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On April 1, 2004 I began my patent and trademark practice, the Law Offices of Michael A. Blake in West Hartford, CT.  Luck, hard work, and a higher power has made my business a success in helping people obtain patent and trademark protection for their intellectual property.  I moved my practice to Milford at the end of 2004, and have been here ever since.  Looking forward to the next 14 and more years!

Stakeholder Training on Examination Practice and Procedure (STEPP) is training designed to provide external stakeholders with a better understanding of how and why an examiner makes decisions while examining a patent application. In person courses are led by USPTO trainers and based on material developed for training employees of the USPTO.

Upcoming training:

Agent/Attorney 3-Day Course,  May 22-24, 2018 location: Alexandria, VA – USPTO Headquarters

Inventor 3-Day Course August 14-16, 2018, location: Alexandria, VA – USPTO Headquarters

Program Description

The STEPP program provides unique, day-in-the-life, experiences to those attending training. Material used within the program is derived from training delivered to patent examiners and other USPTO employees.

What does STEPP Cover?

The same examination practice and procedure training provided to USPTO staff is now available to external stakeholders. Learn what an examiner must consider in preparing an office action, and what examiners are taught to interpret an applicant’s disclosure.

Why Participate?

STEPP provides perspective by detailing what an examiner considers in preparing an office action. Training focuses on how an examiner is taught to use the MPEP to make patentability determinations and write an office action. Gaining perspective of an examiner’s point of view will increase your situational awareness which can aid in compact prosecution. Payment and Credit STEPP courses are free of charge. The USPTO will apply for CLE accreditation for specific courses within the program. Please contact [email protected] for additional information.

More information can be found here.

Yesterday, I was happy to celebrate with the UConn School of Law’s Intellectual Property and Entrepreneurship Law Clinic.  They had a luncheon to observe their 10 year anniversary in Hartford.  It was nice seeing old friends and co-workers, and especially some of the inventors the IP CLINIC has served over the years.  I was proud to be part of the IP CLINIC for 2 years.  More information can be seen here.

 

HI All,

Douglas Lyon, Phd, the president of the Inventors Association of Connecticut and a professor at Fairfield University sent me a video link to my presentation on the Pros and Cons of Provisional Patent Applications from March 27, 2018.  The video can be seen here.

Yesterday I presented on the “Pros and Cons of Provisional Applications” at the Inventor’s Association of Connecticut (IACT) at the Fairfield University Library.  I had some great questions from the audience and shared some of my experiences as a patent attorney.  For information on the next IACT meeting, go here.

Just a quick reminder!  On March 27, 2018, 7 pm, at Fairfield University Library room 101, I will be presenting at the Inventors Association of Connecticut meeting.  The topic will be Pros and Cons of Provisional Patent Applications.  The differences between a provisional patent application and a non-provisional patent application will be presented. Benefits and disadvantages of the provisional application will be discussed. Other intellectual property may also be discussed such as design patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets.  More information can be found here.

The USPTO’s Inventor Info Chat webinar series continues on March 15, 2018 from 11am – noon ET when they provide a presentation on common mistakes and support after filing.

Presentation overview

• Understand the requirements when filing a Utility Application
• Overview of common mistakes found at time of filing and how to avoid them
• Understanding the proper format of the specification and drawings and proper method to make corrections, when necessary
• Proper completion of forms, including the Application Data Sheet and Micro Entity forms
• Methods to access customer support services after filing an application

This session will discuss the common mistakes and will include explanations and examples of the proper format for making corrections. This presentation will assist in the understanding of the basic filing requirements and will be a helpful resource to those inventors who have received correspondence from the PTO requiring corrections to parts of the application.  Sign up information can be found here.

Topic:  Subject Matter Eligibility:  Guidance & Examination Resources”.

The USPTO’s Patent Quality Chat webinar continues its 2018 series in March with “Subject Matter Eligibility:  Guidance & Examination Resources”.

USPTO’s Deputy Commissioner for Patent Examination Policy, Bob Bahr, will be discussing available resources issued by the Office on subject matter eligibility, with an emphasis on the latest revision of the MPEP from January.  The USPTO looks forward to hearing your feedback about the resources presented and your ideas for new ways USPTO can assist in your considerations of subject matter eligibility.  Please send your input and questions to [email protected] (link sends e-mail) before and during the event.

This webinar is of interest to all those prosecuting patent applications and/or with interest in statutory compliance with 35 U.S.C. § 101.

No registration is necessary to attend.  The Patent Quality Chat webinar series is presented as a part of USPTO’s continuous efforts to improve patent quality.  Sign up info here. 

On March 21, the USPTO Office of Innovation Development will host the Women’s Entrepreneurship Symposium at the Public Library of Cincinnati & Hamilton County in Cincinnati, Ohio. The symposium  will focus on the topics of women inventors, entrepreneurs, and the importance of intellectual property.

The symposium is free to participants and will offer networking opportunities with experts in the intellectual property field, as well as government and industry representatives who will help attendees gain insight into all facets of the patent process and bringing products to market.  More information can be found here. 

 

Hi All,

On March 27, 2018, 7 pm, at Fairfield University Library room 101, I will be presenting at the Inventors Association of Connecticut meeting.  The topic will be Pros and Cons of Provisional Patent Applications.  The differences between a provisional patent application and a non-provisional patent application will be presented. Benefits and disadvantages of the provisional application will be discussed. Other intellectual property may also be discussed such as design patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets.  More information can be found here.