The USPTO recently announced its plans to continue the After Final Consideration Pilot 2.0 (AFCP) through September 30, 2016. The AFCP was introduced by the USPTO as an initiative to improve the efficiency of the patent prosecution process. The program authorizes examiners to take additional time to search and consider responses to a final rejection, and even conduct an additional interview. WHIPgroup has made frequent use of this program, and use of the AFCP has resulted in a notice of allowance in almost half of the cases where it has been used. This has negated the need for an RCE or appeal, allowing WHIPgroup to keep prosecution costs low and obtain allowances faster.
WHIPGroup previously filed a Motion to Dismiss a patent infringement suit filed against its client TomTom in the Western District of Texas. Rather than opposing WHIPGroup’s motion to dismiss, Plaintiff MDSP Technologies LLC voluntarily dismissed [Read More…]
WHIPgroup succeeded in having anticipation and indefiniteness rejections overturned by the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB). The claimed invention relates to a sequencing station that manages both sequencing and restacking tasks. The Examiner had [Read More…]
WHIPGroup filed a Motion to Dismiss for improper venue in the Western District of Texas on behalf of its client TomTom North America, Inc. Plaintiff MDSP Technologies LLC alleges that TomTom North America, Inc. infringes [Read More…]