PatentFiler Official Blog

PatentFiler is a resource offering easy-to-understand intellectual property information for small businesses and inventors.

USPTO Seeks Public Input on Global Guidelines to Fight Online Counterfeit Trade

Takeaway: The USPTO is seeking public input on international draft guidelines to combat the $467 billion global trade in counterfeit goods sold online, noting the urgent need for coordinated enforcement and collaboration between governments, platforms, and IP holders to protect consumers and brand integrity.
Jun 09, 2025

Ninth Circuit Revisits Default Judgment Rules on Damages and Attorney Fees

Takeaway: The Ninth Circuit ruled that plaintiffs can recover substantial damages and attorney fees in default judgments even without specifying exact amounts in their complaint, highlighting that general requests for relief "to be proven at trial" satisfy Rule 54(c) — a key takeaway for litigants seeking full remedies after defaults.
May 06, 2025

Trump Nominates John Squires as Next USPTO Director

Takeaway: President Trump has nominated John Squires, former chief IP counsel at Goldman Sachs, to be the next director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, with his nomination now referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Apr 15, 2025

ITC Debates Import Bans for Essential Patents in Amazon-Nokia Case

Takeaway: The ITC’s decision on whether to ban Amazon products for infringing Nokia’s standard-essential patents highlights a broader conflict between protecting patent rights and preventing anticompetitive practices, with potential consequences for innovation, licensing costs, and consumer prices.
Apr 01, 2025

Federal Circuit Clarifies Filing Date as Key to Patent Prior Art Status

Takeaway: The Federal Circuit ruled that a patent application’s filing date, not publication date, determines its prior-art status, underscoring the Patent Act’s unique treatment of applications and acting as a reminder to prioritize filing dates in patent disputes.
Feb 11, 2025