Four Weeks to Go – Are You Current With Recent USPTO Rule Changes? A Closer Look at the New Written Description and Appeal Rules

Two recent changes to the rules governing the examination of patent applications before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) significantly alter procedures for patent applicants.

On March 25, 2008, the PTO issued revised written description materials that supersede and replace the 1999 written description guidelines that were published in response to the Regents of the University of California v. Eli Lilly and Company. On December 10, 2008, substantial changes to the rules governing the filing and content of appeal briefs come into effect. One stated objective of the new appeal rules is to avoid unnecessary returns to examiners by the appeals center and the board, along with the resulting delays in application and appeal pendency.

Presenters:

• Antoinette Konski, Partner
• Sam L. Nguyen, Partner
• Lorna L. Tanner, Senior Counsel

Key Topics:

• A guide to the substantive and procedural changes
• Strategies for meeting the new written description guidelines
• Strategies for complying with the new appeal rules 

For questions about this program, please contact Zulaikha Rahim at [email protected].