USPTO TO OPEN PATENTS EXTERNAL QUALITY SURVEY JULY 22
Yesterday the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office announced that it will launch the Patents External Quality Survey on July 22. Registered patent attorneys and agents are invited to share feedback on examiner rejections’ correctness, clarity, and consistency, as well as adherence to rules and procedures and satisfaction with search quality and prior art.
The announcement indicated that the survey takes under 10 minutes. Results are used to track examination quality over time, address the root causes of quality issues, and identify best practices. The survey closes September 4. Additional details, including the survey link, will be shared before it opens.
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NEXT WEEK ON THE IP CHAT CHANNEL™: BIG CHANGES IN US INTERNATIONAL IP POLICY: THE 2026 USTR SPECIAL 301 REPORT
Join the IP Chat Channel™ on Tuesday, July 21 at 1:00pm ET for a webinar that will provide an overview of significant IP policy concerns across different countries and regions based on IPO’s comments made during the U.S. Trade Representative’s (USTR) Special 301 review and report. Panelists STEVE BAUER (Retired), JAKE EWERDT (Qualcomm Inc.), DEAN HARTS (3M Innovative Properties Co.), and SANJEEV MAHANTA (Merck & Co., Inc.) moderated by IPO’s ASTRID ROE, will go around the world in one hour, noting issues that IP practitioners need to be aware of and pointing out global trends in IP law and policy. Since the last report, two countries, Argentina and Mexico, resolved many concerns, the EU was added to the Watch List, and one country, Vietnam, was designated a Priority Foreign Country – a designation that had not been used for many years.
The USTR Special 301 Report is a Congressionally mandated annual review of the global state of intellectual property rights protection and enforcement. Each year, USTR invites public participation and comments in the review process assessment. IPO’s International Patent Law & Trade Committee (IPLTC) has led IPO’s engagement in this public process and consolidated input from IPO committees and members to prepare IPO’s comment letter. IPO’s comments, among other things, highlight many of the issues and concerns raised within IPO committee discussions throughout the year. For practitioners whose practices cross borders, don’t miss this webinar.
IP Chat Channel™ webinars are free for IPO members. Advance registration is required. CLE offered in most states.
JOIN THE U.S. POST-GRANT PATENT OFFICE PRACTICE COMMITTEE
PTAB proceedings continue to evolve, with new precedent and proposed rule changes and pending legislation in the mix. IPO’s U.S. Post-Grant Patent Office Practice Committee follows and advises the IPO Board on these developments. The committee’s priority this year is proposing IPO positions on the rules governing IPR and PGR. If post-grant proceedings are part of your practice, this committee needs your expertise. Apply to the U.S. Post-Grant Patent Office Practice Committee today at www.ipo.org/joinacommittee.
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