{"description":"Documents matching 'foreign inventors patent owners represented'","count":144,"total_pages":8,"next_page_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/documents?conditions%5Bterm%5D=foreign+inventors+patent+owners+represented&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":"ACTION: \n Final rule. \n \n \n SUMMARY: \n 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"},{"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":"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":"noted that a design patent practitioner bar would: (1) align the criteria for design patent practitioners with those of design patent examiners at the USPTO; (2) improve design patent practitioner quality and representation; (3) allow more under-represented groups to practice design patent law and aid more under-represented inventors in acquiring patents; (4) enable individuals with valuable knowledge of design to aid design patent prosecution; (5) lower the costs of obtaining design patents by promoting competition among practitioners; (6) ensure"},{"title":"Inventorship Guidance for AI-Assisted Inventions","type":"Notice","abstract":"Pursuant to the \"Executive Order on the Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence\" (October 30, 2023), the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO or Office) is issuing inventorship guidance for inventions assisted by artificial intelligence (AI). The guidance provides clarity for USPTO stakeholders and personnel, including the Central Reexamination Unit and the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB or Board), on how the USPTO will analyze inventorship issues as AI systems, including generative AI, play a greater role in the innovation process. This guidance explains that while AI-assisted inventions are not categorically unpatentable, the inventorship analysis should focus on human contributions, as patents function to incentivize and reward human ingenuity. Patent protection may be sought for inventions for which a natural person provided a significant contribution to the invention, and the guidance provides procedures for determining the same. Finally, the guidance discusses the impact these procedures have on other aspects of patent practice. The USPTO is seeking public comments on this inventorship guidance for AI-assisted inventions.","document_number":"2024-02623","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/02/13/2024-02623/inventorship-guidance-for-ai-assisted-inventions","pdf_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2024-02-13/pdf/2024-02623.pdf","public_inspection_pdf_url":"https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2024-02623.pdf?1707745519","publication_date":"2024-02-13","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":"be a natural person, and by extension, any joint inventor must be a natural person. As such, patent applications that name a machine on an application data sheet (37 CFR 1.76), an inventor's oath or declaration (37 CFR 1.63), or a substitute statement (37 CFR 1.64) as either an inventor or joint inventor will be considered by the USPTO to have improper inventorship.\n \n \n Further, the USPTO recognizes that while an AI system may not be named an inventor or joint inventor in a patent or patent application, an AI system—like other tools—may perform"},{"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":"Alternative Fee Structures for Registration","type":"Notice","abstract":"The U.S. Copyright Office is initiating this inquiry to collect information regarding alternative fee structures that could be adopted once its updated electronic registration system is fully operational. The information will be used to study the feasibility of alternative fee structures, their impact on participation in the registration system, and the potential economic effects. This inquiry is separate from the Office's pending rulemaking proceeding instituted on March 20, 2026 to update fees within the current fee structure.","document_number":"2026-05886","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/03/26/2026-05886/alternative-fee-structures-for-registration","pdf_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-03-26/pdf/2026-05886.pdf","public_inspection_pdf_url":"https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2026-05886.pdf?1774442724","publication_date":"2026-03-26","agencies":[{"raw_name":"LIBRARY OF CONGRESS","name":"Library of Congress","id":277,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/library-of-congress","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/277","parent_id":null,"slug":"library-of-congress"},{"raw_name":"Copyright Office","name":"Copyright Office, Library of Congress","id":87,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/copyright-office-library-of-congress","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/87","parent_id":277,"slug":"copyright-office-library-of-congress"}],"excerpts":"and patent systems may lead to a different outcome if the Office were to discount fees for small entities. Most fundamentally, an application is necessary to secure patent rights; no protection exists until the patent is granted by the USPTO.\n 41 \n \n In contrast, copyright subsists automatically upon fixation of a work of authorship.\n 42 \n \n Although copyright owners have meaningful incentives to register,\n 43 \n \n they need not do so to enjoy legal rights.\n \n \n \n 41 \n \n See \n 35 U.S.C. 100-105, 111, 131, 151, 154 (specifying that a patent, and"},{"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":"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":"background patent or data licensing is subject to negotiation.