News

WEB PATENT NEWS by Robert M. Hunter, Registered Patent Agent

July 21, 2004 /

MATR Sponsor (view all)

PFL Tech Inc. is a marketing technology company that provides sales enablement and marketing automation solutions, as well asprinting, mailing, and fulfillment services. They also provide some great Montana Jobs.

News about patents, licensing and seed capital sources for inventors
and innovating organizations.

I. ALERT: INCREASE IN PATENT FEES COMING SOON

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed H.R. 1561, the United States Patent and Trademark Fee Modernization Act of 2004, which calls for a significant increase in patent fees. A companion bill, S. 1760, which more closely reflects the original USPTO proposal, is pending in the U.S. Senate. Savings in fees can be achieved by a small entity (independent inventor, small business or university) by filing before the increased fees are implemented.

http://www.webpatent.com/news/news5_04.htm#I

II. COMPLAINTS AGAINST INVENTION PROMOTERS AVAILABLE FOR VIEWING

The American Inventors Protection Act of 1999 required the USPTO to provide a public forum for the publication of complaints concerning invention promoters/promotion firms. The USPTO was also required to publish responses from the invention promoters/promotion firms to the complaints.

http://www.webpatent.com/news/news5_04.htm#II

III. WHEREBY AND THEREBY CLAUSES IN PATENT CLAIMS

A patent claim is a description of the elements of a product or the steps of a method and their interrelationships. It is possible, however, to use a "whereby" or "thereby" clause to describe a function, operation or result that necessarily follows from the structure or method previously recited in a patent claim.

http://www.webpatent.com/news/news5_04.htm#III

IV. NEW SMALL BUSINESS SIZE STANDARDS PROPOSED – corrected

The Small Business Administration (SBA) is proposing to change the rules that are used to determine which businesses can participate in Federal procurement and lending programs. Under the SBA proposal, the new size standards will range between 50 employees and 1,500 employees, depending on the industry or SBA program. Footnote 10 on page 35 of the proposal indicates that the size standard for the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program will not change.

http://www.webpatent.com/news/news4_04.htm#II

— If you have any questions about patents or U.S. Government funding for technology research and development, please contact us. Aloha,

Robert M. (Bob) Hunter Robert M. Hunter PLLC

P.O. Box 2709 65-1116

Hokuula Road Kamuela, HI 96743

tel (808) 885-4194 fax (808) 885-4114

Check out my website at http://www.webpatent.com