News | December 31, 2020
USPTO To Terminate Pilot Program for First Action Interviews
As part of January 15, 2021, the USPTO will discontinue the First Action Interview Pilot Program that’s been in place for the past twelve years. The program allows practitioners to conduct an interview with the examiner prior to the first office action. This interview is held after the examiner’s preliminary prior art search and allows […]
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News | December 29, 2020
USPTO Covid-19 Relief Effort Grants Nearly 400 Applications Prioritized Status
As part of the U.S. Federal Government’s response to Covid-19, the USPTO announced programs to prioritize Covid-19 related patent and trademark applications this past May and June respectively. Since this summer, applicants were permitted to apply for special status without the normal payment requirements for special status. Thus far, the USPTO has ushered in nearly […]
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News | December 28, 2020
Kunin: Arthrex & Click-To-Call Highlight Patent Law Cases in 2020
As 2020 comes to a close, leading IP experts are taking stock of the year that was and its effect on U.S. patent law. Among these expert opinions is Maier & Maier’s own Steve Kunin, who commented on two of the most significant patent cases this year in Arthrex, Inc. v. Smith & Nephew, Inc. […]
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