Search results for Pto Practice

PTO Policies and Payroll Implications — What Employers Need to Know to Stay Compliant and Accurate

Paid time off (PTO) is one of the most valued benefits employees receive. Whether it is used for vacation, illness, or personal time, PTO plays a key role in employee satisfaction...

IP Hot Topic: National Phase Patent Choices – Proceed, Postpone, or Part Ways With the PIER Pilot Program

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) recently introduced the PCT Informed Examination Request (PIER) Pilot Program effective on April 9, 2026, in which the USPTO w...

PTAB Update | April 2026

With the decline of inter partes review (IPR) proceedings and the significant increase in ex parte reexamination (EPR) proceedings, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is...

Changing Legal Landscape of Performance Improvement Plans

Performance Improvement Plans ("PIP"s) have long been a routine part of performance management. Employers use them to address underperformance, set expectations, and document effor...

PTW Process

Part II: Déjà Vu at the CRU: Strategy Under the New Pre-Order Paper Procedure

As covered in our prior alert, the USPTO’s new pre-order paper procedure allows a patent owner to file a 30-page paper within 30 days after being served with an ex parte reexaminat...

Performance Management- Employer Strategies as PIPs Come under Scrutiny

Takeaways The First Circuit held in Walsh that placing an employee on a performance improvement plan (PIP), without more, was not an adverse action even in the wake of Muldrow. Th...

The USPTO is Trying—But the Most Abusive Practices to Kill Patents Are Still in Play

In modern Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) practice, aggressive procedural strategy is no longer the exception—it is the operating norm. As the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office...

Déjà Vu at the CRU: USPTO Borrows From the IPR Landscape Allowing Patent Owner Pre-Order Arguments

On April 1, 2026, USPTO Director John Squires issued an Official Gazette Notice establishing a new pre-order procedure effective for reexamination requests filed on or after April...

Still Climbing: PTA Hits 318 Days, Back to 2015 Levels

Patent Term Adjustment hits 318-day peak in April 2026, back to 2015 levels. Director Squires' oldest-cases-first push is part of the story. Continue reading this post on Patently-...

USPTO Introduces New Decision Point for PCT National Stage Applications

The US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has introduced a new pilot program that will require certain patent applicants to make an affirmative decision about whether to proceed w...

USPTO Launches PIER Pilot Program Creating New Pre-Examination Decision Point for PCT National Stage Applications

The USPTO’s new PIER Pilot Program requires applicants in selected PCT national stage applications to affirmatively decide whether to proceed with, delay, or abandon U.S. patent ex...

Difference Between SOP and PTW

 Difference Between SOP and PTW✅ ExplanationSOP and PTW are both essential parts of workplace safety, but each has a different role and purpose.📘 What is SOP?SOP means: 👉 Standa...

USPTO Implements PCT Informed Examination Request (PIER) Pilot Program for U.S. National Stage Applications

Key Points - • New pilot program requires action. The USPTO has launched the PCT Informed Examination Request (PIER) Pilot Program, which will compel applicants of certain unexami...

PGR Petitions Are “Favored”

In Multi-Color Corp. v. Brook & Whittle Ltd., PGR2025-00025, the PTAB declined to discretionarily deny institution of Multi-Color’s post-grant review petition. The decision, d...

A few freebies!

 I've been working hard trying to help ALL of my students learn our music and be prepared for our concert.  I don't really do playing tests, but I wanted my students to feel a litt...

Mandatory USPTO PIER Pilot Creates New Risks for PCT National Stage Filings

USPTO to Take a Piercing Look at National Stage Applications

The USPTO has announced a new pilot program applicable only to U.S. national stage applications that will require applicants to confirm they want to proceed before their applicatio...

Brief about PTW

PTAB Update | March 2026

The PTO Director’s sua sponte rehearing of Ex parte Baurin raises questions regarding the scope of Allergan v. MSN, Examiners’ role in obviousness-type double patenting rejections,...