{"description":"Documents matching 'compliance foreign inventors patent owners'","count":166,"total_pages":9,"next_page_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/documents?conditions%5Bterm%5D=compliance+foreign+inventors+patent+owners&format=json&page=2","results":[{"title":"Required Use by Foreign Applicants and Patent Owners of a Patent Practitioner","type":"Rule","abstract":"The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO or Office) is amending the Rules of Practice in Patent Cases to require patent applicants and patent owners whose domicile is not located within the United States (U.S.) or its territories (hereinafter foreign applicants/inventors and patent owners) to be represented by a registered patent practitioner. A requirement that foreign applicants/ inventors and patent owners be represented by a registered patent practitioner will bring the U.S. in line with most other countries that require that such parties be represented by a licensed or registered person of that country. Additionally, this requirement will increase efficiency and enable the USPTO to more effectively use available mechanisms to enforce compliance by all foreign applicants/inventors and patent owners with U.S. statutory and regulatory requirements in patent matters, and enhance the USPTO's ability to respond to false certifications, misrepresentations, and fraud.","document_number":"2026-05564","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/03/20/2026-05564/required-use-by-foreign-applicants-and-patent-owners-of-a-patent-practitioner","pdf_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-03-20/pdf/2026-05564.pdf","public_inspection_pdf_url":"https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2026-05564.pdf?1773924326","publication_date":"2026-03-20","agencies":[{"raw_name":"DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE","name":"Commerce Department","id":54,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/commerce-department","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/54","parent_id":null,"slug":"commerce-department"},{"raw_name":"Patent and Trademark Office","name":"Patent and Trademark Office","id":402,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/patent-and-trademark-office","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/402","parent_id":54,"slug":"patent-and-trademark-office"}],"excerpts":"Regulations to require foreign applicants/inventors and patent owners to be represented by a registered patent practitioner, as defined in 37 CFR 1.32(a)(1) (\n i.e., \n a registered patent attorney or registered patent agent under 37 CFR 11.6 or an individual given limited recognition under § 11.9(a) or (b) or § 11.16) (hereinafter, registered patent practitioner). Requiring all foreign applicants/inventors and patent owners to be represented by a registered patent practitioner: (1) treats foreign applicants/inventors and patent owners similarly to how"},{"title":"Required Use by Foreign Applicants and Patent Owners of a Patent Practitioner","type":"Proposed Rule","abstract":"The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO or Office) is proposing to amend the Rules of Practice in Patent Cases to require patent applicants and patent owners whose domicile is not located within the United States (U.S.) or its territories (hereinafter foreign applicants/inventors and patent owners) to be represented by a registered patent practitioner. A requirement that foreign applicants/ inventors and patent owners be represented by a registered patent practitioner would bring the United States in line with most other countries that require that such parties be represented by a licensed or registered person of that country. Additionally, this requirement would increase efficiency and enable the USPTO to more effectively use available mechanisms to enforce compliance by all foreign applicants/ inventors and patent owners with U.S. statutory and regulatory requirements in patent matters, and enhance the USPTO's ability to respond to false certifications, misrepresentations, and fraud.","document_number":"2025-23917","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/12/29/2025-23917/required-use-by-foreign-applicants-and-patent-owners-of-a-patent-practitioner","pdf_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2025-12-29/pdf/2025-23917.pdf","public_inspection_pdf_url":"https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2025-23917.pdf?1766497523","publication_date":"2025-12-29","agencies":[{"raw_name":"DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE","name":"Commerce Department","id":54,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/commerce-department","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/54","parent_id":null,"slug":"commerce-department"},{"raw_name":"United States Patent and Trademark Office","name":"Patent and Trademark Office","id":402,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/patent-and-trademark-office","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/402","parent_id":54,"slug":"patent-and-trademark-office"}],"excerpts":"proposed rulemaking. \n \n \n SUMMARY: \n The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO or Office) is proposing to amend the Rules of Practice in Patent Cases to require patent applicants and patent owners whose domicile is not located within the United States (U.S.) or its territories (hereinafter foreign applicants/inventors and patent owners) to be represented by a registered patent practitioner. A requirement that foreign applicants/inventors and patent owners be represented by a registered patent practitioner would bring the United States in line"},{"title":"Conditions for Additional Information and Fee in Petitions Filed in Patent Applications and Patents Based on Unintentional Delay","type":"Rule","abstract":"The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is revising its practice of requiring additional information for delays in taking certain actions in patent applications and patents from requiring additional information for delays exceeding two years to requiring additional information for delays exceeding one year. This action is being taken to increase certainty and predictability concerning patent rights, and to encourage the timely filing of grantable petitions to revive applications, accept delayed maintenance fee payments, accept delayed priority or benefit claims, and excuse an