The distinction between a structural element and a product-by-process element can be fine.

If the Examiner continues to apply the wrong restriction standard in a PCT National Phase application, you may be able to overcome the restriction with a straightforward petition.

Be careful in petitioning so as not to win a battle only to lose the war.

Apple knows how to petition improper restrictions that fail to provide any reasoning supporting a search burden

SAP saves their database data field retrieval patent with "only" in the claim.

On appeal, the PTAB dismisses GM's reasoning against an Examiner's rejection as "mere attorney argument."

The ideal technology transfer agreement looks much different now with the PTAB and State-owned University sovereign immunity defenses.  

The Office of Petitions loves to find admissions in petitions against restrictions, so be careful!

Don't let the Patent Office pull a fast one on you by expressly ignoring teachings in the prior art.

Be careful using examiner statistics when making decisions about whether to appeal - some stats are not always what they appear to be.

THE PTAB's interpretation of Section 112 could give examiners more freedom to make unreasonable rejections under a new precedential PTAB opinion.

Guest post by the Foreign Inbound team at McCoy Russell LLP on PPH requests.

Design and Provisional application filings require a thoughtful strategy and understanding of how priorities can and cannot be claimed. 

Remember not to let Examiners use the inventor's teachings as a basis for an obviousness rejection.

Even when claims use the term "means," that does not necessarily mean that they are "means plus function" claims. This new case may give patent prosecutors a few more tricks to pull out during prosecution of what might otherwise be a hopeless case.

A recent Board decision on Section 101 mixes up determining the proper claim scope with the "something more" question.

Learn how seemingly inconsequential decisions made in responding to restriction requirements dictates the course of prosecution for years to come.

Patent drafters beware - the PTAB has found a shortcut to ignore most every if-then controls-related invention if it so desires. Read the post to see some potential countermeasures.

Having multiple patent drafters contribute to your patent application can pay dividends in the long run.