There are quite a few upcoming opportunities to learn about the Patent Cooperation Treaty.

Of course a very good way to learn of upcoming learning opportunities about PCT is to check the PCT Seminar Calendar at the web site of WIPO. WIPO updates this calendar frequently.

Upcoming programs include:

• PCT Seminar, September 21-22, Cary, NC.  (North Carolina Bar Association, yours truly among the faculty.)
• PCT Seminar “Essential PCT”, October 3, Atlanta, GA.  (PCT Learning Center, yours truly among the faculty.)
• Advanced PCT Seminar and Symposium on International Authorities, October 5, Washington, DC.  (PCT Learning Center, yours truly among the faculty.)
• The Essential PCT, October 19, Milwaukee, WI.  (PCT Learning Center.)
• ePCT Training Seminar, October 30, Irvine, CA.  (PCT Learning Center.)
• ePCT Training Seminar, November 1, San Francisco, CA.  (PCT Learning Center.)
• PCT Seminar, November 1, Boston, MA (Boston Patent Law Association.)
• PCT Boot Camp, November 2, Seattle, WA  (PCT Learning Center.)
• ePCT Training Seminar, November 3, Seattle, WA.  (PCT Learning Center.)
• PCT lecture within the framework of the “Patent Administration: A Foundation for Success” course, November 8-9, Philadelphia, PA.  (Patent Resources Group, yours truly presenting.)

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Here is a delightful dinner during a several-day program on the Patent Cooperation Treaty.  These are some of the attendees at a Patent Resources Group course in San Diego.

The fee that ISA/SG charges per invention to carry out a PCT search will increase on November 1, 2017.  The fee charged in US dollars will increase from $1552 to $1645. Continue reading →

At various times in the past, the USPTO has accumulated sizeable backlogs in its not-yet-handled PPH petitions.  But these days USPTO has been keeping up quite well.

We try to track this pretty closely.  The most recent half dozen PPH petitions that we filed at the USPTO were all acted upon at the USPTO within about six or seven weeks of filing.

Kudos to the USPTO for being timely these days with PPH petitions!

There are quite a few upcoming opportunities to learn about the Patent Cooperation Treaty.

Of course a very good way to learn of upcoming learning opportunities about PCT is to check the PCT Seminar Calendar at the web site of WIPO. WIPO updates this calendar frequently.

Upcoming programs include:

• PCT lecture within the framework of the “Patent Administration: A Foundation for Success” course, September 13-14, San Diego, CA.  (Patent Resources Group, yours truly presenting.)
• PCT Seminar, September 14, Chicago, IL.  (John Marshall Law School.)
• PCT Seminar, September 21-22, Cary, NC.  (North Carolina Bar Association, yours truly among the faculty.)
• PCT Seminar “Essential PCT”, October 3, Atlanta, GA.  (PCT Learning Center, yours truly among the faculty.)
• Advanced PCT Seminar and Symposium on International Authorities, October 5, Washington, DC.  (PCT Learning Center, yours truly among the faculty.)
• The Essential PCT, October 19, Milwaukee, WI.  (PCT Learning Center.)
• ePCT Training Seminar, October 30, Irvine, CA.  (PCT Learning Center.)
• ePCT Training Seminar, November 1, San Francisco, CA.  (PCT Learning Center.)
• PCT Seminar, November 1, Boston, MA (Boston Patent Law Association.)
• PCT Boot Camp, November 2, Seattle, WA  (PCT Learning Center.)
• ePCT Training Seminar, November 3, Seattle, WA.  (PCT Learning Center.)
• PCT lecture within the framework of the “Patent Administration: A Foundation for Success” course, November 8-9, Philadelphia, PA.  (Patent Resources Group, yours truly presenting.)

Readers will recall (perhaps from my blog post of July 15) that the search fee for ISA/EP will increase (for US filers) on September 1, 2017.   This offers an opportunity to save a little money. Continue reading →

The PCT rules and Applicant’s Guide talk about what should go into an Abstract.  In the PCT system it is up to the International Searching Authority to enforce the rules about Abstracts.  WIPO is inviting comments (see Circular PCT 1517) on whether the rules and guide should be revised.  Such revisions, if they were to happen, would change what the ISA looks for when it reviews an Abstract.

Comments are due September 30, 2017.  If you would like to participate in a listserv committee to prepare and file comments, join the PCT listserv (if you are not already a member) and join in the discussion there.  What follows are a few thoughts about Abstracts. Continue reading →

There are a few seats still available for the AIPLA PCT Seminar.  This will be Monday and Tuesday, July 24-25, 2017 in Crystal City, Virginia.

Yours truly is among the presenters for this seminar.

For more information or to register, click here.

The search fee for US applicants at the EPO will increase on September 1, 2017.  The search fee is presently $1992 but will increase to $2099.  Here is how the search fees will rank after the fee change: Continue reading →