United States Patent and Trademark Office: Update on Subject Matter Eligibility Under 35 U.S.C. § 101 for Life Sciences
On May 2016, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) updates guidelines on how subject matter eligibility rejection under 35 U.S.C. § 101 for patent applications and patents related to life sciences should be formulated and how its response should be evaluated. Read more →
New Zealand: Update to Trademark Practice Guidelines
Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand (IPONZ) has updated trademark practice guidelines. Specifically, Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand has updated amendments to trademark applications and authorization of agency requirements for mergers. Read more →
Accelerated Examination Finally Available in France!
The French Patent Office (INPI) is now accepting request for accelerated examination for certain French patent applications or utility certificates. Applications requested for accelerated examination may now be issued within 20 months from filing instead of the usual 30 to 40 months from filing.
To qualify for accelerated examination, application and request must meet the following two conditions:
- Application must be or has been filed electronically via E-PROCEDURES; and
- Request for accelerated examination must be made within 10 months of filing and include a request for early publication of application (earlier than 18 months from priority or filing).
Please Note:
- Accelerated Examination is available for any French application whether filed under priority or as a first filing with the French Patent Office as long as no secrecy order has been placed on the application; and
- Accelerated examination at the French Patent Office is free.
Source of Information
http://www.bdl-ip.com/en/actualites/flash-info/id-166-accelerated-examination-finally-available-in-france-
Keyword
France; Accelerated Examination; Patent Application; Utility Certificate
Australia: Important Changes for Designs Customers
The Intellectual Property Office of Australia (IP Australia) is now implementing the following: Read more →
Patent Prosecution Highway Programs between China and Korea as well as between China and Austria have been extended since March 01, 2016
The patent prosecution highway program (PPH) between the State Intellectual Property Office (SIPO) of China and Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) has started on March 01, 2012. Read more →
Electronic Exchange System for Priority Document of Patent Application
Taiwan Intellectual Property Office (TIPO) and Japan Patent Office (JPO) as well as Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO) have established electronic exchange systems for priority document of patent application on December 02, 2013 and January 01, 2016, respectively. Read more →
Cooperation between JPO and USPTO regarding Classification for Patents and Designs ~Japan applicants can obtain more secure rights in the United States~
On February 23, 2016, the Japan Patent Office (JPO) and the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) signed Memorandums of Cooperation regarding classification in the fields of intellectual property (patents and designs). Through this cooperation between the JPO and the USPTO, Japanese applicants can acquire more secure patent and design rights in the United States. Read more →