2006
After Six, Inc. v. Lord West et al
nyedce
1:2006cv00382
1/27/2006
Alloc Inc et al v. Empire Home Services LLC
ilndce
1:2006cv00285
1/18/2006
ALLTECH INC vs. CENZONE TECH INC
casdc
3:2006cv00153
1/23/2006
Amazon.com Inc. et al v. Cendant Corporation et al
dedce
1:2006cv00041
1/23/2006
American General Life Insurance Company v. Pennmont Benefit Services Inc et al
txsdce
4:2006cv00328
1/31/2006
Amirav v. CMS Research Corporation et al
nysdce
1:2006cv00659
1/27/2006
Baldwin Graphic Systems Inc. v. BBA Nonwovens Simpsonville Inc. et al
dedce
1:2006cv00077
2/3/2006
Biomedical Patent Management Corporation v. State of California, Department of Health Services
candce
3:2006cv00737
2/2/2006
Bionix Development Corporation v. Shoney Scientific Inc et al
wiedce
2:2006cv00079
1/18/2006
Bogar Enterprises, LLC v. Custom Souvenir & Novelty, Inc.
nvdce
2:2006cv00136
2/6/2006
Brinton
nvdce
2:2006cv00053
1/13/2006
Calculated Industries, Inc, v. The Kroger Co.
nvdce
3:2006cv00049
1/30/2006
Casa Herrera Inc v. J C Ford Company et al
cacdce
8:2006cv00092
1/27/2006
Catch Curve, Inc. v. Integrated Global Concepts, Inc. et al
gandce
1:2006cv00161
1/24/2006
Caught Fish Enterprises, LLC et al v. E & V, Inc. et al
codce
1:2006cv00030
1/9/2006
CELLOMICS, INC v. MOLECULAR DEVICES CORPORATION et al
pawdce
2:2006cv00118
1/27/2006
Chase Manhattan Mortgage Corporation v. Blakely-EL
miedce
2:2006cv10343
1/25/2006
Colida v. Sony Ericsson Mobile Communication USA, Inc.
nysdce
1:2006cv00257
1/11/2006
Consumers Interstate Corp v. Staples, Inc et al
ctdce
3:2006cv00173
2/3/2006
Consumers Interstate Corp v. WB Mason Co Inc
ctdce
3:2006cv00174
2/3/2006
Cortec Corporation v. CP-D Acquisition Company, LLC
mndce
0:2006cv00512
2/7/2006
Cricket Productions, Inc. et al v. E. Mishan & Sons, Inc. et al
madce
1:2006cv10092
1/17/2006
Cygnus Telecommunications Technology LLC v. American International Telephonics LLC et al
cacdce
2:2006cv00508
1/26/2006
DDR Holdings, LLC v. Hotels.com et al
txedce
2:2006cv00042
1/31/2006
Desert Aire Corp. v. AAON, Inc.
mddce
1:2006cv00289
2/2/2006
Dickson Industries v. Patent Enforcement
okwdce
5:2002cv00467
1/27/2006
Dodge-Regupol, Incorporated v. RB Rubber Products, Inc.
pamdce
3:2006cv00236
1/31/2006
DOREL JUVENILE GROUP, INC. v. GRACO CHILDREN'S PRODUCTS INC.
insdce
1:2003cv01273
1/10/2006
DUSA PHARMACEUTICAL vs. HEIMER
casdc
3:2006cv00140
1/20/2006
Dusa Pharmaceuticals, Inc. et al v. Quibell et al
madce
1:2006cv10122
1/20/2006
DUSA Pharmaceuticals, Incorporated et al v. Soheim
miedce
2:2006cv10273
1/20/2006
Electronic Controlled Systems, Inc. v. KVH Industries, Inc.
