These are all the Blogs posted in March, 2007.
March 22, 2007
WL&P Ranks 15th Among Top Patent Firms
Intellectual Property Today released its listing of Top Patent Firms in its March 2007 magazine. Wenderoth, Lind & Ponack, L.L.P. ranked 15th on its list of 353 firms. WL&P had ranked 19th in 2005 and 20th in 2004.
We are pleased that we have been able to increase the number of patents issued on behalf of our esteemed clients and that through our clients' continued confidence our business has improved its ranking among the top patent firms.
Posted By: Wenderoth Lind and Ponack, L.L.P in Category: WL&P Notices
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March 7, 2007
PTO Proposal: 3 Month Deadline for Request for Reconsideration of Final Refusal
On February 14, 2007, the PTO issued a proposed rule requiring a request for reconsideration of a final refusal in a trademark application to be filed within three months of the mailing date of the final refusal.
Change in PTO Procedure Regarding Omitted Items in Non-Provisional Applications
On January 29, the PTO issued a notice revising its procedure for handling applications having omitted items.
Under the old procedures, the Office of Initial Patent Examination (OIPE) would issue a Notice of Omitted Items to inform the applicant if certain items, such as pages of the specification or drawings, were omitted in the non-provisional application as filed. Applicant was given three options: (1) a petition under 37 CFR 1.53(e) to establish that the omitted item was in fact filed, along with evidence of the filing, such as a postcard receipt; (2) a petition for a later filing date with the filing of the omitted item and a supplemental declaration; and (3) acceptance of the application as filed and the filing of a required amendment to the application.
Previously, if the applicant chose option (3), no reply to the Notice was required, and there was no deadline for the filing of the amendment.
Under the new procedures, options (1) and (2) remain unchanged, but to pursue option (3), the applicant must file a reply to the notice. Thus, the Notice of Omitted Items is now treated as a notice or action by the Office and if applicant fails to reply to such notice within three months of the mailing date of the notice, the application is subject to a reduction of patent term adjustment. Also, applicant must reply within the time period set in the notice (including any extensions under 37 CFR 1.136) to avoid abandonment of the application.
