Tag Archives: patent application

Sampled “Success” Rates of Patent Applications, Courtesy Patently-O

Patently-O did a brief post yesterday on a selected group of patent applications to see how the applications have proceeded through the PTO.  Of the applications filed in February 2006, 57% have matured into a patent, 28% are abandoned, and … Continue reading

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Patent Dashboard Displays a Clear, but Sad, View of Patent Pendency

The Patent Office has taken a number of steps in the last year or so toward transparency, approachability, and clarity.  It recently released the Patent Dashboard, or “Data Visualization Center.”  The Dashboard is a simple display of the average time … Continue reading

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What is an effective filing date?

What is an effective filing date? If you”ve done some reading about patents, you may have seen references to an “effective filing date.” For instance, while patent attorneys will often shorthand an explanation of patents by saying they offer protection … Continue reading

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Filing a Non-Publication Request

Not very long ago, patent applications were maintained in secrecy until they issued as patents.  Today, however, an application is published 18 months after its effective filing date, meaning that anyone can see your invention after you file it.  By … Continue reading

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Patents Explained: Claims

At last, the claims!  The heart of the patent! Appropriately bringing this series of explanatory posts to an end, the claims conclude a patent.  A patent can have one claim or many; generally, though, they’ve got 20 or less because … Continue reading

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Patents Explained: Description of the Drawings

Continuing the post series explaining patents, we now address the drawing descriptions. The description of the drawings is just that.  It refers to each drawing by number and explains what the drawing is.  The description is brief – it isn’t … Continue reading

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Patents Explained: The Summary

Next up in the Patents Explained series: the summary section of the patent.  The summary is similar to the background of the invention, and, in that same vein, some consider it extraneous and potentially damaging to the patent as a … Continue reading

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