mndce
0:2006cv00434
1/31/2006
Ellison Educational Equipment Inc v. The Collectables Inc
cacdce
8:2006cv00093
1/30/2006
Emerald Innovations LLC v. Moran Foods, Inc. et al
ohndce
1:2006cv00259
2/2/2006
Emergis Technologies Inc v. Avista Corporation
waedce
2:2006cv00023
1/20/2006
Emergis Technologies, Inc. v. Flathead Electric Cooperative, Inc
mtdce
9:2006cv00007
1/20/2006
Emergis Technologies, Inc. v. Otter Tail Corporation
mndce
0:2006cv00348
1/25/2006
Emergis Technologies,Inc. v. Middle Tennessee Electric Membership Corporation
tnmdce
3:2006cv00052
1/25/2006
Emory University et al v. Nova Biogenetics, Inc. et al
gandce
1:2006cv00141
1/20/2006
Eon-Net LP v. Sawhorse Enterprises Inc
candce
3:2006cv00776
2/3/2006
Eon-Net, L.P. v. A18 Corporation
nysdce
1:2006cv00536
1/24/2006
EON-NET, L.P. v. BROTHER INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION(U.S.A)
njdce
3:2006cv00376
1/25/2006
Eon-Net, L.P. v. Gristedes Foods, Inc.
nysdce
1:2006cv00621
1/25/2006
Eon-Net, L.P. v. J& R Electronics Inc.
nysdce
1:2006cv00929
2/6/2006
EON-NET, L.P. v. LINEN 'N THINGS, INC.
njdce
2:2006cv00315
1/23/2006
Essex P.B. & R. Corp. v. Niemann
moedce
4:2006cv00146
1/31/2006
E-Watch, Inc et al v. March Networks Corporation
txedce
9:2006cv00025
1/24/2006
Exabyte Corporation v. Hewlett-Packard Company
codce
1:2006cv00102
1/20/2006
E-Z Dock, Inc. v. Shoremaster, Inc.
mowdce
3:2006cv05008
1/25/2006
Fairplay Electric Cars LLC v. Textron Innovations Inc. et al
dedce
1:2006cv00060
1/30/2006
Faus Group, Inc. et al v. Columbia Flooring, Inc. et al
gandce
1:2006cv00218
1/31/2006
First Act, Inc. v. Federated Department Stores, Inc. et al
madce
1:2006cv10223
2/6/2006
First Act, Inc. v. Federated Department Stores, Inc. et al
madce
1:2006cv10233
2/6/2006
GARMIN CORPORATION vs. TOMTOM, INC.
wiwdc
3:2006cv00062
1/31/2006
GARMIN LTD. vs. TOMTOM, INC.
wiwdc
3:2006cv00063
2/1/2006
Heiber Patent Licensing, Corp. v. Printer Essentials.Com, Inc.
flmdce
6:2006cv00134
2/2/2006
HERAEUS ELECTRO-NITE CO. v. MIDWEST INSTRUMENT COMPANY, INC.
paedce
2:2006cv00355
1/26/2006
Holland Electronics LLC v. John Mezzalingua Associates Inc
cacdce
2:2006cv00440
1/24/2006
hq Publications, LLC v. WWW.ALLCOLLEGESEARCHDIRECTORY.COM et al
codce
1:2006cv00124
1/24/2006
HR US LLC v. AAMP of Florida, Inc. et al
vaedce
3:2006cv00060
1/27/2006
Illinois Tool Woks Inc. v. Frito-Lay North America Inc.
dedce
1:2006cv00054
1/27/2006
IMAGEWARE SYSTEMS vs. BOSTON EQUITIES CORP
casdc
3:2006cv00221
1/30/2006
Intellectual Science and Technology, Incorporated v. AIWA Strategic Account Partnership, L. L. C.
miedce
2:2006cv10415
1/30/2006
Intellectual Science and Technology, Incorporated v. Panasonic Corporation of North America
miedce
2:2006cv10412
1/30/2006
Intellectual Science and Technology, Incorporated v. Philips Electronics North America Corporation
miedce
2:2006cv10405
1/30/2006
Intellectual Science and Technology, Incorporated v. Pioneer North America, Incorporated et al
miedce
2:2006cv10407
1/30/2006
Intellectual Science and Technology, Incorporated v. Sony Electronics, Incorporated
miedce
2:2006cv10406
1/30/2006
Intellectual Science and Technology, Incorporated v. TDK Electronics Corporation
miedce
2:2006cv10411
1/30/2006
Intellectual Science and Technology, Incorporated v. TEAC America, Incorporated
miedce
2:2006cv10416
1/30/2006
Intellectual Science and Technology, Incorporated v. Thomson, Incorporated
miedce
2:2006cv10410
1/30/2006
Intellectual Science and Technology, Incorporated vs. US JVC Corporation
miedce
2:2006cv10409
1/30/2006
International Automated Systems v. Digital Persona
utdce
2:2006cv00072
1/24/2006
International Automated Systems v. IBM et al
utdce
2:2006cv00115
2/7/2006
International Automated Systems v. Microsoft
utdce
2:2006cv00114
2/7/2006
International Connectors and Cable Corporation v. Dynacom Corporation
cacdce
8:2006cv00073
1/25/2006
Irwin Industrial Tool Co. et al v. Magna Industries, Inc.
