Who can sign on behalf of a legal entity in an international patent application?

When signing an international patent application on behalf of a legal entity, certain individuals are presumed to have the authority to sign, as explained in MPEP 1820: “An officer (President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer or Chief Financial Officer) of an organization is presumed to have authority to sign on behalf…

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When does the national stage of an international patent application commence?

The national stage of an international patent application commences upon expiration of 30 months from the priority date, unless the applicant makes an express request for early processing. Specifically: “Subject to 35 U.S.C. 371(f), the national stage shall commence with the expiration of the applicable time limit under PCT Article 22(1) or (2), or under…

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What are the requirements for entering the national stage in the United States for an international patent application?

To enter the national stage in the United States, an applicant must fulfill the following requirements within 30 months from the priority date: Pay the basic national fee Submit a copy of the international application (if not previously communicated by the International Bureau) Submit an English translation of the international application (if it was not…

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How are figures selected for inclusion with the abstract in a PCT application?

The selection of figures for inclusion with the abstract in a PCT application follows these guidelines: The applicant may suggest a figure in the request form (PCT Rule 3.3(a)(iii)). The International Searching Authority (ISA) may select a different figure if it better characterizes the invention. If no figure is useful for understanding the abstract, the…

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What is the “same or corresponding technical feature” in unity of invention?

What is the “same or corresponding technical feature” in unity of invention? The “same or corresponding technical feature” in unity of invention refers to the technical relationship among the claimed inventions that defines a contribution over the prior art. According to MPEP 1850: “The expression ‘special technical features’ is defined in PCT Rule 13.2 as…

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