News

  • November 24, 2021

    USPTO DOCX Filings Surcharge Fee Delay

    The USPTO has delayed the effective date of the surcharge fee for non-DOCX filings to January 1, 2023. The PTO Announcement and Federal Register Notice can be viewed using the USPTO link found here: https://www.uspto.gov/blog/director/entry/modernizing-patent-filing-with-docx The USPTO will continue to accept DOCX specifications for non-PCT applications first filed in the U.S., for applications filed in the U.S. under the Paris Convention and for applications filed as a by-pass continuation of a PCT application without the surcharge fee. The surcharge delay allows the USPTO time for further testing and for application filers to adjust to the DOCX format. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

  • October 22, 2021

    Hailey R. Bureau, Ph.D., Promoted to Associate

    A huge congratulations to BSKB’s very own Hailey Bureau, Ph.D.! She has just been promoted to Associate after passing the Virginia Bar Exam. Congrats, Hailey!

  • November 12, 2021

    USPTO DOCX Filings

    Effective January 1, 2022, a USPTO surcharge fee of $400 (large entity), $200 (small entity) and $100 (micro entity) will apply for non-DOCX filings. The surcharge fee applies to utility non-provisional application filings (e.g., the specification, claims, and abstract must be in DOCX format to avoid the surcharge; drawings are not subject to this requirement). The DOCX surcharge does not apply to US National Stage Applications or PCT International Applications filed in the US Receiving Office. Drawings may be filed as PDF or DOCX documents. There is no surcharge for drawings not filed as DOCX documents. DOCX is a structured text-based Microsoft Word document. Effective January 1, 2022, a USPTO surcharge fee of $400 (large entity), $200 (small entity) and $100 (micro entity) will apply for non-DOCX filings. The surcharge fee applies to utility non-provisional application filings (e.g., the specification, claims, and abstract must be in DOCX format to avoid the surcharge; drawings are not subject to this requirement). The DOCX surcharge does not apply to US National Stage Applications or PCT International Applications filed in the US Receiving Office. Drawings may be filed as PDF or DOCX documents. There is no surcharge for drawings not filed as DOCX documents. DOCX is a structured text-based Microsoft Word document. In view of the above, to avoid the USPTO surcharge, we recommend that you commence sending specifications in DOCX format for all utility non-provisional applications filed on or after January 1, 2022.

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Birch, Stewart, Kolasch & Birch, LLP is an internationally-recognized and highly-respected intellectual  property law firm committed to obtaining and enforcing IP rights for our clients.

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USPTO's Patent Trial and Appeal BoardLearn about Post Grant Proceedings

Offering our extensive experience with Post Grant Proceedings and in-depth knowledge of both the USPTO and technology to file or defend our clients in patent office trials, such as Inter Partes Review (IPR), Post Grant Review (PGR), and Business Method Review (CBM).

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Summer Patent SeminarRegistration opens early 2022

BSKB has been providing participants of our Summer Patent Seminar (SPS) with a comprehensive overview of U.S. patent law for over 40 years. SPS focuses primarily on the practical problems encountered in obtaining valid and enforceable U.S. patents, as well as enforcement of patent rights after grant.

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