ohndce
1:2006cv00164
1/24/2006
Kenall Manufacturing Company v. Luminaire Lighting Corporation
ilndce
1:2006cv00353
1/20/2006
Kengs Firearms Speciality Inc v. Barkochba Botach et al
cacdce
2:2006cv00382
1/20/2006
Kinedyne Corporation v. Ancra International
cacdce
5:2006cv00073
1/20/2006
Klein-Becker USA, LLC v. Allergan, Inc.
candce
4:2006mc80023
1/26/2006
K-TEC v. Vita-Mix
utdce
2:2006cv00108
2/6/2006
Landis+Gyr Inc. v. Elster Electricity LLC
dedce
1:2006cv00082
2/6/2006
LEXINGTON LASERCOMB vs. UNGER
flsdc
9:2006cv80079
1/24/2006
Magnetic Products, Incorporated v. Trestain
miedce
4:2006cv10443
1/31/2006
Mallory Ventures, Inc. v. Microsoft Corporation
madce
1:2006cv10067
1/11/2006
Man Nin Shing Company Limited v. King Products, Inc. et al
ohsdce
2:2006cv00063
1/25/2006
MERCK & CO., INC. v. HI-TECH PHARMACAL CO., INC.
njdce
3:2006cv00266
1/18/2006
MERCK & CO., INC. v. HI-TECH PHARMACAL CO., INC.
njdce
3:2006cv00268
1/18/2006
MIKE MCGAUGHY'S vs. RICKAN CORP
casdc
3:2006cv00255
2/2/2006
MILLENNIUM, L.P. v. DOCULEX, INC.,
njdce
2:2006cv00322
1/23/2006
Millennium, L.P. v. Hewlett-Packard Company
nysdce
1:2006cv00522
1/24/2006
Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation v. Black & Decker (US) Inc et al
wiedce
2:2006cv00131
1/31/2006
Molecular Nutrition, LLC v. Syntrax Innovations, Inc.
moedce
1:2006cv00013
1/24/2006
Monsanto Company v. Henderson
moedce
4:2006cv00155
2/2/2006
Monsanto Company v. Kueckelhan
moedce
4:2006cv00099
1/20/2006
Monsanto Company v. Oswald
moedce
4:2006cv00154
2/2/2006
Monsanto Company v. Ryan
moedce
4:2006cv00100
1/20/2006
Monsanto Company v. Vanderhoof
moedce
4:2006cv00134
1/30/2006
Mooneyham Lures, Inc. v. EBSCO Industries, Inc. et al
txedce
9:2006cv00028
1/26/2006
MUNCIE NOVELTY COMPANY, INC. v. INTERNATIONAL BINGO SUPPLY, L.L.C.
insdce
1:2006cv00158
1/27/2006
Neer v. Productive Electronics, LLC
gandce
1:2006cv00180
1/26/2006
Netratings, Inc. v. Websidestory, Inc.
nysdce
1:2006cv00878
2/3/2006
NEWSPRING INDUSTRIAL CORPORATION v. GROUP W INC. et al
njdce
2:2006cv00343
1/24/2006
Newspring Industrial Corporation v. Mass Distributors Warehouse, Inc. et al
ilndce
1:2006cv00397
1/23/2006
Nichia Corporation v. Intermatic Inc.
dedce
1:2006cv00045
1/24/2006
Northpole USA, LLC v. Price
moedce
4:2006cv00148
2/1/2006
OILMATIC SYSTEMS, LLC. v. RESTAURANT TECHNOLOGIES INC.
njdce
3:2006cv00363
1/25/2006
One Pass Water Blade, LLC v. Sun-Mate Corporation
candce
3:2006cv00809
2/6/2006
Otter Products, LLC v. Diver Entertainment Systems, Inc.
codce
1:2006cv00185
2/2/2006
Parco Merged Media Corp. v. Multispectral Solutions, Inc.
vaedce
2:2006cv00046
1/26/2006
Park B. Smith Inc. v. CHF Industries Inc.
