A bill revising Japanese Patent Law (as well as other laws) was passed by the Diet (Japan’s bicameral legislature) on May 10, 2019 and promulgated on May 17, 2019. Purpose of the revisions As a result of the digital revolution, …
Israeli Patent Office Clarifies Patent Term Eligibility for Antibodies
On April 16, 2019, the Israeli Patent Office (IL PTO) held that an antibody targeting the same antigen as an antibody previously approved for patent term extension (PTE) was eligible for its own PTE provided that primary structural differences existed …
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Indian Government’s Proposal to Amend Patent Rules 2003 Will Impact Examination and Opposition Procedures
On December 4, 2018, India’s Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, Ministry of Commerce and Industry published Draft Patent (Amendment) Rules, 2018 (Draft Rules) for comment. These Draft Rules seek to amend the Patent Rules, 2003. Key highlights of the …
Clarification on Obviousness-Type Double Patenting? The Federal Circuit Issues Two Decisions in One Day
On Friday, December 7, 2018, the Federal Circuit issued two important decisions involving obviousness-type double patenting. In the first decision, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation v. Breckenridge Pharmaceutical Inc., the Court addressed the question of whether a patent filed after June 8, …
Unpaid Annuity Payments For Abandoned Patents in Indonesia Could Jeopardize Future Filings in Indonesia
In August 2016, a new amended patent law took effect in Indonesia which removed the obligation of patent owners to pay annuities on patents that lapsed through non-payment of earlier annuities. However, despite this change, patent owners in Indonesia remain …
Important Changes to Argentina’s Patent Law
On September 27, 2018, the National Institute of Industrial Property in Argentina issued Resolution No. 250/2018 (Resolution) implementing certain changes to Argentine Patent Law that have been awaiting resolution as a result of Law No. 27.444 (Debureaucratization and Simplification Law …
A Study of Post-Grant Reviews in U.S. PTO Tech Center 1600
Post grant review (PGR) is a trial proceeding conducted at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB or Board) to review the patentability of one or more claims in a patent on any ground that could be raised under 35 …
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Implementing Regulations Provide Clarity on the Working Requirement in Indonesia
Article 20 of Indonesia’s Patent Law requires patent owners to either manufacture their patented products in Indonesia or use their patented processes in the country. Although controversial, the purpose of this working requirement is to drive foreign technology transfer, investment, …
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Proposed Revisions to the Canadian Patent Office’s Examination Guidelines on Pharmaceutical Solid Forms
The Canadian Patent Office (CPO) is seeking comments on its proposed revisions to Chapter 17 of the Manual of Patent Office Practice (MOPOP) as it relates to pharmaceutical solid forms (namely, polymorphs, salts, hydrates, solvates, desolvates and co-crystals). In this …
Brazil Implements Patent Prosecution Highway with the United Kingdom – Opportunities for Biotechnology Applicants
On July 24, 2018, the Instituto Nacional da Propriedade Industrial (INPI) published Rule #222/2018 implementing the Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) Pilot program (PPH program) with the United Kingdom patent and trademark Office (UKIPO). Implementation of this PPH program may expedite …