Tackling The Backlog* (Intellectual Property Update)

In an attempt to address concerns over the current backlog of patent applications and quality of issued patents, the US Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) has issued a series of proposed changes to the rules governing the patent procurement process. One set of proposed rules addresses these concerns by limiting the number of applications that can be filed and the number of claims in an application. On April 1, 2008, however, these rules were permanently enjoined from issuing by a United States district court because they were seen as substantive in nature and attempted to shift the burden of examination from the PTO examiner to the patent applicant.