nysdce
1:2006cv00869
2/3/2006
Parker-Hannifin Corp v. Wix Filtration Corporation
caedce
1:2006cv00098
1/30/2006
Patent Category Corporation v. TV Products USA Inc
cacdce
2:2006cv00539
1/27/2006
Polarity Inc. v. Diversified Technologies Inc.
candce
3:2006cv00646
1/30/2006
Positive Technologies, Inc., v. Fujitsu America, Inc., et al
txedce
2:2006cv00022
1/18/2006
PRESLEY v. UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE et al
dcdce
1:2006cv00104
1/19/2006
PRO-GARD PRODUCTS, LLC. v. PP USA, INC. et al
insdce
1:2006cv00140
1/26/2006
Quadrascan Technologies, LLC et al v. Gayle Technologies, Inc. et al
tnmdce
3:2006cv00082
2/2/2006
R.M.F. GLOBEL, INC, et al v. CATTAN, et al
pawdce
2:2004cv00593
1/24/2006
REALAGE INC v. WATSON ALTERNATIVE HEALTH AND WEIGHT LOSS CENTER INC et al
flndce
3:2006cv00053
1/31/2006
Reebok International Limited v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
madce
1:2004cv12668
2/6/2006
Rembrandt Technologies, LP v. Sharp Corporation et al
txedce
2:2006cv00047
2/3/2006
Resource Scheduling Corporation v. Cerner Corporation et al
txedce
2:2006cv00044
2/1/2006
Reunion.com Inc et al v. My Address Book LLC et al
cacdce
2:2006cv00597
1/31/2006
Samsung Electronics, Co. Inc. v. Quanta Computer, Inc.
nvdce
3:2006cv00013
1/10/2006
Sandata Technologies, Inc. v. Personal-Touch Home Care of N.Y., Inc.
nysdce
1:2006cv00767
2/1/2006
SANTRONICS, INC. v. FLUKE CORPORATION
ncmdce
1:2006cv00117
2/3/2006
Shaw v. Carrier Corporation
madce
1:2006cv10205
2/1/2006
Shire Laboratories Inc. v. Barr Laboratories, Inc. et al
nysdce
1:2005cv08903
1/20/2006
Skechers USA Inc et al v. New Star Shoes Inc et al
cacdce
2:2006cv00623
2/1/2006
SL TECHNOLOGY, INC., v. SMARTE CARTE CORPORATION et al
njdce
2:2006cv00274
1/20/2006
Small v. Nobel Biocare USA, LLC et al
nysdce
1:2006cv00683
1/30/2006
Smith & Nephew, Inc. v. DePuy Mitek, Inc.
madce
1:2006cv10064
1/11/2006
Smith Enterprise, Inc. et al v. Tawas Industries Components Specialty Machining Services, LLC
azdce
2:2006cv00315
1/25/2006
SOURCEPROSE CORPORAT vs. FIDELITY NATIONAL FI
txwdc
5:2006cv00073
1/23/2006
SOUTHERN GROUTS INC. vs. LATRICRETE INT'L INC
flsdc
0:2006cv60119
1/26/2006
Special Devices Incorporated v. Orica USA Inc et al
cacdce
2:2006cv00569
1/30/2006
Sun Coast Merchandise Corp v. Konik and Company Inc et al
cacdce
2:2006cv00437
1/24/2006
Synaptics, Inc v. Averatec, Inc. et al
candce
5:2006cv00523
1/27/2006
Tandberg Telecom AS v. Avistar Communications Corporation
txedce
2:2006cv00040
1/30/2006
Taylor Brands LLC v. SOG Specialty Knives, Inc
tnedce
2:2006cv00016
1/20/2006
THE HARTZ MOUNTAIN CORPORATION v. VCODE HOLDINGS, INC. et al
njdce
2:2006cv00396
1/27/2006
Think Tek, Inc. v. Megatech International, Inc.
nvdce
2:2006cv00056
1/13/2006
Tip Systems, LLC et al v. SBC Operations, Inc et al
txsdce
4:2006cv00253
1/23/2006
Tomtom, Inc. v. Next Innovation, LLC
candce
3:2006cv00438
1/23/2006
Toshiba Corporation v. Cyberhome Entertainment, Inc.
