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Has the Recession Hit the PTO?
One would think at first glance that the 2008/2009 global recession has also affected the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (“PTO”). However, based on patent application filings made through June 30, 2009, this does not appear to be the case. Table 1, below, shows the total number of patent applications filed with the PTO over the past 15 fiscal years (the PTO fiscal year starts on Oct. 1), including Request for Continued Examination (“RCE”) filings. As can be seen, patent application filings have increased at a steady rate during this time period. Patent application filings with the PTO through June 30, 2009 are 338,093, which extrapolates to 450,790 patent application filings for the entire FY 2009, which is comparable to the 2007 and 2008 patent application filings numbers.
Companies Might Change Their Filing Practices
The DOJ's Corporate Enforcement Policy: One Year Later
The DOJ's Criminal Division issued three declinations since the issuance of the revised CEP a year ago. Review of these cases gives insight into DOJ's implementation of the new policy in practice.
The DOJ's New Parameters for Evaluating Corporate Compliance Programs
The parameters set forth in the DOJ's memorandum have implications not only for the government's evaluation of compliance programs in the context of criminal charging decisions, but also for how defense counsel structure their conference-room advocacy seeking declinations or lesser sanctions in both criminal and civil investigations.
Use of Deferred Prosecution Agreements In White Collar Investigations
This article discusses the practical and policy reasons for the use of DPAs and NPAs in white-collar criminal investigations, and considers the NDAA's new reporting provision and its relationship with other efforts to enhance transparency in DOJ decision-making.
Bankruptcy Sales: Finding a Diamond In the Rough
There is no efficient market for the sale of bankruptcy assets. Inefficient markets yield a transactional drag, potentially dampening the ability of debtors and trustees to maximize value for creditors. This article identifies ways in which investors may more easily discover bankruptcy asset sales.
A Lawyer's System for Active Reading
Active reading comprises many daily tasks lawyers engage in, including highlighting, annotating, note taking, comparing and searching texts. It demands more than flipping or turning pages.