Insights

Chicago – December 12, 2024: Crowell partner Marc V. Richards and counsel Adam D. Sussman recently authored the lead chapter in the 2025 edition of the Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education’s Intellectual Property Law Handbook. The chapter, titled “Patenting Inventions,” covers the basics of what a patent is and what it can protect, and provides a detailed roadmap for evaluating inventions and the process to obtain a U.S. patent.

Washington – June 30, 2022: Intellectual Asset Management recognized Crowell & Moring in its IAM Patent 1000 – The World’s Leading Patent Practitioners guide, awarding the firm a gold band ranking as one of the top four firms handling patent litigation and transactions in Belgium, and a silver ranking for the firm’s Chicago office. This marks the ninth consecutive year that the firm has been ranked in the guide in Belgium. The guide also recommended Brussels partner Kristof Roox in the gold band; partner Jan-Diederik Lindemans in the silver band; and senior counsel Jurgen Figys in the bronze band.

Nearly a decade and a half after the passage of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act (“AIA”), the Federal Circuit finally had its first occasion to review an appeal of a derivation proceeding that was litigated before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (“Board”) in Global Health Solutions LLC v. Selner. This case provides helpful guidance for patent litigators regarding the proper legal framework in a derivation proceeding and serves as a reminder that patent applications should be filed as soon as possible. As the facts of this case show, it is important that inventors retain documents and other evidence of the conception of their invention, as well as its communication to others, should there be any challenge to their invention.

The USPTO is actively implementing and seeking out technologies to enhance the speed, accuracy, and consistency of the examination of patent applications.

On June 10, 2025, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) published a final rule that will discontinue the Accelerated Examination program for utility applications, beginning July 10, 2025. The final rule also modifies the rules of practice to clarify the grounds for which a petition to make special may be granted and when a fee is required for such a petition. Currently, Applicants have several ways to expedite examination of their patent applications. For example, an Applicant can expedite examination of utility patent applications by either petitioning to make their application special through the Accelerated Examination program or by applying through the Prioritized Patent Examination Program (“Track One” program).

Cybersecurity is a key concern for all innovative companies and an incident response plan is critical for any company with connected products. Please join Crowell & Moring and industry insiders on May 8 for a discussion on best practices in incident response as we walk through a timeline of a cyber-attack on an autonomous vehicle. We will respond to a realistic intrusion scenario, strategically minimize vulnerabilities, and address multi-disciplinary points of view and decision-making—cybersecurity, regulatory, transactional, and intellectual property—related to autonomous vehicle technology development and deployment. Learn real time incident response, consider effective strategies, and formulate best practices to reach your end goal and ensure minimal risk to your autonomous vehicle business and investments—all in an informal and entertaining setting.  

Learn basic principles of copyright, trademark, trade secret, and patent law, with emphasis on how micro-entrepreneurs should be advised as they develop their business ideas and confront the need to protect their own intellectual property assets and avoid infringing the intellectual property rights of others. The session will include discussion of the advantages of timely registration, practicalities of various search options, strategies for obtaining federal registration, and issues raised when the micro-entrepreneur’s business includes an online presence.