nysdce
1:2006cv00828
2/2/2006
TOTAL GARD CORPORATION v. SPLINTEK-PP, INC. et al
njdce
2:2006cv00368
1/25/2006
Transaction Holdings Ltd v. IYG Holding Co. et al
dedce
1:2006cv00043
1/23/2006
TRG Accessories, LLC v. InGear Corporation
moedce
4:2006cv00117
1/25/2006
Trontech Licensing Incorporated v. Vtech Communications, Inc., et al
txedce
2:2006cv00033
1/25/2006
Union Carbide Chem, et al v. Shell Oil Company, et al
dedce
1:1999cv00274
1/25/2006
Upstate Network Inc. v. Paystar Corporation et al
nyndce
6:2006cv00129
1/31/2006
Victor Levada v. Sportsstuff et al
cacdce
8:2006cv00088
1/27/2006
Visto Corporation v. Good Technology, Inc.
txedce
2:2006cv00039
1/30/2006
Wavefront Energy and Environmental Services Inc v. Applied Seismic Research Corporation
txedce
6:2006cv00049
2/3/2006
Winn Inc et al v. Compgrip USA Corp et al
cacdce
8:2006cv00066
1/24/2006
Witness Systems, Inc. v. Nice Systems, Inc. et al
gandce
1:2006cv00126
1/19/2006
Zenith Electronics Corporation v. Thomson, Incorporated et al
txedce
5:2006cv00017
1/30/2006
Zoltar Satellite v. Snaptrack Inc., et al
candce
5:2001cv20291
2/2/2006
Commerce Under Secretary Highlights Nevadaâs Innovation and Competitiveness
Nevada Doubles Patents and Leads Nation with Most Business Start-ups
Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) Jon Dudas last week in Las Vegas highlighted Nevada’s innovation and competitiveness as a follow-up to President George W. Bush's State of the Union address announcing the American Competitiveness Initiative (ACI).
“Nevada is growing in terms of its intellectual property, skilled work force and economic strength,” Under Secretary Dudas said. “In short, Nevada is helping America continue to lead the national and world economies.”
In highlighting the President’s American Competitiveness Initiative during remarks to local government officials, inventors, business representatives and educators, Dudas lauded the area’s impressive examples of innovation, noting that such regional development is “key to our nation’s economic future.”
In the past 10 years, the number of patents awarded to residents of Nevada has more than doubled, from 212 patents in 1994 to 461 in fiscal year 2005. Nevada also ranked first in the nation in having the most business start-ups, according to the most recent State New Economy Index.
An essential component of any regional economy is a thriving university. The University of Nevada-Las Vegas is a premier research university. UNLV, known for its growing technology transfer program, is building a $75 million science, engineering and technology complex scheduled to open next year, which will integrate teaching and research space. The university’s leading-edge work and partnerships with industry provide an all-around winning equation for the university and for the American economy.
Nevada’s independent inventors and small businesses, such as a company that makes batteries used for hybrid electric vehicles, exemplify American ingenuity. And to stimulate the next generation of American inventors, Nevada has Camp Invention, a summer educational outreach program for children, sponsored by the USPTO and the National Inventors Hall of Fame. Camp Invention runs 15 weeklong camps throughout Nevada designed to encourage the creative process that leads to problem solving, discovery and invention.
“The President’s American Competitiveness Initiative will encourage innovation through new federal funding for research, tax certainty for research and development, and strengthening education in math and science,” Dudas said. “ACI will reinforce what Nevada is already doing.
USPTO to hold Open Source Software Community Meeting February 16, 2006
USPTO to hold Open Source Software Community Meeting February 16, 2006
The Department of Commerce’s United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has created a partnership with the open source community to ensure that patent examiners have improved access to all available prior art relating to software code during the patent examination process.
In December the USPTO representatives met with members of the open source software community, which provided an opportunity for members to discuss with the USPTO prior art access issues related to software patent quality. The meeting focused on getting the best prior art references to the examiner during the initial examination process.
As a follow-up to their December 6th meeting, USPTO representatives will hold another meeting on February 16th, 2006. This meeting will be open to the public and will focus on further developing previously discussed initiatives as well as any new prior art initiatives offered at that time.
All members of the open source software community are encouraged to attend. However, space is limited so please register early. Only the first 220 registrations can be accepted. For additional information go to http://www.uspto.gov/web/patents/opensource2006.htm.
