âExtend patent bar to design practitionersâ, say academics
16-02-2021
06-04-2020
The US Patent and Trademark Office has been urged to extend patent bar eligibility to design patent practitioners to increase the number of women patent attorneys and inventors.
This latest development comes after former USPTO director Andrei Iancu wrote to senators last month outlining policy changes under consideration by the office after senators expressed concern over a lack of women patent attorneys.
Issued on February 8, the letter held that the proposed change would help diversify the patent bar and would also remove barriers to women in patenting.
Eligibility requirements unjustifiable’