Boston, Massachusetts: Software Patents Law Firm
Robert Plotkin, P.C.
Boston, Massachusetts
Toll-Free: 877.651.8039 | Office Phone: 978.318.9914
E-Mail
THE NEWS:
For the first time ever, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has mandated that owners of multiple patents and patent applications review their entire patent portfolio to determine whether they need to submit additional information on patent applications already submitted.
THE REQUIREMENT:
Compliance with the new rules requires analysis of information about each patent owner's entire portfolio, such as whether any two pending applications have an inventor in common and have the same filing dates or "priority" dates.
THE CHALLENGE:
It is common for clients to use multiple law firms to file patent applications for them. As a result, information about the client's patent portfolio may be spread among several law firms. However, to perform the analysis required by the new rules, either the client or a single law firm must have access to all of the relevant information about the client's entire patent portfolio.
THE SCOPE:
These rules apply not only to new patent applications, but also to all patent applications that are pending as of November 1, 2007. The necessary information must be provided to the USPTO by February 1, 2008. Therefore, clients with large numbers of pending patent applications will need to undertake a significant effort to gather and analyze their portfolios in order to provide the USPTO with the necessary information on time. They will also need to develop new procedures to ease the process of complying with the new rules on an ongoing basis for each new patent application that is filed.
THE PENALTY:
Failure to comply with these new requirements may result in rejection of the applicant's patent applications and other serious consequences.
ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE:
Robert Plotkin, P.C. is a leading patent law firm. We help clients develop their patent strategies, apply for and obtain patents, and, ultimately, protect their businesses. If you would like assistance in dealing with the new USPTO requirements, please feel free to contact us.