COMMERCE DEPARTMENT FY 2007 BUDGET MAINTAINS COMMITMENT TO JOB GROWTH AND U.S. COMPETITIVENESS
Posted by J Matthew Buchanan at February 6, 2006 05:17 PM
COMMITMENT TO JOB GROWTH AND U.S. COMPETITIVENESS
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez today announced that President Bush’s $6.1 billion budget request for the U.S. Department of Commerce maintains the Department’s priorities of promoting job growth and U.S. competitiveness while also restraining discretionary Federal spending.
“This budget request reflects President Bush’s commitment to maintaining a strong and vibrant economy that enables U.S. businesses to innovate, compete and succeed in the global marketplace,” said Gutierrez. “This administration is determined to continue providing American entrepreneurs and workers with the tools they need to fuel our economy while also reining in federal spending.”
The Commerce Department’s budget will focus on its main goals of providing information and tools to maximize U.S. competitiveness; fostering science and technological leadership, including protecting intellectual property rights; and observing, protecting and managing the earth’s resources to promote environmental stewardship.
Maximizing Competitiveness and Economic Growth
A central theme for the President’s FY 2007 Budget is economic growth and maximizing U.S. competitiveness.
The International Trade Administration (ITA) supports U.S. commercial interests at home and abroad by strengthening the competitiveness of American industries and workers, promoting international trade, opening markets to U.S. businesses, and ensuring compliance with domestic and international trade laws and agreements. The President’s FY 2007 Budget requests $409 million for ITA to serve its goals along with an increase of $2 million to support the President’s Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate. This partnership will reduce the barriers to energy efficient American products and technologies in Australia, China, India, Japan and South Korea.
The Economic Development Administration (EDA) is charged with leading the federal economic development agenda by promoting innovation and competitiveness while preparing American regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. The President’s FY 2007 Budget expands the programs of EDA by $47 million to $327 million. This is a 17 percent increase reflecting the Administration’s emphasis on regional competitiveness and measuring performance as the underlying strategy for federal economic development policy. EDA will work collaboratively with other federal partners in the establishment of a proactive, regionally based federal economic development framework to empower America’s communities to be globally competitive.
The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) promotes the understanding of the United States economy and its competitive position. Under the umbrella of the Economics and Statistics Administration (ESA), BEA provides key objective data on the Nation’s economic condition in a timely and cost-effective manner. The President’s FY 2007 Budget requests $80 million to continue providing statistics that are critical to public and private sector decision-making.
In support of their role as the leading source of quality data regarding the nation’s people and economy, the President’s FY 2007 Budget request for ESA’s Census Bureau is $878 million. Among the additional funding for programmatic changes included in this budget request for Census is an increase of $44 million to reengineer the collection of basic census data to meet constitutional and legal mandates in preparation for the 2010 Decennial Census, implement the American Community Survey to obtain detailed annual data, and modernize the Bureau’s geographic database. Other program additions include $11 million to develop tools and systems to support the 2007 Economic Census and $3 million for the Census of Governments to collect data supporting the 2007 Census.
The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) regulates the export of sensitive goods and technologies to protect the security of the U.S. The President’s FY 2007 Budget requests $78.6 million to enable BIS to effectively carry out this mission. The proposed budget includes an increase to modernize the Export Control Automated Support System which is critical for processing export licenses.
To continue their focus on accelerating the competitiveness and growth of minority-owned businesses, the President’s FY 2007 Budget request for the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) is $29.6 million.
Fostering Leadership in Science and Technology
The President’s FY 2007 Budget request of $581 million for the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), a part of the Technology Administration (TA), will advance measurement science, standards, and technology disciplines such as nanotechnology, quantum information science and neutron research. This request includes a $104 million increase for NIST laboratories, National Research Facilities, and Construction and Major Renovations to implement the President’s ten-year American Competitiveness Initiative.
For the third year in a row, President Bush is recommending that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) keep all of the fees it will collect. USPTO will use the $1.8 billion in spending authority contained in the President’s FY 2007 Budget request to reduce application processing time and increase the quality of its products. This funding would allow for the hiring of additional examiners, the refining of the electronic patent application filing and processing system, the improvement of quality assurance programs, and the implementation of higher standards for examiner certification and recertification.
For the National Telecommunications and Information Agency (NTIA), the President’s FY 2007 Budget request proposes programs in support of the Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Fund. These programs will provide consumers with vouchers to aid in purchasing digital-to-analog television converter boxes, assist public safety agencies in acquiring interoperable communications systems, and support an interim digital television broadcast system for New York City. The Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Fund, created by the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, funds a number of programs with the auction proceeds of electromagnetic spectrum recovered from discontinued analog television signals.