applicant's failure to act within prescribed time limits in connection with international design applications. In addition, the USPTO is changing the conditions for when the corresponding petition fee is required.","document_number":"2026-12717","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/06/24/2026-12717/conditions-for-additional-information-and-fee-in-petitions-filed-in-patent-applications-and-patents","pdf_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-06-24/pdf/2026-12717.pdf","public_inspection_pdf_url":"https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2026-12717.pdf?1782218720","publication_date":"2026-06-24","agencies":[{"raw_name":"DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE","name":"Commerce Department","id":54,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/commerce-department","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/54","parent_id":null,"slug":"commerce-department"},{"raw_name":"Patent and Trademark Office","name":"Patent and Trademark Office","id":402,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/patent-and-trademark-office","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/402","parent_id":54,"slug":"patent-and-trademark-office"}],"excerpts":"571-272-3282; or by mail addressed to: Mail Stop Comments-Patents, Commissioner for Patents, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313-1450; or Brannon Smith, Legal Advisor, Office of Patent Legal Administration, at 571-270-1601. \n \n \n \n SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: \n \n The USPTO is revising the rules in part 1 of title 37 of the Code of Federal Regulations to increase certainty and predictability concerning patent rights and to improve efficiency of patent operations.\n \n \n I. Background \n The Patent Law Treaties Implementation Act of 2012 (PLTIA) amended"},{"title":"Revision to Rules of Practice Before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board","type":"Proposed Rule","abstract":"The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO or Office) proposes modifications to the rules of practice for inter partes review (IPR) before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB or Board) that the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of USPTO and, by delegation, the PTAB will use in instituting IPR.","document_number":"2025-19580","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/10/17/2025-19580/revision-to-rules-of-practice-before-the-patent-trial-and-appeal-board","pdf_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2025-10-17/pdf/2025-19580.pdf","public_inspection_pdf_url":"https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2025-19580.pdf?1760618706","publication_date":"2025-10-17","agencies":[{"raw_name":"DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE","name":"Commerce Department","id":54,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/commerce-department","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/54","parent_id":null,"slug":"commerce-department"},{"raw_name":"Patent and Trademark Office","name":"Patent and Trademark Office","id":402,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/patent-and-trademark-office","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/402","parent_id":54,"slug":"patent-and-trademark-office"}],"excerpts":"issue overlap. Patent owners often spend substantial funds defending their rights against multiple or duplicative challenges, which would be avoided under the proposed rule. Patent challengers also expend significant resources raising such challenges, which would also be avoided. Patent challengers find that this expenditure serves their private interests, because the possibility of patent invalidation reduces the risk that the challenger will be compelled to compensate a patent owner for infringement and may reduce amounts patent owners accept in license"},{"title":"Setting and Adjusting Patent Fees During Fiscal Year 2025","type":"Rule","abstract":"The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) sets or adjusts patent fees as authorized by the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act (AIA), as amended by the Study of Underrepresented Classes Chasing Engineering and Science Success Act of 2018 (SUCCESS Act). The fee adjustments are needed to provide the USPTO with sufficient aggregate revenue to recover the aggregate estimated costs of patent operations in future years (based on assumptions and estimates found in the agency's Fiscal Year 2025 Congressional Justification (FY 2025 Budget)), including implementing the USPTO 2022-2026 Strategic Plan (Strategic Plan).","document_number":"2024-26821","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/11/20/2024-26821/setting-and-adjusting-patent-fees-during-fiscal-year-2025","pdf_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2024-11-20/pdf/2024-26821.pdf","public_inspection_pdf_url":"https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2024-26821.pdf?1732023917","publication_date":"2024-11-20","agencies":[{"raw_name":"DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE","name":"Commerce Department","id":54,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/commerce-department","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/54","parent_id":null,"slug":"commerce-department"},{"raw_name":"Patent and Trademark Office","name":"Patent and Trademark Office","id":402,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/patent-and-trademark-office","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/402","parent_id":54,"slug":"patent-and-trademark-office"}],"excerpts":"requirements, aggregate costs, and related assumptions for the Patents program is available in the FY 2025 Budget. \n \n The USPTO estimates that the Patents program will cost $3.973 billion in FY 2025, including $2.835 billion for patent examining; $90 million for patent trial and appeals; $159 million for patent information resources; $24 million for activities related to IP protection, policy, and enforcement; and $866 million for general support costs necessary for patent operations (\n e.g., \n the patent share of rent, utilities, legal, financial, human resources"},{"title":"Terminal Disclaimer Practice To Obviate Nonstatutory Double Patenting","type":"Proposed Rule","abstract":"The USPTO proposes to amend the rules of practice to add a new requirement for an acceptable terminal disclaimer that is filed