PatentsUSA
System Downtime to Affect Fee Payments and Petition Filings During Maintenance Window
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) will conduct routine maintenance on its Patent Trial and Appeal Case Tracking System (PTACTS) on Saturday, May 16, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Eastern Time. During this period, credit and debit card payments for fees will be unavailable, and parties with pending AIA case…
Sunday, May 17, 2026
IIPLA News Desk
PatentsUSA
Routine system maintenance will temporarily disrupt access to multiple USPTO electronic filing platforms, with alternative filing options provided for affected users.
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has scheduled routine maintenance from 12 a.m. to 2 a.m. ET on Saturday, May 16, which will affect access to several electronic systems used by patent and trademark applicants. The USPTO has issued guidance on alternative filing procedures during this period to min…
Sunday, May 17, 2026
IIPLA News Desk
PatentsUSA
The third session of the Patent Trial and Appeal Board’s spring series features expert panels discussing Board administration, scheduled for May 18 at USPTO headquarters and onlin…
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has revealed the panelists and schedule for the concluding event in its three-part Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) spring listening series. The session will be held on Monday, May 18, 2026, from 3 to 5 p.m. Eastern Time at the USPTO’s Clara Barton Auditorium i…
Sunday, May 17, 2026
IIPLA News Desk
PatentsUSA
The Patent Fraud Mitigation Unit enforces strict measures against unauthorized patent representatives to uphold system integrity and reduce delays
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has ramped up efforts to combat fraud and misrepresentation in patent proceedings. Since fiscal year 2025, over 3,800 patent applications have been terminated for rule violations involving unauthorized representation. In April 2026 alone, more than 400 applications…
Sunday, May 17, 2026
IIPLA News Desk
PatentsUSA
Practical patents context for IP teams tracking Patents, Join, Successful Inventing.
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) Western Regional Outreach Office and the Licensing Executives Society–Silicon Valley Chapter (LES-SVC) will co-host a virtual event titled "Successful Inventing: Licensing Your Product or Concept" on May 13, 2026. This session is part of a broader educational serie…
Sunday, May 17, 2026
IIPLA News Desk
PatentsUSA
Routine Software Deployment to Temporarily Suspend Access to PPUBS from 10 p.m. to Midnight ET
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) announced a scheduled software update for its Patent Public Search (PPUBS) system on the evening of May 8, 2024. Users are advised to exit the platform before 9:59 p.m. ET to avoid disruption and to restart the system after maintenance concludes. The update is part…
Sunday, May 17, 2026
IIPLA News Desk
PatentsUSA
Scheduled system maintenance will suspend credit and debit card payment processing across USPTO storefronts for three hours on Saturday evening, with alternative payment options a…
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) announced a planned maintenance window on Saturday, May 9, from 8 to 11 p.m. Eastern Time, during which credit and debit card payments will not be accepted. Customers with USPTO Deposit Accounts or Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) accounts can continue payments duri…
Sunday, May 17, 2026
IIPLA News Desk
PatentsUSA
The upcoming webinar will guide inventors through manufacturing challenges as part of a broader educational initiative on early-stage invention processes.
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), in collaboration with the Licensing Executives Society – Silicon Valley Chapter (LES-SVC), will hold a virtual event focusing on manufacturing within the Successful Inventing 2026 series. Scheduled for June 10, 2026, the session aims to assist innovators in naviga…
Sunday, May 17, 2026
IIPLA News Desk
PatentsUSA
The third session of the Patent Trial and Appeal Board spring series will convene on May 18 at USPTO headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia, featuring expert panels discussing PTAB…
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) will host the concluding event of its three-part PTAB spring listening series titled “PTAB Administration and Reform” on Monday, May 18, from 3 to 5 p.m. Eastern Time. The session will take place in the Clara Barton Auditorium at USPTO headquarters in Alexandria, V…
Sunday, May 17, 2026
IIPLA News Desk
PatentsUSA
The United States Patent and Trademark Office updates its PatentsView database, providing disambiguated patent data through the end of 2025 via the Open Data Portal
The USPTO has released the fourth quarter 2025 update of PatentsView, its AI-enhanced patent data platform. This update includes disambiguated patent records through December 31, 2025, now hosted on the Open Data Portal's Bulk Data Directory to improve reliability and accessibility for researchers and analysts.