Promoting Environmental Stewardship
The President’s FY 2007 Budget request of $3.6 billion for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reflects the Administration’s commitment to environmental stewardship. Within Operations, Research and Facilities, the request provides an increase of $12.4 million to operate the U.S. Tsunami Warning System, increases to several programs that will support a variety of fisheries in the Gulf of Mexico, and $6 million for the Open Rivers Initiative (ORI): a competitive grant program using a community-based model to remove river barriers in coastal states, thus enhancing populations of key NOAA trust species and supporting the President’s Cooperative Conservation Initiative.
For Procurement, Acquisition and Construction, major program increases include funding to have the NOAA Center for Weather and Climate Prediction facility ready to begin operations in 2008, $20 million for NOAA’s share of the National Polar-Orbiting Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS) which will replace the Polar-Orbiting Environmental Satellite series, and $113 million to continue the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES-R) series system acquisition which will be the next generation follow-on to the current GOES-N satellites used to track storm development and movement.
# # #
Commerce Under Secretary Highlights Nevadaâs Innovation and Competitiveness
Posted by J Matthew Buchanan at February 3, 2006 08:41 AM
PRESS RELEASE | February 2, 2006 |
Commerce Under Secretary Highlights Nevada’s Innovation and Competitiveness
Nevada Doubles Patents and Leads Nation with Most Business Start-ups
Las Vegas, Nev. -- Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) Jon Dudas today highlighted Nevada’s innovation and competitiveness as a follow-up to President George W. Bush's State of the Union address announcing the American Competitiveness Initiative (ACI).
“Nevada is growing in terms of its intellectual property, skilled work force and economic strength,” Under Secretary Dudas said. “In short, Nevada is helping America continue to lead the national and world economies.”
In highlighting the President’s American Competitiveness Initiative during remarks to local government officials, inventors, business representatives and educators, Dudas lauded the area’s impressive examples of innovation, noting that such regional development is “key to our nation’s economic future.”
In the past 10 years, the number of patents awarded to residents of Nevada has more than doubled, from 212 patents in 1994 to 461 in fiscal year 2005. Nevada also ranked first in the nation in having the most business start-ups, according to the most recent State New Economy Index.
An essential component of any regional economy is a thriving university. The University of Nevada-Las Vegas is a premier research university. UNLV, known for its growing technology transfer program, is building a $75 million science, engineering and technology complex scheduled to open next year, which will integrate teaching and research space. The university’s leading-edge work and partnerships with industry provide an all-around winning equation for the university and for the American economy.
Nevada’s independent inventors and small businesses, such as a company that makes batteries used for hybrid electric vehicles, exemplify American ingenuity. And to stimulate the next generation of American inventors, Nevada has Camp Invention, a summer educational outreach program for children, sponsored by the USPTO and the National Inventors Hall of Fame. Camp Invention runs 15 weeklong camps throughout Nevada designed to encourage the creative process that leads to problem solving, discovery and invention.
“The President’s American Competitiveness Initiative will encourage innovation through new federal funding for research, tax certainty for research and development, and strengthening education in math and science,” Dudas said. “ACI will reinforce what Nevada is already doing.”
# # #
USPTO Town Hall Meeting Focuses on Proposed Rule Changes to Improve Patent Examination
Posted by J Matthew Buchanan at February 2, 2006 04:23 PM
PRESS RELEASE | February 1, 2006 |
USPTO Town Hall Meeting Focuses on Proposed Rule Changes to Improve Patent Examination
Chicago, IL -- The Commerce Department’s United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) today provided an audience of Chicago-area patent attorneys, patent agents, independent inventors and members of the small business community with background information regarding proposed new rule changes. Commissioner for Patents John Doll and James Toupin, the agency's general counsel, discussed the challenges the USPTO faces and the reasons why the proposed new rules limiting claims and rework are necessary.
Specifically, these initiatives will prioritize the claims reviewed during the examination process and better focus the agency’s examination of patent applications by requiring applicants to identify the most important claims to the invention.