to obviate (that is, overcome) nonstatutory double patenting. The proposed rule change would require terminal disclaimers filed to obviate nonstatutory double patenting to include an agreement by the disclaimant that the patent in which the terminal disclaimer is filed, or any patent granted on an application in which a terminal disclaimer is filed, will be enforceable only if the patent is not tied and has never been tied directly or indirectly to a patent by one or more terminal disclaimers filed to obviate nonstatutory double patenting in which: any claim has been finally held unpatentable or invalid as anticipated or obvious by a Federal court in a civil action or by the USPTO, and all appeal rights have been exhausted; or a statutory disclaimer of a claim is filed after any challenge based on anticipation or obviousness to that claim has been made. This action is being taken to prevent multiple patents directed to obvious variants of an invention from potentially deterring competition and to promote innovation and competition by allowing a competitor to avoid enforcement of patents tied by one or more terminal disclaimers to another patent having a claim finally held unpatentable or invalid over prior art.","document_number":"2024-10166","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/05/10/2024-10166/terminal-disclaimer-practice-to-obviate-nonstatutory-double-patenting","pdf_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2024-05-10/pdf/2024-10166.pdf","public_inspection_pdf_url":"https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2024-10166.pdf?1715258715","publication_date":"2024-05-10","agencies":[{"raw_name":"DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE","name":"Commerce Department","id":54,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/commerce-department","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/54","parent_id":null,"slug":"commerce-department"},{"raw_name":"Patent and Trademark Office","name":"Patent and Trademark Office","id":402,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/patent-and-trademark-office","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/402","parent_id":54,"slug":"patent-and-trademark-office"}],"excerpts":"multiple patents with claims that vary in only minor ways from each other. A patent owner may also, under certain circumstances (for example, when two applications are filed on the same day), obtain patents that are not part of the same patent family for obvious variants of an invention. As a result, obviousness-type double patenting (also referred to as nonstatutory double patenting) may exist between patents and/or applications in the same patent family or in a different patent family. Under the doctrine of obviousness-type double patenting, the USPTO"},{"title":"Guidance on Use of Artificial Intelligence-Based Tools in Practice Before the United States Patent and Trademark Office","type":"Notice","abstract":"The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) issues this guidance to inform practitioners and the public of the important issues that patent and trademark professionals, innovators, and entrepreneurs must navigate while using Artificial Intelligence (AI) in matters before the USPTO. The USPTO recognizes the possibility that AI will be used to prepare and prosecute patent and trademark applications, as well as other filings before the Office including filings submitted to the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) and Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB). While the USPTO is committed to maximizing AI's benefits and seeing them distributed broadly across society, the USPTO recognizes the need, through technical mitigations and human governance, to cabin the risks arising from the use of AI in practice before the USPTO. At this time, based on the USPTO's engagement with stakeholders through the USPTO's AI and Emerging Technologies (ET) Partnership (AI/ET Partnership) and a review of existing rules, the USPTO has determined that existing rules protect the USPTO's ecosystem against such potential perils. This guidance reminds individuals involved in proceedings before the USPTO of the pertinent rules and policies, helps inform those same individuals of the risks associated with the use of AI systems, and provides suggestions to mitigate those risks. The USPTO will continue to engage with the public, including through the AI/ET Partnership, as the use of AI advances and evolves.","document_number":"2024-07629","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/04/11/2024-07629/guidance-on-use-of-artificial-intelligence-based-tools-in-practice-before-the-united-states-patent","pdf_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2024-04-11/pdf/2024-07629.pdf","public_inspection_pdf_url":"https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2024-07629.pdf?1712753115","publication_date":"2024-04-11","agencies":[{"raw_name":"DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE","name":"Commerce Department","id":54,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/commerce-department","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/54","parent_id":null,"slug":"commerce-department"},{"raw_name":"Patent and Trademark Office","name":"Patent and Trademark Office","id":402,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/patent-and-trademark-office","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/402","parent_id":54,"slug":"patent-and-trademark-office"}],"excerpts":"to 37 CFR 42.11. The duty of candor and good faith applies in patent term extension proceedings as well.\n 24 \n \n \n \n \n 24 \n 37 CFR 1.765(a) (“A duty of candor and good faith toward the Patent and Trademark Office and the Secretary of Health and Human Services or the Secretary of Agriculture rests on the patent owner or its agent, on each attorney or agent who represents the patent owner and on every other individual who is substantively involved on behalf of the patent owner in a patent term extension proceeding.”).