Center for Patent Innovations

The Center for Patent Innovations is unique among New York Law School’s centers in that it is principally focused on research and development. Associated with both the Institute for Information Law & Policy and the Do Tank, the Center designs and develops projects harnessing Web-based collaborative tools for the sole purpose of improving patent systems, both in the United States and around the world.

Peer To Patent Blog

  • Improving Patent Systems through Open Access

    On October 20-21, 2011 New York Law School and Queensland University of Technology convened for the Second Annual Prior Art Collaboration Conference hosted by the US Patent and Trademark Office. This second international meeting joined those interested in improving our patent systems to discuss what has been happening, the results of the various Peer To Patent pilots, the assessment of participating examiners and how to improve access to prior art through open access.

    Participants included representatives of the U.S. Patent Office, the U.K. Patent Office, Institute of Intellectual Property in Japan, the World Intellectual Property Organizations, the European Patent Office, the Korean Intellectual Property Office and IP Australia as well as applicant companies, participating peer reviewers and academics.

    To view these proceedings please click here

    For proceedings from our first roundtable, please follow

  • Prior Artists Awards

    New Office Actions are posted and new Prior Artists have been awarded! Congratulations to our latest recipients whose prior art submissions were referenced by the patent examiner.

    Ryan O’Quinn ****
    Diane Willis ****
    Christopher Ilardi **
    Helen Shi **
    Alberto Araiza *
    Claude Boudoin *
    Eun Sol Cho *
    Thomas Irizarry *
    Durga Kandasamy     *
    Paul Merolla *
    Bindu Nair *
    Timothy Myers *
    Van Nguy *
    William Pagan *
    Steve Pearson *
    Rishi Rawatt *
    Adam Roach *
    Haritha Tapa *
    Yeen Tham *
    Amanda Willis *

    * Indicates the number of reviewer submitted prior art referenced in an office action.
    Bold Indicates a student reviewer.

    Think you have what it takes to be a Prior Artist Award winner? Have a look at these applications and share your knowledge!

  • Prior Art needed!

    These applications have 8 days left on Peer To Patent. Are they inventive? Let us know!

    Apoptosis Inhibitor- Nihon University (Japan)
    Parallel simulation using multiple co-simulators- Rocketick Technologies, LTD.
    Method/system for processing messages and converged service system- ZTE Corporation

  • Can you believe people actually make videos about patent stuff? BELIEVE IT! Can you believe people actually make videos about patent stuff? BELIEVE IT!
  • LEAHY–SMITH AMERICA INVENTS ACT

    On September 16, 2011 President Obama signed the LEAHY–SMITH AMERICA INVENTS ACT. The Act will help American inventors receive patents on their inventions more efficiently by reducing delays and unnecessary litigation. The Act will also bring the US to the same level as the the majority of the world, by defining the effective filing date of an application as the “actual filing date.” There are many more important changes implemented by the Act, so take a further look as to what the new patent act will bring!

    For the official text of the America Invents Act, please visit:
    http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/PLAW-112publ29/pdf/PLAW-112publ29.pdf

    Also, check out President Obama at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology signing the act into law at:
    http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/09/16/america-invents-act-turning-ideas-jobs

  • Patent Quality Connection

    This issue contains:
    - Results of the P2P Australia Trial
    - What does the Angry Birds Lawsuit say about the Patent System?
    - Intellectual Property Office - Peer to Patent Pilot in the UK
    - Webinar Recap: Best Practices to Avoid Patent Litigation
    - AOP and P2P Featured Reviewers
    and
    - Featured Researcher

    Check it out!
    http://eepurl.com/fbFPw

  • September Newsletter

    The September Newsletter features a “Behind the Technology” article regarding a Vascular Aging Inhibitor and Anti-Aging Formulation application comprising of fish scales and a “Reviewer Tip” article explaining how to use the Research Function.

    http://eepurl.com/fjcRs

  • New Classifications Added

    Peer To Patent, historic in the United States for opening the patent
    examination process to public participation, has recently expanded to
    incorporate new classifications such as organic compounds, life sciences and
    telecommunications. Additionally, Peer To Patent has expanded
    internationally with successful completions of the program in both Australia
    and Japan. Now, the project is heading to the United Kingdom’s Intellectual
    Property Office (IPO).