The recognized value of patents to innovation has led to enormous increases in the number of patent applications filed each year. Since the USPTO's resources have not increased at the same rate as filings, it has become much more difficult to provide reliable, consistent and prompt patentability decisions. Delay in granting a patent can slow new products coming to market, and issuing patents for inventions that are not novel and non-obvious can impede competition and economic growth. Simply hiring more patent examiners will not slow the growth in the time it takes to get a patent or improve the quality of examination. This will occur only through the participation of applicants in facilitating more effective and efficient patent examination.
“Improving the patent process will take everyone working together—applicants and the USPTO,” Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Jon Dudas noted earlier. “Better quality applications mean better examination. We need more focus throughout and closure to the examination process.”
In FY 2004, almost one-third of the 355,000 new patent applications had already been reviewed and rejected by the USPTO, but applicants resubmitted them mostly with only minor changes. Also, over 40% of new applications in FY 2004 had more than 20 claims. These practices waste the limited time examiners have to review an application and prevent examiners from focusing on the most important issues in an application.
In the past two years, the USPTO has instituted a number of measures to improve patent quality and also has implemented new metrics to measure the results. Results indicate that quality is improving. The percentage of patent examiners certified for promotion to full performance level increased from 59% in FY 2004 to 70% in FY 2005. The number of office actions complying with applicable laws and rules during examination improved to 86.2% from 82% the previous year. The compliance rate for final allowances improved from 94.8% to 96% from FY 2004 to FY 2005.
The proposed new rules can be found at http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/com/sol/notices/71fr48.pdf and http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/com/sol/notices/71fr61.pdf. PDF viewer is required for these documents.
Additional Town Hall Meetings are being planned for California, Texas, and Washington, D.C.
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USPTO to Hold Seminar on China's Impact on Intellectual Property
USPTO to Hold Seminar on China's Impact on Intellectual Property
Atlanta, Georgia, March 2 - 3, 2006
Continuing its efforts to help U.S. businesses protect their intellectual property in China, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is sponsoring a seminar on "China's Impact on Intellectual Property: Understanding the New Realities within a Global Economy," on Thursday and Friday, March 2 and 3, 2006, at the Hyatt Regency-Atlanta in Atlanta, Georgia.
The free, two-day program will provide comprehensive information on protecting and enforcing intellectual property in China for companies of any size -- from those contemplating entering the China market to those with an established presence in China as well as those who simply want to know more about better protecting themselves against IP theft from abroad.
Topics will include a review of China's laws and regulations that may affect how a business protects and enforces its intellectual property, how best to protect business assets to avoid intellectual property problems from China in the first place, how to recognize when an intellectual property asset has been infringed, what to do if infringement occurs, and what the U.S. government is doing to improve the intellectual property protection and enforcement environment in China for U.S. industry. Speakers at the seminar will include representatives from U.S. law firms servicing clients in China, Chinese law firms representing U.S. companies, academic experts on China's intellectual property system, representatives from various U.S. companies, Chinese government officials, and members of the USPTO's China intellectual property rights team.
Commerce Under Secretary to Highlight Nevadaâs Innovation and Competitiveness
Posted by J Matthew Buchanan at February 1, 2006 04:07 PM
MEDIA ADVISORY | February 1, 2006 |
Commerce Under Secretary to Highlight Nevada’s Innovation and Competitiveness
Nevada Doubles Patents and Leads Nation with Most Business Start-ups
Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) Jon Dudas will be in Las Vegas to highlight the innovation and economic competitiveness of the area following President George W. Bush’s State of the Union address announcing the American Competitiveness Initiative.
In the past 10 years, Nevada has more than doubled the number of patents awarded to residents. In 1994, Nevadans were granted 212 patents; and in fiscal year 2005, they were awarded 461 patents. Nevada also is ranked first in the nation in having the most business start-ups, according to the most recent State New Economy Index.
| WHAT: | USPTO event celebrating competitiveness/innovation -- as follow-up to President’s State of the Union address. Learn about the state of innovation and competitiveness in Nevada and the U.S as well as the U.S. patent and trademark systems. A question and answer session will follow immediately after presentation. |
| WHO: | Jon Dudas, Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office Innovators at University of Nevada-Las Vegas, independent inventors, local technology-oriented companies, and those associated with Camp Invention, a summer creativity enrichment program for students in grades 2 - 6. |
| WHERE: | Clark County Library 1401 E. Flamingo Road Las Vegas, NV |
| WHEN: | Thursday, February 2, 2006 1:00 p.m. |
J. Matthew Buchanan 
Stephen M. Nipper 
Douglas Sorocco 