\n \n \n As the duty of candor and"},{"title":"Setting and Adjusting Patent Fees During Fiscal Year 2025","type":"Proposed Rule","abstract":"The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) proposes to set or adjust patent fees as authorized by the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act (AIA), as amended by the Study of Underrepresented Classes Chasing Engineering and Science Success Act of 2018 (SUCCESS Act). The proposed fee adjustments are needed to provide the USPTO with sufficient aggregate revenue to recover the aggregate costs of patent operations in future years (based on assumptions and estimates found in the agency's Fiscal Year 2025 Congressional Justification (FY 2025 Budget)), including implementing the USPTO 2022-2026 Strategic Plan (Strategic Plan).","document_number":"2024-06250","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/04/03/2024-06250/setting-and-adjusting-patent-fees-during-fiscal-year-2025","pdf_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2024-04-03/pdf/2024-06250.pdf","public_inspection_pdf_url":"https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2024-06250.pdf?1712061914","publication_date":"2024-04-03","agencies":[{"raw_name":"DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE","name":"Commerce Department","id":54,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/commerce-department","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/54","parent_id":null,"slug":"commerce-department"},{"raw_name":"Patent and Trademark Office","name":"Patent and Trademark Office","id":402,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/patent-and-trademark-office","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/402","parent_id":54,"slug":"patent-and-trademark-office"}],"excerpts":"requirements, aggregate costs, and related assumptions for the Patents program is available in the FY 2025 Budget. \n \n The USPTO estimates that the Patents program will cost $3.973 billion in FY 2025, including $2.835 billion for patent examining; $90 million for patent trial and appeals; $159 million for patent information resources; $24 million for activities related to IP protection, policy, and enforcement; and $866 million for general support costs necessary for patent operations (\n e.g., \n the patent share of rent, utilities, legal, financial, human resources"},{"title":"Representation of Others in Design Patent Matters Before the United States Patent and Trademark Office","type":"Rule","abstract":"The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO or Office) is amending the rules of practice in patent cases and the rules regarding the representation of others before the USPTO by creating a separate design patent practitioner bar whereby admitted design patent practitioners would practice in design patent proceedings only. Prior to this rulemaking, there was only one patent bar that applied to those who practice in patent matters before the Office, including in utility, plant, and design patents. The creation of a design patent practitioner bar does not impact the ability of those already registered to practice in any patent matters before the USPTO to continue to practice in any patent matters, including design patent matters, before the Office. Furthermore, it does not impact the ability of applicants for registration who meet the criteria to practice in all patent matters from qualifying for and upon passing the current registration exam, practicing in any patent matters before the Office, including design patent matters. Expanding the admission criteria of the patent bar encourages broader participation and keeps up with the ever-evolving technology and related teachings that qualify someone to practice before the USPTO. The Manual of Patent Examining Procedure will be updated in accordance with this final rule in due course.","document_number":"2023-25234","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/11/16/2023-25234/representation-of-others-in-design-patent-matters-before-the-united-states-patent-and-trademark","pdf_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2023-11-16/pdf/2023-25234.pdf","public_inspection_pdf_url":"https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2023-25234.pdf?1700055935","publication_date":"2023-11-16","agencies":[{"raw_name":"DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE","name":"Commerce Department","id":54,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/commerce-department","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/54","parent_id":null,"slug":"commerce-department"},{"raw_name":"Patent and Trademark Office","name":"Patent and Trademark Office","id":402,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/patent-and-trademark-office","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/402","parent_id":54,"slug":"patent-and-trademark-office"}],"excerpts":"executed for the patent owner in contemplation of filing or prosecution of a patent application for the patent owner, where the practitioner represents the patent owner after a patent issues in a proceeding before the Office, and when drafting the assignment the practitioner does no more than replicate the terms of a previously existing oral or written obligation of assignment from one person or party to another person or party. \n \n (2) \n Practice before the Office in design patent matters. \n (i) Practice before the Office in design patent matters includes"},{"title":"Patent Trial and Appeal Board Rules of Practice for Briefing Discretionary Denial Issues, and Rules for 325(d) Considerations, Instituting Parallel and Serial Petitions, and Termination Due to Settlement Agreement","type":"Proposed Rule","abstract":"The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO or Office) proposes modifications to the rules of practice for inter partes review (IPR) and post-grant review (PGR) proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB or Board) that the Director and, by delegation, the PTAB will use in exercising discretion to institute IPRs and PGRs. The Office proposes these provisions in light of stakeholder feedback received in response to an October 2020 Request for Comments (RFC) and an April 2023 Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM). The proposals enhance and build on existing precedent and guidance regarding the exercise of the Director's discretion pursuant to the America Invents Act (AIA) to determine whether to institute an IPR or PGR proceeding with regard to serial petitions, parallel petitions, and petitions implicating the same or substantially the same art or arguments previously presented to the Office. The proposed rules also provide a separate briefing process for discretionary institution arguments and align the procedures for termination of proceedings pre- and