Recent Articles

Should you file a design patent, a utility patent, or both?

April 09, 2009 15:58

In this installment of our intellectual property video series, Timothy Maier discusses the scope of protection of utility patents and design patents, and whether an inventor should file a design patent application, a utility patent application, or both types of...In this installment of our...

Third revision of China's Patent Law -- Protection of Patent Rights

April 06, 2009 17:58

The Chinese Legislature approved a number of amendments to the Chinese Patent Law on December 29, 2008, resulting in the third revision of the Law. The revisions dealt with changes to patent application filing, criteria for granting patents, protection of...The Chinese Legislature approved a number...

Should you foreign file your patent application?

April 01, 2009 20:48

In another installment of our intellectual property video series, Timothy Maier discusses the time and cost considerations that inventors should consider when trying to protect their invention or patent in foreign countries. Additionally, Timothy Maier discusses the differences between Patent...In...

Differences between various types of patent applications

April 01, 2009 20:42

Continuing our video blog series, Timothy Maier provides an explanation of the differences between continuation applications, continuation-in-part applications and divisional applications, as well as the strategies involved in choosing which of these applications to file....Continuing our video...

Top Ten Pitfalls Inventors and Small Companies Should Avoid When Protecting Their Intellectual Property

March 31, 2009 20:39

Eret C. McNichols Maier & Maier, PLLC Real World v. Patent World Legend has it that long ago King Hiero II was given a golden crown that was made by a local goldsmith. The King was leery of the goldsmith's...Eret C. McNichols Maier & Maier, PLLC Real World v. Patent World Legend has it that long...

Chinese SIPO Received 828,328 Chinese Patent Applications in 2008

March 30, 2009 16:10

The Chinese State Intellectual Property Office recently announced that it had received 828,328 patent applications from Chinese applicants in the year 2008. The figure includes invention, utility model and design applications, and represents an increase of 19.4% over the previous...The Chinese...

Introducing Maier & Maier, PLLC's video series

March 27, 2009 03:55

Maier & Maier, PLLC is pleased to introduce an original video series providing guidance on issues in patent law, patent prosecution & litigation, and other intellectual property topics. We expect that this video series will be a regular feature on...Maier & Maier, PLLC is pleased to...

Ex parte Chuang: DNA anticipates protein

March 27, 2009 03:24

In a recent non-precedential opinion, the Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences rejected claims directed towards an isolated protein based on prior art references directed towards mouse cDNA sequences. The prior art disclosed the amino acid sequence encoded by the...In a recent non-precedential...

Federal Circuit Upholds USPTO's Authority to Issue Claims and Continuations Final Rules and Concludes that Certain Final Rules Are Consistent with the Patent Act

March 25, 2009 17:35

On March 20, 2009, the Federal Circuit issued a decision addressing:(i) whether the Claims and Continuation Final Rules fall within the scope of the USPTO's rulemaking authority and(ii) whether the Final Rules are contrary to the Patent Act. The Court...On March 20, 2009, the Federal Circuit issued...

Post-Grant Review Proposals in 2009 Patent Reform Act

March 24, 2009 20:10

Writing for Patently-O, Charlez Gholz, the head of Oblon Spivak's Interference Section, discussed post-grant review proposals in the Patent Reform Act of 2009.According to Gholz, the PTO officials involved in administering patent interference matters had expected post-grant review proceedings...