Bernard P. Codd
Subscribe to Bernard P. Codd's PostsBernard (Bernie) P. Codd focuses his practice on patent prosecution and opinions in the areas of semiconductor devices and semiconductor device manufacturing, as well as battery, fuel cell, photolithography, magnetic media, chemical, metallurgy and polymer technologies. Bernie has successfully prosecuted patent reexaminations, reissues and numerous patent appeals, including oral arguments. Bernie’s practice includes patent application drafting and providing opinions on patent validity and infringement. Read Bernard (Bernie) P. Codd's full bio.
PTO Extends Deadline for Comments on Initiatives to Ensure Patent Robustness, Reliability
By Bernard P. Codd on Nov 3, 2022
Posted In Patents
On November 3, 2022, the US Patent & Trademark Office (PTO) announced that it is extending the deadline for public input on its proposed initiatives aimed at ensuring the robustness and reliability of patent rights from January 3, 2023, to February 1, 2023. For further details about the extension of the deadline, check out the...
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PTO Requests Comments on Initiatives to Expand Board Opportunities, Registration to Practice Criteria
By Bernard P. Codd on Oct 20, 2022
Posted In Patents
In a pair of notices, the US Patent & Trademark Office (PTO) announced on October 18, 2022, that it is seeking public input on proposed initiatives directed at expanding opportunities to appear before the Patent Trial & Appeal Board, (Board) and expanding admission criteria for registration to practice in patent cases before the PTO. PTO...
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PTO Requests Comments on Initiatives to Ensure Patent Robustness, Reliability
By Bernard P. Codd on Oct 13, 2022
Posted In Patents
The US Patent & Trademark Office (PTO) is seeking public input and guidance on proposed initiatives directed at bolstering the robustness and reliability of patents. The request for comments was spurred in part by US President Joe Biden’s July 9, 2021, executive order on Promoting Competition in the American Economy, and a June 8, 2022,...
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PTO Switches to New Public Search Tools, New PTAB Filing System
By Bernard P. Codd on Sep 29, 2022
Posted In Patents
The US Patent & Trademark Office (PTO) will replace four legacy tools—Public-Examiner’s Automated Search Tool, Public-Web-Based Examiner’s Search Tool, Patent Full-Text and Image Database (PatFT) and Patent Application Full-Text and Image Database (AppFT)—with the new Patent Public Search Tool (PPUBS) on September 30, 2022. The PTO first announced the transition to the new tool in...
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PTO Extends Public Comment Period on Patent Subject Matter Eligibility Guidance
By Bernard P. Codd on Sep 8, 2022
Posted In Patents
The US Patent & Trademark Office (PTO) seeks public feedback on its existing patent subject matter eligibility (SME) guidance. The guidance was put in place in 2019. As noted in the PTO’s July 25, 2022, blog post, the 2019 revisions to the SME guidance resulted in a large decrease in 35 U.S.C. § 101 rejections....
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PTO Presentation Seeks to Clarify Subject Matter Eligibility Requirements
By Bernard P. Codd on Aug 18, 2022
Posted In Patents
On August 9, 2022, the US Patent & Trademark Office (PTO) gave a public presentation, “Subject Matter Eligibility Under 35 U.S.C. § 101: USPTO Guidance and Policy.” During the presentation, the PTO indicated that its goal is to identify eligible subject matter and not reject patent applications under 35 U.S.C. § 101 where possible. However,...
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PTO Issues Notice on Duties of Disclosure and Reasonable Inquiry
By Bernard P. Codd on Aug 11, 2022
Posted In Patents
The US Patent & Trademark Office (PTO) issued a notice on July 29, 2022, titled “Duties of Disclosure and Reasonable Inquiry During Examination, Reexamination, and Reissue, and for Proceedings Before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board.” The notice comes in response to US President Joe Biden’s July 9, 2021, executive order on Promoting Competition in...
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PTO Proposes Standardization of the Patent Term Adjustment Statement Regarding Information Disclosure Statements
By Bernard P. Codd on Jul 21, 2022
Posted In Patents
The US Patent & Trademark Office (PTO) announced on July 12, 2022, that it intends to revise the rules pertaining to patent term adjustment to require that the patent term adjustment statement regarding information disclosure statements (IDS) be submitted on a PTO form. The PTO believes that the use of the form will streamline prosecution...
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PTO Issues Report to Congress on Patent Eligible Subject Matter
By Bernard P. Codd on Jul 14, 2022
Posted In Patents
On June 24, 2022, the US Patent & Trademark Office (PTO) issued a report to Congress titled “Patent Eligible Subject Matter: Public Views on the Current Jurisprudence in the United States.” The report comes in response to a March 5, 2021, letter from Senators Tillis (R-NC), Coons (D-DE), Hirono (D-HI) and Cotton (R-AR) expressing concern...
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PTO Re-Opens to Public
By Bernard P. Codd on Jun 2, 2022
Posted In Patents
The US Patent & Trademark Office (PTO) re-opened to the public on May 25, 2022. Both the headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia, and the regional offices in Dallas, Texas; Denver, Colorado; Detroit, Michigan and San Jose, California, are now open. The offices had been closed to the public since March 16, 2020, because of the COVID-19...
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