Author: Carl

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Daylight saving time and WIPO

Keep in mind that Switzerland will turn off daylight saving time today, October 30, 2022.  Those who are filing documents at the International Bureau — documents that need a same-day filing date — should check to make sure they know what time it is in Switzerland as of today.

For US filers, keep in mind that the US will not turn off DST today.  The US will turn off DST a week from now, on November 6, 2022.

US filers who are getting ready to file a document at the IB should thus pay close attention during this next week to what time it is in Switzerland.

Most readers of my blog will appreciate that the correct terminology is not “Daylight Savings Time” but “Daylight Saving Time”.

The practical effect for most US filers is that for the next week, you get an extra hour to e-file.  For example if you are in the Mountain Time Zone, normally you rush to file by 4PM if need a same-day filing date at the IB.  But for the next week you can file as late as 5PM and you will still get a same-day filing date at the IB.

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Pacer users to get fees refunded

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Hello folks.  I am astonished to see the news (see court document) that a court case that had been grinding its way through the courts on for more than five years is apparently very close to being settled.  The result of the settlement will, it seems, lead to many people and firms that have paid fees to the Pacer system will get a lot of their fees refunded to them.  Our firm has paid many thousands of dollars to the Pacer system over the years.  I am sure many other firms can say the same.

I heard about this from alert listserv member Curtis Prescott (Linkedin page).  Thank you Curtis!

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Two letters that were sent today to Director Vidal

(Update:  on January 6, 2023, the Director indirectly responded to these two letters.   You can read about it here.)

Hello readers.  You will recall that a few days ago I urged you to consider signing two letters to USPTO’s Director Kathi Vidal (blog posting, October 7).    Both letters have now been signed and have been sent to Director Vidal.

    • One of the letters is about erroneous information in official Filing Receipts regarding publication dates.  You can see the signed letter here.
    • The other letter is about missing information in official Filing Receipts regarding whether or not a Foreign Filing License has been granted.  You can see the signed letter here.

The chief person who made these letters possible is Krista Jacobsen, a patent practitioner in Silicon Valley.  She drafted the letters and finalized them with suggestions from professional colleagues.  Many practitioners signed the letters.  Today she sent them to the Director.  I hope readers will join me in being grateful to Krista for this work.

Of course what also made the letters possible is the many patent practitioners who signed the letters.

Let’s hope that Director Vidal will respond to Krista with good news of corrective steps that the USPTO will take to address the problems that are highlighted in the two letters.

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Please sign two letters to the Director

Hello folks.   Would you prefer it if the USPTO were to reduce how many mistakes it makes in official patent Filing Receipts?  Then please review and sign the following two letters:

These letters will close for signature this next Monday at noon Eastern Time. I have signed both letters.  Why don’t you join those signers, by signing these two letters yourself?

Carl

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Lightning protection around the house

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Of course it is smart to install whole-house surge protection as it relates to the electrical power wires in the house.  See blog article.  Having installed a nice Seimens FS140 whole-house surge protector, do you get to relax?  Of course not!  If a person is going to be thorough about this, one needs to think about the other wires and cables that enter the house from outside.  Continue reading “Lightning protection around the house”

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The “where you sleep at night” Federal Circuit appeal – amicus brief

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(Update:  The oral argument took place on December 7, 2023 and you can see the transcript here.)

(Update:  the appellee’s brief has been filed – blog article.)

(Update:  the appellant’s reply brief has been filed – blog article.)

Readers will recall that a few days ago I wrote:

This would be a perfect time for amici to file amicus briefs.

An amicus brief has now been filed in the case about the Trademark Office demanding to know where the trademark applicant sleeps at night (blog article).  You can see the amicus brief here.