In January 2006, the PTO proposed dramatic changes to patent continuation practice that would essentially allow only one continuation, continuation-in-part, or RCE per application. [Link]
It turns out that patent attorneys are steamed about this proposal. At a recent town-hall meeting in Berkeley, the audience was reportedly “ready to throw eggs at the [PTO] speaker” who was attempting to explain why the change is necessary.
An anonymous Patently-O reader has submitted the attached paper with his thoughts on the subject. [DOWNLOAD PAPER]. This paper presents a well reasoned, diplomatic argument for why the changes to continuation practice should not be implemented.
A number of commentators were not so diplomatic. Mark Harrington of Harrington & Smith came right to the point:
As a patent practitioner with over 20 years of experience, I want to ask: Who was the [BEEP] that proposed this rule change? If you wanted to make patent practitioners angry, you have succeeded. If you attempt to make this proposed rule change final, we will go to Congress to have it changed.
Although comments on the rule changes are not due until early May, 2006, a number of comments have already been submitted to the PTO.
A. Corporations
- Hitt Gaines, P.C. [PDF]
- Luminetx Corporation [PDF]
- PowerDsine Ltd. [PDF]
B. Law Firms
- Alston & Bird LLP [PDF]
- Harrington & Smith, LLP [PDF]
- JLJ, Inc. [PDF]
- Kremblas, Foster, Phillips & Pollick [PDF]
- Lacasse & Associates, LLC [PDF]
- Martine Penilla & Gencarella, LLP [PDF]
- Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw LLP [PDF]
- Nath & Associates [PDF]
- Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal LLP [PDF]
- Thorpe North & Western, LLP [PDF]
- Trexler, Bushnell, Giangiorgi, Blackstone & Marr [PDF]
C. Individuals
- Bromer, Nick [PDF]
- Dove, Barry [PDF]
- Eilberg, William [PDF]
- Freedman, Immanuel [PDF]
- Grogan, Ray [PDF]
- Hand, Francis [PDF]
- Herrick, William [PDF]
- Huston, Chad [PDF]
- Looper, Valerie [PDF]
- Mouttet, Blaise [PDF]
- Orange, David [PDF]
- Rajesh, Elaine [PDF]
- Schindler, Edwin [PDF]
- Steinberg, Dan [PDF]
- Vanderhye, Bob[PDF]
- Washburn, Brian [PDF]
- Milton Honig [PDF]