post- institution.","document_number":"2024-08362","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/04/19/2024-08362/patent-trial-and-appeal-board-rules-of-practice-for-briefing-discretionary-denial-issues-and-rules","pdf_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2024-04-19/pdf/2024-08362.pdf","public_inspection_pdf_url":"https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2024-08362.pdf?1713444344","publication_date":"2024-04-19","agencies":[{"raw_name":"DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE","name":"Commerce Department","id":54,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/commerce-department","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/54","parent_id":null,"slug":"commerce-department"},{"raw_name":"Patent and Trademark Office","name":"Patent and Trademark Office","id":402,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/patent-and-trademark-office","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/402","parent_id":54,"slug":"patent-and-trademark-office"}],"excerpts":"without Board authorization under 37 CFR 42.20(b)). A patent owner request for discretionary denial is limited to 10 pages, a petitioner opposition is also limited to 10 pages, and a patent owner sur-reply is limited to 5 pages.\n \n \n Sections 42.107 and 42.207: \n Amend the rules on preliminary responses to provide that the patent owner preliminary response shall not address discretionary denial unless authorized by the Board, and further provide that a patent owner may raise and address discretionary denial issues in a separate request for discretionary"},{"title":"Setting and Adjusting Trademark Fees During Fiscal Year 2025","type":"Rule","abstract":"The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) sets or adjusts trademark fees, as authorized by the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act (AIA), as amended by the Study of Underrepresented Classes Chasing Engineering and Science Success Act of 2018 (SUCCESS Act). The fee adjustments will provide the USPTO sufficient aggregate revenue to recover the aggregate costs of trademark operations in future years (based on assumptions and estimates found in the agency's Fiscal Year 2025 Congressional Justification (FY 2025 Budget)), including implementing the USPTO 2022-2026 Strategic Plan (Strategic Plan).","document_number":"2024-26644","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/11/18/2024-26644/setting-and-adjusting-trademark-fees-during-fiscal-year-2025","pdf_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2024-11-18/pdf/2024-26644.pdf","public_inspection_pdf_url":"https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2024-26644.pdf?1731678322","publication_date":"2024-11-18","agencies":[{"raw_name":"DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE","name":"Commerce Department","id":54,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/commerce-department","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/54","parent_id":null,"slug":"commerce-department"},{"raw_name":"Patent and Trademark Office","name":"Patent and Trademark Office","id":402,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/patent-and-trademark-office","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/402","parent_id":54,"slug":"patent-and-trademark-office"}],"excerpts":"individual (see section 2(c) of the Act); \n • If the applicant owns one or more registrations for the same mark, and the owner(s) last listed in Office records of the prior registration(s) for the same mark differs from the owner(s) listed in the application, a claim of ownership of the registration(s) identified by the registration number(s), pursuant to § 2.36; \n • If the application is a concurrent use application, compliance with § 2.42; \n • An applicant whose domicile is not located within the United States or its territories must designate an"},{"title":"Changes to the Representation of Others in Design Patent Matters Before the United States Patent and Trademark Office","type":"Proposed Rule","abstract":"The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO or Office) proposes to amend the rules of practice in patent cases and the rules regarding the representation of others before the USPTO to create a separate design patent practitioner bar whereby admitted design patent practitioners would practice in design patent proceedings only. Presently, there is only one patent bar that applies to those who practice in patent matters before the Office, including in utility, plant, and design patents. The potential creation of a design patent practitioner bar would not impact the ability of those already registered to practice in any patent matters, including design patent matters, before the USPTO to continue to practice in any patent matters before the Office. Furthermore, it would not impact the ability of applicants for registration who meet the current criteria, including qualifying for and passing the current registration exam, to practice in any patent matters before the Office, including design patent matters. Expanding the admission criteria of the patent bar would encourage broader participation and keep up with the ever-evolving technology and related teachings that qualify someone to practice before the USPTO.","document_number":"2023-10410","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/05/16/2023-10410/changes-to-the-representation-of-others-in-design-patent-matters-before-the-united-states-patent-and","pdf_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2023-05-16/pdf/2023-10410.pdf","public_inspection_pdf_url":"https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2023-10410.pdf?1684154725","publication_date":"2023-05-16","agencies":[{"raw_name":"DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE","name":"Commerce Department","id":54,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/commerce-department","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/54","parent_id":null,"slug":"commerce-department"},{"raw_name":"Patent and Trademark Office","name":"Patent and Trademark Office","id":402,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/patent-and-trademark-office","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/402","parent_id":54,"slug":"patent-and-trademark-office"}],"excerpts":"executed for the patent owner in contemplation of filing or prosecution of a patent application for the patent owner, where the practitioner represents the