Secret sales of products or services incorporating innovation can cause loss of patent rights.
novelty
FDA Exclusivity-An Incentive for Drug Research?
Known substances can be useful medical treatments. But there maybe no market incentive to conduct necessary research and development to prove the benefits. There also may be no incentive to seek regulatory approval. FDA market exclusivity may provide this incentive without change in US patent laws.
Obviousness Rejections 2021
Introduction: An application for patent is typically rejected by the USPTO examiner after the first examination. But the USPTO examiner must provide specific written reasons justifying the rejection. The applicant has the right to respond to the rejection to point out why the examiner is in error or to amend the claims of the application…
Is It Patentable? III
Introduction: Is it patentable? An inventor is entitled to a patent unless the invention is not patentable subject matter (Section 101), is not novel (Section 102) or is obvious (Section 103). I have discussed what is and is not patentable subject matter. See my posts of Patenting Computer Software and Avoiding Unpatentable Ideas. I have…
Sample Patent Flow Chart
Introduction: Attached below is a sample patent flow chart. I start with the inventor’s conception of the idea. Included are the steps to be taken to reach the point of possible patent filing. (Note my sample assumes that a provisional application is filed first. However it is possible to go directly to the Non-provisional application…
Patent Goulash For Engineers
INTRODUCTION: I wrote an article in October 2019 for mechanical engineers (and others) warning that the Section 101 morass, i.e., Patent Goulash, was not limited to computer software business methods or medical diagnostic procedures. The long twisted arm of unpatentable “natural law” and “abstract ideas” was extending to patent applications for improved mechanical structures. See Mechanical Engineering and…
Design Choice and Obviousness
INTRODUCTION: Many of my recent articles have focused upon the whether an innovation is eligible for patent protection. This has been described as a Section 101 issue. Many innovations have been barred from patenting as being merely abstract ideas. This is a confused area. However, even if an innovation is deemed patentable subject matter, it still needs to be…
Appealing an Obviousness Rejection
INTRODUCTION: This article looks at appealing an obviousness rejection. It should not be a surprise that there are obstinate patent examiners. For whatever reason, they can be determined to not allow your patent application. Frequently, this situation can be experienced when an examiner rejects your application based on alleged obviousness (a 103 rejection). An assertion of obviousness…
Patent Classification Review
Introduction Crafting the specification, and particularly the claims, of a patent application can be critical to the chances of ultimate allowance of the application into a legally enforceable patent. This applies not only to distinguishing your invention over the prior art or confirming that your invention is eligible for patent protection, e.g., not merely an abstract…
Patenting Medical Procedures: Can the Court Make Up Its Mind?
Introduction I have written on this topic before. See my past article Patenting Medical Devices and Procedures. But the question remains. The court can not make up its mind. What is an invention that is eligible for patenting? Specifically, in regard to novel medical diagnostic techniques, the court continues to stumble over the issue of whether the technique is merely an…