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There is something new to make your patent applications “special.” The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) just launched the “Streamlined Claim Set Pilot Program” allowing eligible pending applications to be “made special” — that is, advanced out of turn — for the purposes of receiving a first office action. Over the next year,…

The FDA’s regulations and expectations for medical devices are designed to ensure that benefits outweigh the risks. In three months, the U.S. will formally harmonize 21 CFR 820, the Quality System Regulation, with ISO 13485 – Medical devices – Quality management systems and, by incorporation, ISO 14971 – Application of risk management to medical devices….By:…

California recently passed an amendment accelerating how quickly businesses must notify following a data breach. Previously, the requirement was to notify affected individuals “without unreasonable delay.” Beginning January 1, 2026, the law mandates that businesses notify individuals within 30 calendar days after the discovery or notification of a breach….By: Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP

In the mid-2000s, the U.S. Patent Office (USPTO) determined that reexaminations would be more consistent and legally correct if performed by a centralized set of experienced and specially trained Examiners. As a result, the USPTO formed the Central Reexamination Unit (CRU) and staffed it with 15 year+ Examiners and legal experts….By: Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein &…