A decision last week by the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit interpreted the “patent term adjustment” provision of U.S. patent law to give longer life to many patents that are delayed because of long processing times in the USPTO.

The USPTO is piloting a program to accelerate the examination of certain “green” technology patent applications.

In a utility patent application filed in the U.S., inventorship is based on the conception of the invention. Invention is a legal term synonymous with the claims of the application or issued patent.

Bingham Economic Development Advisors (BEDA) provides comprehensive economic development consulting services to corporate and community clients throughout the United States.