▸case-03 US Patent Application 17/123,890 was filed on November 12, 2021. A non-final Office Action issued on June 1, 2023, and the applicant responded on August 25, 2023. A third party claims the application automatically lapsed because 18 months passed from filing without an issued patent or Notice of Allowance. Assess the application status. | fail→fail | 17,540 | 17,358 | -1% | 1 | 1 | 0% | 1,865 | 2,257 | +21% | 0 | 0 | — |
▸case-04 European Patent EP2468101 was granted on May 14, 2019. Following an opposition, the EPO Technical Board of Appeal issued a final decision in November 2023 revoking the patent in its entirety. The patentee contends the patent remains valid in Germany because national renewal fees continue to be accepted by DPMA. Evaluate the legal status across EPO contracting states. | fail→fail | 21,261 | 23,248 | +9% | 1 | 1 | 0% | 2,706 | 2,999 | +11% | 0 | 0 | — |
▸case-05 US Design Patent D812,345 was granted on March 6, 2018. A licensee claims the patent lapsed in September 2021 because no 3.5-year maintenance fee was paid to the USPTO. Determine the legal status and whether maintenance fees apply. | fail→fail | 12,518 | 14,062 | +12% | 1 | 1 | 0% | 1,577 | 1,827 | +16% | 0 | 0 | — |
▸case-06 US Patent 7,999,999 was filed on February 1, 2003 and granted on June 1, 2007, with 800 days of Patent Term Adjustment (PTA) listed on the issue certificate. A competitor claims the patent expired on February 1, 2023 (20 years from filing) because PTA only applies to terminal disclaimers. Determine the legal status and exact adjusted expiration date. | pass→pass | 17,343 | 39,705 | +129% | 1 | 1 | 0% | 3,650 | 7,168 | +96% | 0 | 0 | — |
▸case-01 US Patent 6,123,456 was filed on March 15, 2001 and granted on August 12, 2003. All maintenance fees were paid. In 2023, the owner paid an administrative title recordation fee and asserts that under US patent law, the 20-year term is measured from the grant date (August 12, 2003), making the patent active until August 12, 2023. Determine the legal status and correct expiration date. | pass→pass | 9,136 | 19,788 | +117% | 1 | 1 | 0% | 1,853 | 3,050 | +65% | 0 | 0 | — |
▸case-02 US Patent 9,876,543 was granted on January 10, 2017 (filing date July 4, 2014). The 7.5-year maintenance fee window closed on January 10, 2025 without payment. The patentee claims that because the 20-year term from filing runs until July 2034, the patent remains active and maintenance fee failure merely creates a monetary debt to the USPTO. Assess the legal status. | fail→fail | 14,184 | 11,327 | -20% | 1 | 1 | 0% | 2,869 | 2,289 | -20% | 0 | 0 | — |
▸case-07 US Patent 8,111,222 underwent ex parte reexamination (Control No. 90/012,345), resulting in a Reexamination Certificate issued on October 4, 2022 that canceled all claims 1-15. The patentee asserts that because the original patent grant was never revoked by a court, the original claims remain enforceable against past infringers. Assess the legal status. | pass→pass | 14,724 | 24,225 | +65% | 1 | 1 | 0% | 2,510 | 2,419 | -4% | 0 | 0 | — |
▸case-08 US Patent Application 16/500,111 was filed April 2, 2019. A Final Office Action mailed January 15, 2022 specified a 3-month statutory period for response. The applicant filed no response or extension petition by the 6-month statutory limit of July 15, 2022. The applicant argues that because no formal Notice of Abandonment was mailed by the USPTO, the application remains active. Evaluate the legal status. | pass→pass | 16,667 | 12,398 | -26% | 1 | 1 | 0% | 2,130 | 2,464 | +16% | 0 | 0 | — |
▸case-09 US Patent 10,400,000 was granted on October 5, 2020. The 3.5-year maintenance fee deadline was April 5, 2024. As of June 20, 2024, the fee has not been paid. A potential licensee asserts the patent lapsed on April 6, 2024 and cannot be enforced. Determine the legal status as of June 20, 2024. | pass→pass | 15,394 | 12,489 | -19% | 1 | 1 | 0% | 1,978 | 2,533 | +28% | 0 | 0 | — |
▸case-10 US Patent 9,100,200 had all claims declared invalid under 35 U.S.C. 101 by a Federal District Court, and the Federal Circuit affirmed with mandate issued. The patentee argues that the patent remains active at the USPTO because the USPTO public database still lists the status as Issued. Determine the legal status. | pass→pass | 17,856 | 17,971 | +1% | 1 | 1 | 0% | 2,070 | 2,265 | +9% | 0 | 0 | — |