    The Minister for Intellectual Property, Baroness Wilcox recently stated,
    “Patent applications granted after using the Peer To Patent website review
    will be potentially stronger, giving businesses better protection to grow
    their innovative ideas. This will give the IPO access to a wider body of
    knowledge when deciding whether a patent should be granted.”

    http://www.ipo.gov.uk/press-release-20110601.htm

  • IPO taps into the wisdom of crowds

    Article by Gareth Morgan as featured in Computing

    Patent trolls - companies that stake their claims to inventions that they have no interest in building - have blighted the technology industry for years. But a new application process, about to kick off in the UK, could make these pests a thing of the past.

    On 1 June, the UK’s Intellectual Property Office (IPO) will begin a patent application trial that could herald a much saner approach to intellectual property rights. It is launching a seven-month peer review trial, where interested parties will be invited to comment online on a number of computer-related patent applications.

    To view full article, please click here

  • Peer To Patent UK Launches Newsletter

    Welcome to Peer To Patent UK

    On June 1st, the Intellectual Property Office will be launching Peer To Patent in the UK.
    This newsletter tells you all you will need to know about Peer to Patent, and aims to keep you up to date with the latest news and developments, as the pilot progresses.

    You can follow the project on Twitter by clicking this link and then choosing “follow”.

    The project has its very own blog too - it can be found at: www.ipo.gov.uk/peertopatentblog.

    What is Peer to Patent?

    Peer to Patent is an initiative based on an idea originally developed by Professor Beth Noveck from the New York Law School. Professor Noveck subsequently expanded on her initial idea in the paper ‘Peer to Patent : A Modest Proposal ‘. In this paper, Professor Noveck discussed several problems with the quality of patents being granted, highlighting in particular, that Examiners who search applications do not always have access to all the information they need.

    Peer to Patent was first piloted in the USA, and has since gone on to been trialed in Australia, Japan and South Korea. Peer to Patent provides an additional resource for Patent Examiners to obtain third party observations, using the “wisdom of crowds” or “crowd sourcing”. In terms of patents these third parties tend to be people from the scientific or technical communities with the skills, knowledge and experience that the Intellectual Property Office can tap into.

    The idea at the heart of Peer to Patent is to give these people a way to contribute to the examination process. The project is another example of the ‘Big Society’ in action, as the general public is invited to help the Government undertake a task that can result in benefits to UK economy.

    Why is Peer to Patent useful?

    It has always been possible for the public to file observations on patent applications before they are granted in the UK.

    The Peer to Patent project builds on this by using modern technology to allow anyone to view and comment on a selection of UK patent applications. By uploading ‘prior art’ and comments to the website, the examination system is made stronger and the quality of patents can be improved by increasing the granting of only truly novel and inventive patent applications.

    The project will show the value of public participation in decision making and the role that non-governmental experts can play.

    Who can use Peer to Patent?

    Anybody can use Peer to Patent. The UK Pilot will be using applications in the computing area of technology. To add comments all you need to do is register on the website.

    When can I start using Peer to Patent?

    The UK pilot of Peer to Patent will be made available from 1 June 2011 until 31 December 2011.

    Where can I find and start using Peer to Patent?

    Anyone who wishes to take a look and start using Peer to Patent will be able to find the link on our website from 1 June 2011. Here you will be able to look at the applications, and if you want to post a comment, you will simply need to register online.

    Where can I get the latest news on Peer To Patent?

    The Peer To Patent pilot has a blog which will give you the latest news, views and updates from the team. We welcome your comments which you can post under each blog post.

    You can follow the project on Twitter by clicking the Twitter link and then choosing “follow”.

    The project has its very own blog too - it can be found at: www.ipo.gov.uk/peertopatentblog.