I have set up a new listserv called Artificial Intelligence in Intellectual Property.
Topics to discuss include:
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- how to use AI,
- how not to use AI, and
- how it will affect our profession.
To find out more, or to join, you can click here.
What to do if your email service provider has been bouncing our listserv postings
In recent days, our email server for our listservs may have removed your email address from membership in one or another of the listservs. Assuming that you did not want this, what should you do? Continue reading “What to do if your email service provider has been bouncing our listserv postings”
Acoustic levitation
What you can see at right is something that I find astonishing in several ways. One astonishing thing is that three small styrofoam balls are suspended in space, defying gravity. These three balls have been suspended in space, defying gravity, for over 48 hours, and they might continue this way for many days, unless a breeze or puff of air were to disturb them.
A second astonishing thing is that this device cost only $4.79.
In this blog article I describe how it is that for a mere $4.79, I found myself able to defy gravity, suspending three small styrofoam balls in space.
Finding your way by starlight
This blog article talks about cones and rods and visual purple and camping experiences from my childhood. Continue reading “Finding your way by starlight”
Second successful DMR activity
A few days ago was my first-ever successful DMR (digital mobile radio) activity (blog article). Today was my second — I participated in a World Wide Check-In. Continue reading “Second successful DMR activity”
First successful DMR activity
(Update: my second-ever successful DMR activity was participation in the July 18, 2026 World Wide Check-In.)
It turns out that there is a thing called DMR or digital mobile radio (Wikipedia article). This is a thing that some radio amateurs do. To do DMR, you use a “hot spot” such as the one shown at right. It uses an antenna to transmit and receive on the 70-centimeter radio band, and it connects to the Internet via wifi.
Attend a two-presenter, 2½-day live in-person Patent Cooperation Treaty seminar in beautiful Colorado
Long-time PCT enthusiasts will appreciate that in recent years, there have been few opportunities in the US to get high quality PCT training with more than one experienced presenter on the dais.
Such PCT enthusiasts will likewise appreciate that in recent years, there have been few opportunities in the US to get high quality PCT training of such depth and breadth as to call for more than one day of training.
Now for the first time since before Covid, attend a multi-day live in-person Patent Cooperation Treaty seminar in the US taught by two experienced presenters. This training will take place in beautiful Colorado, near the Denver airport.
Maybe also attend an optional half-day program specifically directed to docketing of the PCT!
Loyal readers of this blog are encouraged to subscribe, if they have not already done so. Loyal readers of this blog are also encouraged to use coupon codes (which expire July 28) for discounts on the registration fees:
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- coupon code BL1 – 2.5-day seminar $200 off
- coupon code BL2 – docketing $60 off
- coupon code BL3 – both courses, $260 off
For more information, or to register, click here.
Save the date! Next PCT Seminar September 22-24, 2026
(Update: now you can register for this PCT seminar. See this blog posting.)
Save the date! The next PCT Seminar will be September 22-24, 2026 near the Denver airport.
Why are shower head nozzles flexible?
Over and over again I somehow stumble upon or learn about a thing that seemingly almost everybody else already knew. Today’s question is, why are shower head nozzles flexible? You probably already know why, in which case please post a comment below. Anyway, here is what I figured out about flexible shower head nozzles. Continue reading “Why are shower head nozzles flexible?”
An Office Action in the red-hair-and-tinsel trademark case
Now there is an Office Action in the red-hair-and-tinsel trademark application (previous blog article). You can see the TSDR page and the Office Action. The Examining Attorney gives several bases for refusal:
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- Does not function as a service mark
- Non-distinctive trade dress
- Specimen refusal – fails to directly associate mark with services
- Mark on drawing differs from mark on specimen