Sunday, May 17, 2026
IIPLA News Desk
PatentsUSA
The Office of Financial Management Systems to perform routine updates, causing temporary unavailability of Vendor Portal services
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) announced that its Vendor Portal will undergo scheduled maintenance on Wednesday, May 6, from 8 to 11 p.m. Eastern Time. During this period, the portal will be inaccessible to users. The Office of Financial Management Systems (OFMS) is conducting the routine mainte…
Sunday, May 17, 2026
IIPLA News Desk
PatentsUSA
A historical overview of landmark American trademarks reveals their enduring impact on commerce and culture
Since the first federal trademark registration in 1870, iconic American brands have leveraged trademark protection to build consumer trust and distinguish themselves in competitive markets. This article explores the origins and evolution of notable U.S. trademarks, from Averill Chemical Paint Company to contemporary g…
Sunday, May 17, 2026
IIPLA News Desk
PatentsUSA
Director John A. Squires reflects on the historic foundation of U.S. intellectual property rights and celebrates the enduring Anglo-American partnership in innovation
At the 2026 INTA Annual Meeting in London, USPTO Director John A. Squires emphasized the unique constitutional basis for intellectual property rights in the United States. He underscored the longstanding commitment to innovation embedded in the U.S. Constitution and highlighted the strong transatlantic ties between th…
Sunday, May 17, 2026
IIPLA News Desk
PatentsUSA
USPTO Highlights Historical Inventors Who Shaped America’s Progress and Liberty
As the United States marks 250 years of independence, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) honors the legacy of American inventors and entrepreneurs whose creativity and determination have driven technological and social advancements. From pioneering inventions that aided wartime efforts to iconic sym…
Sunday, May 17, 2026
IIPLA News Desk
PatentsUSA
With a career spanning nearly three decades at the USPTO, David Wiley now leads critical patent examination units and strategic offices, driving innovation in biotechnology, AI, a…
David Wiley, a seasoned USPTO executive and patent examiner since 1994, has been appointed Acting Deputy Commissioner. He provides leadership over offices responsible for training, statistics, process improvement, and stakeholder outreach, while overseeing patent examination in technology centers focused on biotechnol…
Sunday, May 17, 2026
IIPLA News Desk
PatentsUSA
Updated memorandum enhances guidance on SMED submissions and introduces Deputy Commissioner Barry J. Schindler’s role in AI policy
The United States Patent and Trademark Office has issued an updated memorandum on best practices for submitting Rule 132 Subject Matter Eligibility Declarations (SMEDs). This revision incorporates practitioner feedback from the program’s initial phase and outlines additional recommendations for 35 U.S.C. § 101 eligibi…
Sunday, May 17, 2026
IIPLA News Desk
PatentsUSA
The United States Patent and Trademark Office invites stakeholders to participate in the concluding event of its spring series focused on enhancing PTAB efficiency and effectivene…
The USPTO has announced that registration is now open for the third and final session of its Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) spring listening series. Scheduled for May 18, 2026, this session will feature expert panels discussing potential reforms to improve PTAB operations. Attendees may join in person or virtual…
Sunday, May 17, 2026
IIPLA News Desk
PatentsUSA
Office of Human Resources Offers Real-Time Insights for Prospective Patent Examiners
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) will hold a live virtual event on May 26 from 1 to 1:30 p.m. ET, providing prospective patent examiner applicants an opportunity to engage directly with the Office of Human Resources (OHR). Attendees can ask questions about the application process and receive guida…
Sunday, May 17, 2026
IIPLA News Desk