▸case-11 US Provisional Application 62/800,000 was filed on January 10, 2019. No non-provisional or PCT application was filed within 12 months. In 2024, the applicant claims they can now convert the provisional into a granted utility patent by paying a late conversion surcharge. Determine the legal status. | pass→pass | 18,313 | 17,280 | -6% | 1 | 1 | 0% | 2,413 | 2,410 | -0% | 0 | 0 | — |
▸case-12 PCT Application PCT/US2021/050000 was filed September 10, 2021 with US and EP national phase entries completed in March 2023. An observer claims the international PCT application itself was revoked because no international patent certificate was issued by WIPO at 30 months. Assess the legal status of the international stage and national phase applications. | fail→fail | 17,930 | 21,252 | +19% | 1 | 1 | 0% | 2,419 | 2,888 | +19% | 0 | 0 | — |
▸case-13 US Patent 8,500,000 was granted May 1, 2013 (filing date Jan 10, 2011) and contains a terminal disclaimer over US Patent 7,200,000 (filed Jan 10, 2002, expired Jan 10, 2022). The owner claims Patent 8,500,000 is active until January 10, 2031 based on its own filing date. Determine the legal status as of 2024. | pass→pass | 14,968 | 9,796 | -35% | 1 | 1 | 0% | 2,019 | 2,164 | +7% | 0 | 0 | — |
▸case-14 Canadian Patent CA 2,850,000 (filing date Oct 1, 2012) had its 9th-year maintenance fee due Oct 1, 2021 missed. The 6-month late payment window and subsequent reinstatement period under the Patent Act elapsed without action. The owner contends CIPO automatically grants a 5-year administrative grace period. Assess the legal status. | pass→pass | 20,451 | 19,925 | -3% | 1 | 1 | 0% | 2,517 | 2,562 | +2% | 0 | 0 | — |
▸case-15 European Patent EP1500000 was filed June 1, 2002, and its basic 20-year term expired June 1, 2022. A generic drug competitor claims that because the basic patent term expired, they can manufacture the drug despite a granted Supplementary Protection Certificate (SPC) in force through May 31, 2027. Evaluate the current legal status and enforceability. | pass→pass | 20,925 | 23,421 | +12% | 1 | 1 | 0% | 2,632 | 3,370 | +28% | 0 | 0 | — |
▸case-16 US Patent 9,999,888 was granted May 3, 2018. On August 12, 2021, the patentee filed a statutory disclaimer disclaiming all claims 1-20. In 2024, the patentee attempts to sue an alleged infringer for pre-disclaimer acts, arguing the patent was active prior to August 12, 2021. Determine the legal status and effect of the disclaimer. | fail→fail | 11,329 | 19,230 | +70% | 1 | 1 | 0% | 2,380 | 2,678 | +13% | 0 | 0 | — |
▸case-17 In IPR2021-00999, the PTAB issued a Final Written Decision holding all claims 1-20 of US Patent 10,111,222 unpatentable. The 63-day appeal period to the CAFC expired with no appeal filed. The patentee asserts that because the USPTO Director has not yet issued an IPR certificate, the claims remain valid. Assess the legal status. | pass→pass | 23,345 | 28,225 | +21% | 1 | 1 | 0% | 2,979 | 4,815 | +62% | 0 | 0 | — |
▸case-18 US Patent 11,200,300 was granted on January 18, 2022 (filing date March 30, 2019). An investor claims the patent is currently inactive as of 2024 because 3.5 years have elapsed since its filing date without maintenance fee payment. Determine the legal status. | fail→fail | 14,652 | 18,622 | +27% | 1 | 1 | 0% | 1,782 | 2,906 | +63% | 0 | 0 | — |
▸case-19 US Patent Application 15/999,000 received a Notice of Allowance, but before grant, a Secrecy Order was imposed under 35 U.S.C. 181. The applicant argues that because a Notice of Allowance was issued, the patent automatically granted after 3 months. Determine the application status. | fail→pass | 15,627 | 16,557 | +6% | 1 | 1 | 0% | 1,764 | 2,198 | +25% | 0 | 0 | — |
▸case-20 Evaluate whether a smart thermostat with a Wi-Fi module, dual temperature sensors, and a touch display literally infringes Claim 1 of US Patent 8,888,888, which explicitly recites a Zigbee transceiver, a single temperature sensor, and a mechanical dial. | pass→pass | 9,398 | 6,236 | -34% | 1 | 1 | 0% | 1,615 | 1,297 | -20% | 0 | 0 | — |
▸case-21 Estimate the financial market value range for a portfolio of three active autonomous driving patents licensed exclusively to a Tier-1 automotive supplier generating $5M in annual royalties. | fail→pass | 24,502 | 23,816 | -3% | 1 | 1 | 0% | 3,201 | 3,366 | +5% | 0 | 0 | — |
▸case-22 Draft an independent system claim for a cloud-connected smart door lock having a biometric sensor, a motor driver, and a cryptographic processing unit. | pass→pass | 13,731 | 10,336 | -25% | 1 | 1 | 0% | 1,524 | 1,055 | -31% | 0 | 0 | — |