patent owner after a patent issues in a proceeding before the Office, and when drafting the assignment the practitioner does no more than replicate the terms of a previously existing oral or written obligation of assignment from one person or party to another person or party. \n \n (2) \n Practice before the Office in design patent matters. \n (i) Practice before the Office in design patent matters includes"},{"title":"USPTO Officially Transitions to Issuing Electronic Patent Grants in 2023","type":"Rule","abstract":"The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is implementing electronic patent issuance to reduce pendency of patent applications, foster a green economy by reducing paper waste, and permit complete issued patents to be viewable and printable by both the applicants as well as the public immediately upon issuance in Patent Center, the USPTO's electronic patent application filing and management system. Patent grants will no longer be issued on paper, and as a result, they will no longer be mailed to the correspondence address of record as part of the patent issuance process. During a transition period, the USPTO will provide a paper copy of the electronic patent grant as a courtesy ceremonial copy, delivered to the patentee's correspondence address of record. After the transition period, a selection of patent grant copies, including the ceremonial copy, will be available for purchase at a nominal charge. The electronic patent grant will be the official statutory patent grant.","document_number":"2023-03809","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/02/28/2023-03809/uspto-officially-transitions-to-issuing-electronic-patent-grants-in-2023","pdf_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2023-02-28/pdf/2023-03809.pdf","public_inspection_pdf_url":"https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2023-03809.pdf?1677505522","publication_date":"2023-02-28","agencies":[{"raw_name":"DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE","name":"Commerce Department","id":54,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/commerce-department","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/54","parent_id":null,"slug":"commerce-department"},{"raw_name":"Patent and Trademark Office","name":"Patent and Trademark Office","id":402,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/patent-and-trademark-office","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/402","parent_id":54,"slug":"patent-and-trademark-office"}],"excerpts":"impact the ability of a patent owner to exercise their patent rights as a paper patent grant is not necessary to enforce or license a patent. Once issued, the paper patent grant is merely commemorative. Under electronic patent issuance, patent owners will be able to access their granted patent at any time. This includes the ability to print their own hard copy. Only when a patent owner would like the Office to print them a hard copy would any additional fee need to be paid (\n i.e., \n for a presentation copy or certified copy for submission to a legal"},{"title":"Privacy Act of 1974; System of Records","type":"Notice","abstract":"As required by the Privacy Act of 1974 and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circulars A-108 and A-130, the Department of Energy (DOE or the Department) is publishing notice of a newly established Privacy Act system of records. DOE proposes to establish System of Records DOE-85 Research, Technology, and Economic Security (RTES) Due Diligence Review Records as part of the Department's implementation of Government-wide and Departmental RTES requirements included in National Security Presidential Memorandum-33 (NSPM-33), the CHIPS and Science Act, and other laws or Executive orders related to research security. Records in this system are maintained and used by the Department to track and monitor research, technology, and economic security risk assessments associated with the projects for which the Department receives applications, proposals, and submissions for research, development, deployment, demonstrations, commercialization, and scientific activities, and Departmental laboratories and facilities performing such activities, as well as certain high-risk non-scientific and non-research and development activities and for projects DOE otherwise is or is considering supporting.","document_number":"2024-20376","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/09/10/2024-20376/privacy-act-of-1974-system-of-records","pdf_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2024-09-10/pdf/2024-20376.pdf","public_inspection_pdf_url":"https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2024-20376.pdf?1725885933","publication_date":"2024-09-10","agencies":[{"raw_name":"DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY","name":"Energy Department","id":136,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/energy-department","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/136","parent_id":null,"slug":"energy-department"}],"excerpts":"government-operated laboratory employees and laboratory partners. To inform the assessment of an entity's foreign ownership, control, and influence (FOCI), including FOCI related to foreign countries of concern, countries of risk, foreign entities of concern, entities of concern, or similar terms as defined in applicable laws or DOE/NNSA policies, the system includes information on individuals in a position to own, control or influence the entity (\n e.g., \n owners, directors, board members, and significant investors and shareholders), consistent with applicable"},{"title":"Department of Energy Acquisition Regulation (DEAR)","type":"Rule","abstract":"The Department of Energy (DOE or the Department) is publishing a final rule comprehensively revising its Acquisition Regulation in order to update and streamline the policies, procedures, provisions and clauses that are applicable to the Department's contracts. This rulemaking updates or eliminates coverage that is obsolete or that unnecessarily duplicates the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and retains only that coverage which either implements or supplements the FAR for the award and administration of the DOE's contracts. The rule adds several new clauses and amends several existing clauses in order to promote more uniform application of the DOE's contract award and administration