Patent Reform
New Pilot Project: Pre-First Action Interview as of Right
The USPTO announced that it is launching a program to allow an Examiner interview before first action. Here’s the process. First the applicant requests a first-action interview. The examiner conducts a prior art search and provides the applicant a pre-interview communication. This is a condensed preview of objections or rejections proposed against the claims. Then, [...]
AIPLA Suggests Improvements at the USPTO
I previously reported on the patent prosecution costs disclosed by Alan Kasper’s testimony [PDF] to Congress as the First Vice-President of the American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA). In that testimony, Alan suggested the following improvements at the USPTO: Develop a culture within the USPTO to encourage Examiners to propose claim amendments that would, at [...]