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Why you probably can’t send international faxes any more

A couple of weeks ago I had the great honor to visit at WIPO with the heads of some of the PCT processing teams.  These are the people at the International Bureau who interact with callers (applicants and patent practitioners) who have questions and problems relating to PCT.  One of the things that they mentioned to me, that I found puzzling when I first heard it, is that in recent months they have received ever-increasing numbers of complaints from people who call to report that they try to send faxes to the International Bureau and are unable to do so.  Upon reflection I now realize the likely cause of this problem.  And it is definitely not that there is some recent malfunction in WIPO’s fax machines.

Continue reading “Why you probably can’t send international faxes any more”

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Upcoming opportunities to learn about PCT

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:

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Thailand joins Madrid Protocol

(Left to right) Ms. Sunanta Kangvalkulkij, Ambassador, Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of Thailand to the World Trade Organization; Mr. Thosapone Dansuputra, Director General, Department of Intellectual Property; Ms. Wiboonlasana Ruamraksa, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Commerce; Mr. Francis Gurry (photo: WIPO/Berrod)

On August 7, 2017, Thailand deposited its instrument of accession to the Madrid Protocol at the International Bureau of the World Intellectual Property Organization.  The Madrid Protocol will thus enter into force for Thailand on November 7, 2017. Continue reading “Thailand joins Madrid Protocol”

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Does the Abstract matter any more?

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 “Does the Abstract matter any more?”

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Register for the AIPLA PCT Seminar

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.

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Seamless migration from analog phone lines to SIP trunks?

Let’s suppose you have made a plan to migrate your office telephone system from analog phone lines to VOIP trunks.  Maybe you are doing this to reduce your monthly telephone bill to 85¢ as I blogged recently.  But regardless of why you are migrating, clearly you will want to carry out the migration in a way that minimizes the risk of disruption of incoming or outgoing telephone service.  In this article I describe a migration path that worked well for our firm, and along the way I explain a little bit more about SIP trunking and how it works. Continue reading “Seamless migration from analog phone lines to SIP trunks?”