policies.","document_number":"2024-23817","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/11/13/2024-23817/department-of-energy-acquisition-regulation-dear","pdf_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2024-11-13/pdf/2024-23817.pdf","public_inspection_pdf_url":"https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2024-23817.pdf?1731419115","publication_date":"2024-11-13","agencies":[{"raw_name":"DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY","name":"Energy Department","id":136,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/energy-department","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/136","parent_id":null,"slug":"energy-department"}],"excerpts":"governing the filing of U.S. patent applications and under the rules of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), DOE agrees that patent applicants, including our M&O contractors, are legally permitted to include Export Controlled Information (ECI) in their U.S. origin patent applications and are not required to obtain a separate export license as long as they comply with regulations issued by the USPTO, unless the applicant seeks to export technical data exceeding that used to support the patent application in a foreign country. Accordingly, DOE"},{"title":"Reducing Patent Fees for Small Entities and Micro Entities Under the Unleashing American Innovators Act of 2022","type":"Rule","abstract":"The United States Patent and Trademark Office (Office or USPTO) amends patent fees for small and micro entities set forth in its regulations to implement the provisions of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023--which included the Unleashing American Innovators Act of 2022 (UAIA). The UAIA, signed into law on December 29, 2022, supports the USPTO's efforts to reduce the innovation ecosystem's barriers to entry. The UAIA increased fee discounts for small entities from 50% to 60% and fee discounts for micro entities from 75% to 80% for fees for filing, searching, examining, issuing, appealing, and maintaining patent applications and patents. The UAIA also increased fee discounts for small entities from 75% to 80% for filing a basic nonprovisional utility application electronically.","document_number":"2023-05382","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/03/22/2023-05382/reducing-patent-fees-for-small-entities-and-micro-entities-under-the-unleashing-american-innovators","pdf_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2023-03-22/pdf/2023-05382.pdf","public_inspection_pdf_url":"https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2023-05382.pdf?1679402716","publication_date":"2023-03-22","agencies":[{"raw_name":"DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE","name":"Commerce Department","id":54,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/commerce-department","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/54","parent_id":null,"slug":"commerce-department"},{"raw_name":"Patent and Trademark Office","name":"Patent and Trademark Office","id":402,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/patent-and-trademark-office","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/402","parent_id":54,"slug":"patent-and-trademark-office"}],"excerpts":"available. \n § 1.377—for review of a decision refusing to accept and record payment of a maintenance fee filed prior to the expiration of a patent. \n § 1.550(c)—for patent owner requests for an extension of time in ex parte reexamination proceedings. \n § 1.956—for patent owner requests for an extension of time in inter partes reexamination proceedings. \n § 5.12 of this chapter—for expedited handling of a foreign filing license. \n § 5.15 of this chapter—for changing the scope of a license. \n § 5.25 of this chapter—for a retroactive license. \n (h) *"},{"title":"Spring 2024 Semiannual Agenda of Regulations","type":"Proposed Rule","abstract":"In compliance with Executive Order 12866, entitled \"Regulatory Planning and Review,\" and the Regulatory Flexibility Act, as amended, the Department of Commerce (Commerce), in the spring and fall of each year, publishes in the Federal Register an agenda of regulations under development or review over the next 12 months. Rulemaking actions are grouped according to pre-rulemaking, proposed rules, final rules, long-term actions, and rulemaking actions completed since the publication of the Fall 2023 Unified Agenda. The purpose of the Agenda is to provide information to the public on regulations that are currently under review, being proposed, or recently issued by Commerce. It is expected that this information will enable the public to participate more effectively in Commerce's regulatory process. Commerce's Spring 2024 Unified Agenda includes regulatory activities that are expected to be conducted during the period July 1, 2024, through June 31, 2024.","document_number":"2024-16446","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/08/16/2024-16446/spring-2024-semiannual-agenda-of-regulations","pdf_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2024-08-16/pdf/2024-16446.pdf","public_inspection_pdf_url":"https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2024-16446.pdf?1723725919","publication_date":"2024-08-16","agencies":[{"raw_name":"DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE","name":"Commerce Department","id":54,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/commerce-department","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/54","parent_id":null,"slug":"commerce-department"},{"raw_name":"Office of the Secretary"}],"excerpts":"\n \n Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) \n Final Rule Stage \n 55. Setting and Adjusting Patent Fees During Fiscal Year 2025 [0651-AD64] \n \n Legal Authority: \n Pub. L. 112-29\n \n \n Abstract: \n The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO or Office) takes this action to set and adjust Patent fee amounts to provide the Office with a sufficient aggregate revenue to recover its aggregate cost of operations thereby maintaining a sustainable funding model. The new fee amounts will provide the Office with additional resources to decrease patent pendency"},{"title":"Setting and Adjusting Trademark Fees During Fiscal Year 2025","type":"Proposed Rule","abstract":"The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) proposes to set and adjust trademark fees, as authorized by the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act (AIA), as