News

• "Micro Entity" Fees Now Available

  The USPTO has now made available a 75% discount on most fees for “micro entites”. A micro entity is an applicant who:
  (1) qualifies as a “small entity”;
  (2) neither the applicant nor the inventor nor any joint inventor has been named as the inventor on more than four previously filed patent applications;
  (3) neither the applicant nor the inventor nor any joint inventor had a gross income exceeding three times the mediam household income in the preceding calendar year; and
  (4) has not assigned, granted, or conveyed, and is not under an obligation to assign, grant, or convey, a license or other ownership interest in the application.

  As a micro entity, the discount on most USPTO fees will provide significant savings. We invite you to contact us if you believe you may qualify.

  05 April 2013

• America Invents Act: Important public disclosure considerations starting March 16, 2013 - Lesley A. Leonessa

  North Shore Patents is pleased to welcome Lesley A. Leonessa as Of Counsel to the firm. Lesley is a Patent and Intellectual Property Attorney with an extensive background in Software, the Internet, and Technology. Lesley specializes in patent prosecution and counsels clients on Intellectual Property protection, including U.S. and foreign patent prosecution.

  In the Special Edition of our Newsletter, Lesley lends her expertise to the question of public disclosures under the provisions of the America Invents Act taking effect on March 16, 2013. For questions, Lesley may be reached at Lesley@nspatents.com.

  To view or download Lesley’s article, please click on the “Special Edition 2013” link in the Newsletters section on the right or click here.

  To have our newsletters and announcements automatically delivered to your email, please subscribe.

  24 February 2013

• "How long until I get my patent?'

  The USPTO has issued it’s Performance and Accountability Report for 2012..

  The report includes information that helps to answer the common question, “how long until I get my patent”?

  As posted on Lexology by the AIPLA, the pendancy rate varies by technology area. For example:

  *applications relating to computer architecture, software & information security (USPTO Technology Center 2100) generally wait 23.5 months to first action, and have an average total pendency of 37.5 months;

  *applications relating to communications technologies (USPTO Technology Center 2600) have an average wait time of 24.3 months to first action, and an average total pendency of 37.2 months; and

  *applications relating to mechanical engineering products (USPTO Technology Center 3700) have an average wait time of 24.6 months to first action, and an average total pendency of 35.7 months.

  This pendancy rate is longer than desired by most IP owners. Several options exists for applicants to speed up the process – for a price. To learn more about these options, please contact us.

  Read the full post.

  04 January 2013

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