Tag: Patent Registration
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Using Prior Appeals and Decisions to Support Your Case
When you file a patent, every word and every argument matters. But here’s something most founders don’t realize — you don’t have to start from zero. The best patent applications often stand on the shoulders of earlier decisions and appeals. These are past rulings from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) that can quietly…
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Drafting Amendments That Survive Appeal and Prosecution
When you amend a patent claim, you’re walking a tightrope. One wrong word, one hasty change, and the protection you thought you secured can crumble under scrutiny. The truth is, most amendments fail not because the invention isn’t good—but because the claim language doesn’t hold up when pushed, questioned, or appealed. Start Smart: Building Amendments…
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Appeal Conference Strategy: What to Present and What to Hold Back
When you reach the appeal conference stage in the patent process, every word, every slide, every pause matters. This is where your invention either gains new life or gets stuck in limbo. You’ve done the hard part—filing, explaining, and defending your patent application. Now, it’s about playing your cards right. The appeal conference isn’t a…
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Interview Before Appeal: Scripts That Shift Examiner Positions
When your patent application gets rejected, it’s easy to feel stuck. You’ve spent months refining your invention, crafting the claims, responding to office actions—only to hit another wall. But before you move into a costly appeal, there’s one step that can quietly turn the tide: the examiner interview. How to Lead the Conversation Without Sounding…
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Building the Record: Make Your File History Appeal-Ready
Getting a patent isn’t just about having a great idea. It’s about building a record that tells your invention’s story clearly, confidently, and completely. Every word, drawing, and argument in your patent file becomes part of that story. It’s what examiners, judges, and even investors will look at to understand what makes your invention real…
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Should You File a Continuation Instead of Appealing?
When you get a patent rejection, it can feel like someone slammed the brakes on your entire startup. You’ve poured months—sometimes years—into building something new, something that could change the game. Then, the patent office says no. It’s frustrating, confusing, and a little personal. What a Continuation Really Means—and Why It’s a Hidden Advantage When…
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AFCP 2.0 vs. RCE: Which One Gets You to Allowance Faster?
When your patent application hits a wall, it can feel like being stuck in traffic with no way to move forward. You’ve spent months—maybe years—developing your idea, only to have the examiner reject your claims again. Now you’re faced with a choice: file a Request for Continued Examination (RCE) or try for an After Final…
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Timing an RCE: Preserve Momentum Without Resetting Everything
You’ve come a long way. You filed your patent application, responded to office actions, and fought hard to show why your invention deserves protection. But now you’re at a crossroads — the examiner still isn’t convinced, and you’re staring at one last decision: should you file a Request for Continued Examination (RCE)? What Really Happens…
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Appeal Outcomes: What Happens If You Win or Lose
When your patent application gets rejected, it can feel like a punch to the gut. You’ve poured time, money, and brainpower into something you believe in—and now an examiner says no. But a rejection doesn’t always mean the end. It often just means the next step is an appeal. When You Win: How a Successful…
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Evidence on Appeal: Declarations, Data, and New Arguments
When a patent application is rejected, most founders feel that gut punch. You’ve poured time, money, and heart into protecting your idea—only to see “Final Rejection” in black and white. But that’s not the end of the road. In fact, that’s often where the real strategy begins. An appeal is your second chance to tell…