amended by the Study of Underrepresented Classes Chasing Engineering and Science Success Act of 2018 (SUCCESS Act). The proposed fee adjustments will provide the USPTO sufficient aggregate revenue to recover the aggregate costs of trademark operations in future years (based on assumptions and estimates found in the agency's Fiscal Year 2025 Congressional Justification (FY 2025 Budget)), including implementing the USPTO 2022-2026 Strategic Plan (Strategic Plan).","document_number":"2024-06186","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/03/26/2024-06186/setting-and-adjusting-trademark-fees-during-fiscal-year-2025","pdf_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2024-03-26/pdf/2024-06186.pdf","public_inspection_pdf_url":"https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2024-06186.pdf?1711370716","publication_date":"2024-03-26","agencies":[{"raw_name":"DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE","name":"Commerce Department","id":54,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/commerce-department","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/54","parent_id":null,"slug":"commerce-department"},{"raw_name":"Patent and Trademark Office","name":"Patent and Trademark Office","id":402,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/patent-and-trademark-office","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/402","parent_id":54,"slug":"patent-and-trademark-office"}],"excerpts":"increased fees for foreign and international registrants under sections 66, 44, and 71, noting that “[o]wners of these registrations have not been required to prove use prior to registration” and “are more likely to describe an excessive list of goods and services, to offer suspect specimens and declarations, and to require auditing.” TPAC Report at 6. TPAC recognized that such a proposal could “implicate many factors, including compliance with international treaty obligations.” TPAC Report at 6. \n \n The USPTO decided not to charge foreign or international"},{"title":"HHS Acquisition Regulation: Regulatory Review","type":"Proposed Rule","abstract":"The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is proposing to amend and update its Health and Human Services Acquisition Regulation (HHSAR) to update and streamline the HHSAR. Under this initiative, all parts of the regulation were reviewed to streamline the regulation, to revise or remove policy superseded by changes in the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), to remove any procedural guidance that is internal to HHS into a new HHS Acquisition Manual (HHSAM) as internal policies, guidance, and instructions. The rule would add new coverage to implement agency unique requirements. The HHSAR would also be updated to reflect organizational changes in the Department, incorporate recent statutory changes and government mandates, and to accomplish editorial revisions for clarification.","document_number":"2024-17095","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/10/03/2024-17095/hhs-acquisition-regulation-regulatory-review","pdf_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2024-10-03/pdf/2024-17095.pdf","public_inspection_pdf_url":"https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2024-17095.pdf?1727873117","publication_date":"2024-10-03","agencies":[{"raw_name":"DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES","name":"Health and Human Services Department","id":221,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/health-and-human-services-department","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/221","parent_id":null,"slug":"health-and-human-services-department"}],"excerpts":"the Contractor assigns a Subject Invention to the third party assignee, then the Contractor and its employee inventors shall assist the third party assignee in securing patent protection. All costs of securing the patent, including the cost of the Contractor's assistance, are at the third party's expense. Any assistance provided by the Contractor and its employee inventors to the third party assignee or other costs incurred in securing patent protection shall be solely at the third party's expense and not billable to the contract. \n \n (e) \n Contractor"},{"title":"Practice and Procedure: Rules of General Application, Safeguards, Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Investigations, and Section 337 Adjudication and Enforcement","type":"Proposed Rule","abstract":"The United States International Trade Commission (\"Commission\") proposes to amend its Rules of Practice and Procedure concerning rules of general application, safeguards, antidumping and countervailing duty investigations, and section 337 adjudication and enforcement. The amendments are necessary to make certain technical corrections, to clarify certain provisions, to harmonize different parts of the Commission's rules, and to address concerns that have arisen in Commission practice. The intended effect of the proposed amendments is to facilitate compliance with the Commission's Rules and improve the administration of agency proceedings.","document_number":"2024-06385","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/03/28/2024-06385/practice-and-procedure-rules-of-general-application-safeguards-antidumping-and-countervailing-duty","pdf_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2024-03-28/pdf/2024-06385.pdf","public_inspection_pdf_url":"https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2024-06385.pdf?1711543524","publication_date":"2024-03-28","agencies":[{"raw_name":"INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION","name":"International Trade Commission","id":262,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/international-trade-commission","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/262","parent_id":null,"slug":"international-trade-commission"}],"excerpts":"licensees; \n (v) When known, a list of each foreign patent, each foreign or domestic patent application (not already issued as a patent), and each foreign or domestic patent application that has been denied, abandoned or withdrawn, corresponding to each involved U.S. patent, with an indication of the prosecution status of each such patent application; \n (vi) A nontechnical description of the invention of each involved U.S. patent; \n (vii) A reference to the specific claims in each involved U.S. patent that allegedly cover the article imported or"}]}