I am fascinated to learn that the term “vegetative electron microscopy” is starting to pop up in published academic papers. And that there is no such thing as “vegetative electron microscopy”. It seems that some early AI systems picked up this term as a sort of OCR scanning error. And now lots of present-day AI systems keep repeating the term to each other. And now maybe the term will never go away.
A Tale of Two Systems
The DAS system offers a convenient and inexpensive way for an applicant to perfect a priority claim under Article 4 of the Paris Convention. WIPO implements this well and the USPTO implements this poorly. Continue reading “A Tale of Two Systems”
IDSs just got more expensive
On January 19, 2025 the USPTO put a new rule into effect that makes IDSs more expensive. Patent practitioners will need to charge clients more money for filing of IDSs. And new government fees will need to be paid with some IDSs. Continue reading “IDSs just got more expensive”
The USPTO’s PCT Receiving Office needs to join DAS
More than five years ago the patent community asked the USPTO to make its PCT Receiving Office a Depositing Office in the DAS system. And even now, more than five years later, the USPTO has not yet done so. Continue reading “The USPTO’s PCT Receiving Office needs to join DAS”
How to reach a USPTO person if you can’t reach them by phone
In a previous blog article I described that it seems all of the phones at the USPTO are broken for incoming calls. Here is a practice tip.
If the person’s phone number starts “571-272”, then change the “272” to “273”. This yields a telephone number that is probably that person’s private fax number. You can then send a fax and ask the person to call you back.
All USPTO phones seem to be broken
From recent discussions on the Patent Practice listserv, it seems that it is impossible just now to place a telephone call to anyone at the USPTO. Continue reading “All USPTO phones seem to be broken”
2024 Toteboards are now available
I am pleased to present the 2024 toteboards:
Looking for ideas how to use a pH meter with youngsters
I am trying to think of fun ways to use an inexpensive pH meter in home experiments with a hope of getting youngsters interested in science. I will describe what I have imagined thus far, and I welcome suggestions. Continue reading “Looking for ideas how to use a pH meter with youngsters”
What is interesting about pH values of 4.01, 6.86 and 9.18?
I recently received a box of sachets like what you see in the photo at right. Each sachet contains a few grams of white powder which, if mixed with 250 ml of water, yields a stable buffer solution of one of the pH values mentioned in the subject line.
What is so interesting about these three pH values? Why did the maker of these sachets pick these three pH values? And, the alert reader demands to learn, what exactly is in the sachets? Continue reading “What is interesting about pH values of 4.01, 6.86 and 9.18?”
Commissioner for Patents Vaishali Udupa has resigned from USPTO
Recently the Director of the USPTO, Kathi Vidal, resigned from the USPTO. The Acting Director is Coke Morgan Stewart. Now comes the news that Commissioner for Patents Vaishali Udupa has resigned from the USPTO. The Acting Commissioner is Valencia Martin Wallace.
I spoke with a Patent Examiner by telephone today. It seems there has been no communication of the Commissioner’s resignation to the actual employees of the USPTO. They get to hear about such a development by reading about it in the news, or by hearing about it from a patent practitioner.