78 articles
Written by : Tom Cowan Key Takeaways : Despite periodic mentions by aerospace innovators of “secret patents,” this author is not aware of any evidence of such patents. There may be confusion with “Secrecy Orders,” which apply to…
Raw numbers often say more than commentary. In patent prosecution, issuance data provides one of the clearest signals of how much innovative activity is actually making its way through the system. Unlike filings, which can reflect short-term strategy…
Written by : Robert J. Hilton, Ph.D. and Susan M. Janicki, Ph.D. On November 26, 2025, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) issued revised guidelines for determining inventorship of AI-assisted inventions, [1] which is a significant…
Written by : Jason J. Jardine and Geetha Durairaj, Ph.D. In October 2025, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) launched the “ Artificial Intelligence Search Automated Pilot Program ,” or ASAP!, an initiative to identify potential prior…
Written by : Tom Cowan Aerospace technology companies often decide between patenting an innovation or keeping it as a trade secret. Typically, the analysis involves comparing the potential strength of patent protection that is likely to result. If a strong…
Patent issuance trends offer valuable insight into the pace of innovation, the workload at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), and the overall health of the intellectual property ecosystem. Fluctuations in annual and quarterly grant numbers can…
Written by : Michael E. Salamy A 2025 United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) report highlights significant growth in space technology patents, driven by private innovation and government support. According to the report, space-related goods and…
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is set for a leadership change as President Donald Trump has nominated John Squires to serve as the next Director. Squires, a veteran intellectual property attorney with experience in both corporate and private…
Written by : Bailey R. Arenberg and Jason J. Jardine Effective January 28, 2025, the new administration suspended the Climate Change Mitigation Pilot Program (CCMPP) at the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). [1] The USPTO had instituted…
In the fast-changing world of intellectual property, staying ahead requires more than legal expertise—it demands data-driven insights into the trends that are shaping patent prosecution. Over the past five years, significant shifts have been…
Written by : Bailey R. Arenberg & Jason J. Jardine With the recent convocation of the 119 th Congress, a change in administration, and resignation of USPTO Director Vidal, pharmaceutical patent reform is likely on the minds of many in Washington. Prior to…
Written by : Jason J. Jardine , Justin Culbertson, Ph.D. & Phillip J. Minnick, Ph.D. The sun is officially setting on the United States Patent and Trademark Office’s (USPTO) After Final Consideration Pilot Program 2.0 (AFCP 2.0) [1] . This program,…
