Updated News

Oblon, Spivak Opens Affiliate Office in Tokyo

For Immediate Release May 5, 2009 Alexandria, Va. (May 5, 2009) - Oblon, Spivak, McClelland, Maier & Neustadt, P.C. is pleased to announce that its affiliate Oblon, Spivak L.L.P. has opened an office in Tokyo, Japan.

Tafas v. Doll Opinion Issued

Summary The Federal Circuit on March 20, 2009 issued its opinion regarding the "New Rules" promulgated in August, 2007 when it decided the United States Patent and Trademark Office's appeal of the District Court's decision in Tafas v. Doll. The decision did not address all of the new rules, but specifically discussed only four of them, Rule 75, 78, 114, and 265.

Oblon, Spivak Forms Two New Practice Groups

Oblon, Spivak has formed two new practice groups, the Reexamination/Reissue Practice Group and the International Trade Commission (ITC) Litigation Practice Group. Recent developments in U.S. law have focused increased attention on the emerging value of strategic use of reissue and reexamination proceedings and ITC actions to advance our clients' interests. In conjunction with the formation of the ITC Litigation Practice Group, Oblon Spivak has launched an ITC Law Blog (www.itcblog.com) to provide news and information related to happenings at the ITC.

USPTO Trumps Federal Circuit on DyStar and Determines Patent Claims Valid

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 12, 2009 Alexandria, Va. – Oblon, Spivak is pleased to announce that on December 23, 2008, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) issued a reexamination certificate for United States Patent 5,586,992. The ‘992 patent relates to a method of indigo dyeing previously held invalid by the Federal Circuit (DyStar Textilfarben GmbH & Co. Deutschland KG v. C. H. Patrick Co., 464 F.3d 1356, 1360, 80 USPQ2d 1641, 1645 (Fed. Cir. 2006)). The Federal Circuit's DyStar decision is noteworthy as a timely precursor, clarifying the court's obviousness jurisprudence while KSR v. Teleflex remained pending before the Supreme Court.

Federal Circuit Finds In Favor Of SMC Affirming Summary Judgment Of Obviousness

For Immediate Release January 9, 2009 Alexandria, VA - The United States Court Of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has affirmed the decision by the United States District Court for the Central District of California in favor of SMC Corporation finding the asserted claims of Tokyo Keiso Company, Ltd.'s U.S. Patent No. 5,458,004 invalid as obvious. The January 9, 2009 ruling determined that the California district court did not err in holding the claims obvious as a matter of law.

Oblon, Spivak Appoints Richard D. Kelly New Managing Partner

For Immediate Release Alexandria, Va. (January 5, 2009) -- The intellectual property law firm Oblon, Spivak, McClelland, Maier & Neustadt, P.C. has appointed Richard D. Kelly as the firm's new managing partner. In this role, Kelly is responsible for the firm's strategic operations, practice development, recruitment and hiring.

Oblon, Spivak is Ranked First for Patent Prosecution in 2008

For Immediate Release Alexandria, Va. (December 17, 2008) -- The intellectual property law firm Oblon, Spivak, McClelland, Maier & Neustadt, P.C. has been ranked number one again as the top patent prosecuting firm in 2008 in the United States by The Patent Scorecard, which analyzes all U.S. utility patents and the top 100 prosecuting law firms. Data collected from September 2007 through August 2008 showed that the firm prosecuted 3,645 patents in that timeframe, more than any other law firm.

IP Today

Federal Circuit Vacates and Remands in CSIRO v. Buffalo – Oblon Spivak Obtains Remand for Client Buffalo

Alexandria, Va. – The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has vacated and remanded on the issue of obviousness in the high profile patent infringement case CSIRO v. Buffalo in the court's Sept. 19, 2008 opinion. The patent at issue is U.S. Patent No. 5,487,069 and concerns Wi-Fi technology relating to the transmission of wireless signals.

USPTO Issues Warning Notice to U.S. Firms Outsourcing Preparation of Patent Applications

July 23, 2008. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office today issued a warning notice to U.S. patent practitioners cautioning them against the outsourcing of the preparation of U.S. patent applications (click here for a PDF copy of the USPTO Notice).

In Memoriam, C. Irvin McClelland

In Memoriam C. IRVIN McCLELLAND 1933 – 2008 We are very saddened by the passing of senior partner and founding member of our firm, C. Irvin McClelland on July 14, 2008. Irv, age 75, was Vice President and Treasurer of the firm for 30 years, a member of the firm's Board of Directors, and our longtime and dear friend for more than 40 years.