\n \n (d) The Assistant General Counsel for Technology Transfer and Intellectual Property shall: \n (1) Determine whether reported inventions are subject inventions under the patent rights clause of the contract; \n (2) Determine whether and where patent protection will be obtained on inventions; \n (3) Represent DOE before domestic and foreign patent offices; \n (4) Accept assignments and instruments confirmatory of the Government's rights to inventions; and \n (5) Represent DOE in patent, trademark"},{"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":"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":"Non-Compete Clause Rule","type":"Rule","abstract":"Pursuant to the Federal Trade Commission Act (\"FTC Act\"), the Federal Trade Commission (\"Commission\") is issuing the Non- Compete Clause Rule (\"the final rule\"). The final rule provides that it is an unfair method of competition for persons to, among other things, enter into non-compete clauses (\"non-competes\") with workers on or after the final rule's effective date. With respect to existing non-competes--i.e., non-competes entered into before the effective date--the final rule adopts a different approach for senior executives than for other workers. For senior executives, existing non-competes can remain in force, while existing non-competes with other workers are not enforceable after the effective date.","document_number":"2024-09171","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/05/07/2024-09171/non-compete-clause-rule","pdf_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2024-05-07/pdf/2024-09171.pdf","public_inspection_pdf_url":"https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2024-09171.pdf?1715001372","publication_date":"2024-05-07","agencies":[{"raw_name":"FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION","name":"Federal Trade Commission","id":192,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/federal-trade-commission","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/192","parent_id":null,"slug":"federal-trade-commission"}],"excerpts":"result of the final rule. The change in patenting due to the rule for each year is calculated as follows: \n \n Increase in # of Patents = (% Increase in Patenting) * (Total # of Affected Patents) \n \n \n The Commission estimates the percentage increase in patenting to average 10.9%-18.7% annually over a ten-year period,\n 1126 \n \n which is the percentage effect on patenting of an average magnitude change in non-compete enforceability, as discussed in Part X.F.5. The Commission assumes that the full effect on patenting phases in over the course of a ten-year"},{"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"},{"title":"Department of Energy Acquisition Regulation (DEAR)","type":"Proposed Rule","abstract":"The Department of Energy (DOE) proposes a comprehensive revision of its Acquisition Regulation in order to update and streamline the policies, procedures, provisions and clauses that are applicable to its contracts. This rulemaking proposes to update or eliminate coverage that is obsolete or that unnecessarily duplicates the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and retain only that coverage which either implements or supplements the FAR for the award and administration of the DOE's contracts. The rule proposes the addition of several new clauses as well as amendments to several existing clauses, which will promote more uniform application of the DOE's contract award and administration policies.","document_number":"2023-16875","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/10/26/2023-16875/department-of-energy-acquisition-regulation-dear","pdf_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2023-10-26/pdf/2023-16875.pdf","public_inspection_pdf_url":"https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2023-16875.pdf?1698237915","publication_date":"2023-10-26","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":"background patent or data licensing is subject to negotiation.\n \n (d) The Assistant General Counsel for Technology Transfer and Intellectual Property shall: \n (1) Determine whether reported inventions are subject inventions under the patent rights clause of the contract; \n (2) Determine whether and where patent protection will be obtained on inventions; \n (3) Represent DOE before domestic and foreign patent offices; \n (4) Accept assignments and instruments confirmatory of the Government's rights to inventions; and \n (5) Represent DOE in patent, trademark"},{"title":"Introduction to the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions-Fall 2023","type":"Proposed Rule","abstract":"Publication of the Fall 2023 Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions represents a key component of the regulatory planning mechanism prescribed in Executive Order (\"E.O.\") 12866, \"Regulatory Planning and Review,\" (58 FR 51735, as amended) and reaffirmed in E.O. 13563, \"Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review,\" (76 FR 3821) and E.O. 14094, \"Modernizing Regulatory Review,\" (88 FR 21879). The Regulatory Flexibility Act requires that agencies publish semiannual regulatory agendas in the Federal Register describing regulatory actions they are developing that may have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities (5 U.S.C. 602). The Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions (Unified Agenda), published in the fall and spring, helps agencies fulfill all of these requirements. All Federal regulatory agencies have chosen to publish their regulatory agendas as part of this publication. The complete publication of the Fall 2023 Unified Agenda contains the Regulatory Plans of 29 Federal agencies and 69 Federal agency regulatory agendas available to the public at www.reginfo.gov. The Fall 2023 Unified Agenda publication appearing in the Federal Register includes the Regulatory Plan and agency Regulatory Flexibility Agendas, in accordance with the publication requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act. Agency Regulatory Flexibility Agendas contain only those Agenda entries for rules that are likely to have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities and entries that have been selected for periodic review under section 610 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.","document_number":"2024-00476","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/02/09/2024-00476/introduction-to-the-unified-agenda-of-federal-regulatory-and-deregulatory-actions-fall-2023","pdf_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2024-02-09/pdf/2024-00476.pdf","public_inspection_pdf_url":"https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2024-00476.pdf?1707399919","publication_date":"2024-02-09","agencies":[{"raw_name":"REGULATORY INFORMATION SERVICE CENTER","name":"Regulatory Information Service Center","id":449,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/regulatory-information-service-center","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/449","parent_id":null,"slug":"regulatory-information-service-center"}],"excerpts":"Adjusting Patent Fees (0651-AD64): \n This proposed rule would set and adjust Patent fee amounts to provide USPTO with sufficient aggregate revenue to recover its aggregate cost of operations thereby maintaining a sustainable funding model. The new fee amounts would provide USPTO with additional resources to decrease patent pendency and ensure robust and reliable patents are granted while continuing to promote access to the patent system for underresourced individuals. The proposed fee amounts reflect feedback received from members of the Patent Public"}]}