USPTO December Monthly Review

Published on: 01/04/2021 8:49 AM

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monthly review
united states patent and trademark office

A look back at the highlights of December 2020

Journeys of Innovation

Marissa Streng, inventor of the Puff-N-Fluff dog dryer, shares her experiences as a young innovator and entrepreneur.

Marissa Streng, inventor of the Puff-N-Fluff dog dryer, shares her experiences as a young innovator and entrepreneur.

Dogged determination

In third grade, students typically focus on multiplication, division, reading, and writing. In 2011, however, Marissa Streng, an industrious 9-year-old from central Florida, invented a product that better dried her dog Mojo after his baths. With the support of her parents, she then began learning about intellectual property and what it takes to run a family business. She even met a few celebrities along the way. Now in her first year of college, Streng proves that age really is just a number when it comes to invention.

Read the full story

Blogs

USPTO releases FY 2020 Performance and Accountability Report

USPTO releases FY 2020 Performance and Accountability Report. Read the blog.

Advances in searching for prior art

Patent examination, though inherently complex, is in large part a fact-finding mission with the goal of providing predictable and reliable intellectual property rights. The prior art search is the foundation for achieving this mission.

By Andrei Iancu, Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO and Drew Hirshfeld, Commissioner for Patents | Continue reading


PTAB’s Motion to Amend Pilot Program shows promising results

On March 15, 2019, the USPTO implemented a pilot program for motions to amend (MTAs) in AIA trials before the PTAB. In MTAs, patent owners may request to cancel challenged claims or propose substitute claims to replace challenged claims if they are found unpatentable. We have seen promising results for claim amendments made under this pilot program and want to share these with you.

By Andrei Iancu, Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO and Scott Boalick, Chief Judge of the PTAB | Continue reading

News and updates

Image of the USPTO headquarters in Alexandria, VA

USPTO announces new Public Advisory Committee members. Read the news brief.

Four USPTO intellectual property attachés elevated to rank of “Counselor”

WASHINGTON – The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) today announced that four of its intellectual property attachés have been elevated to the diplomatic rank of “Counselor” at the U.S. embassies and missions where they serve.

Read full press release


Mary Critharis appointed Chief Policy Officer and Director for International Affairs

WASHINGTON – The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) today announced the appointment of Mary Critharis as its new Chief Policy Officer and Director for International Affairs. Ms. Critharis had been serving as the Acting Chief Policy Officer and Director for International Affairs since October 19, following the selection of her predecessor, Shira Perlmutter, to lead the U.S. Copyright Office.

Read full press release


USPTO and Mexican Institute of Industrial Property announce launch of Parallel Patent Grant Initiative

WASHINGTON – The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property (IMPI) today announced the launch of the Parallel Patent Grant (PPG) initiative. Under this new worksharing arrangement, IMPI will expedite the grant of a Mexican patent for businesses and individuals already granted a corresponding U.S. patent.

Read full press release


Find all upcoming and past events at https://www.uspto.gov/about-us/events.

Popular posts

For the third consecutive year, USPTO Director Andrei Iancu was selected as one of Managing IP’s 50 Most Influential People in IP

For the third consecutive year, Director Andrei Iancu was selected as one of Managing IP’s 50 Most Influential People in IP. This year, Commissioner for Trademarks David Gooder was also selected. Read the article.

Instagram

 

Twain’s career in innovation started for a very simple reason. He hated suspenders. His patent for an “improvement in adjustable and detachable straps for garments,” an alternative method for tightening clothing, was granted on this day in 1871. He also held patents for a self-pasting scrapbook and a history trivia game, all under his given name of Samuel Clemens.

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Mark Twain, famous American author, public speaker, and inventor
Twitter

 

Today (December 15) at the 14th annual IP attaché roundtable, USPTO’s IP attachés led an in-depth discussion of recent trends and challenges in IP protection and enforcement around the world.

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14th annual IP attaché roundtable where the USPTO’s attachés discussed recent trends and challenges in international IP protection and enforcement
Facebook

 

Director Iancu and India’s Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to work together on a variety of activities over the next ten years, including technical training and information exchanges on best practices in IP protection and enforcement.

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Director Iancu and India’s Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade signed a memorandum of understanding
LinkedIn

 

Yesterday (December 18), Director Iancu participated in a roundtable discussion on Expanding American Innovation. Learn more about the National Council for Expanding American Innovation (NCEAI).

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Director Iancu participated in a roundtable discussion on Expanding American Innovation