Donika Pentcheva Has Been Cordially Invited to An Event At Her Alma Mater

Donika Pentcheva has been invited to an event at her alma mater. The event is focused solely on intellectual property law. Also, it is pretty amazing that one of Donika Pentcheva’s classmates from her alma mater is now the Commissioner of The American Association of Professional Baseball, as shown by the signature on the official […]

Donika Pentcheva Has Been Invited To April’s USPTO Hour, Hosted By The Office of The Commissioner for Trademarks

Donika Pentcheva has been invited to attend April’s USPTO Hour, hosted by the Office of the Commissioner for Trademarks from United States Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”). The USPTO Hour will focus on trademark pendency and register protection. The USPTO Hour will feature the following USPTO Leadership Team Members: Question: What Designer’s dress am I […]

The United States Patent and Trademark Office Issues Interim Processes for Patent Trial and Appeal Board Workload Management

On March 26, 2025, the Acting Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Acting Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office issued a Memorandum to all Patent Trial and Appeal Board Judges (“PTAB Judges”). According to the Memorandum, decisions on whether to institute an Inter Partes Review (“IPR”) or Post-Grant Review (“PGR”) […]

Donika Pentcheva Has Been Invited to the Nation’s Leading Event for Contract Management, Procurement, and Acquisition Professionals

Donika Pentcheva has been invited to the United States’ leading event for contract management, procurement, and acquisition professionals.

Donika Pentcheva Has Been Invited to An Invite-Only Event At A Top-Ten (10) Law School

Donika Pentcheva has been invited to an invitation-only event at a top-ten law school. The topics will involve discussing “shaping tomorrow.” Feel free to share your thoughts below regarding how you would like to shape tomorrow. I am listening!

Is there an intersection between FDA and intellectual property law?

Donika Pentcheva has been invited to a continuing legal education seminar involving the latest developments at the intersection of FDA and Intellectual Property Law, managed by the Federal Circuit Bar Association Bench and Bar.

What does Easter mean to you?

Please feel free to share in the comments below what Easter may mean to you! On April 19, 2025, while walking into the Mall of America, a complete stranger handed me the following card with money: Happy Easter!

The United States Department of Energy Repeals The Definition of A Showerhead

As part of its implementation of an Executive order, the United States Department of Energy repeals the definition of a showerhead. According to the notice, this final rule withdraws the current definition of showerhead; it does not amend the reporting requirement. The effective date of this rule is May 15, 2025. To obtain the full […]

Donika Pentcheva has “one of the most-viewed profiles” on LinkedIn

Donika Pentcheva was informed by LinkedIn, a business and employment-oriented social network, that she has “one of the most-viewed profiles” on the platform! Thank you, LinkedIn!

Donika Pentcheva Has Been Invited to An Event at One of The Law Firms Referenced in The Show, “Suits”

Donika Pentcheva has been invited to attend an invitation-only Continuing Legal Education Seminar at a law firm that is not only at a top 5 AmLaw 100 Law Firm, but was also referenced in the hit show, Suits.

General Information on Patents: Importance of Filing Applications Promptly

A patent application must be filed in accordance with the United States patent laws. One of the most critical requirements of our patent laws is that a patent application must be filed promptly. As of March 16, 2013, patents will be awarded to the first inventor to file a patent application for a particular invention. […]

The European Patent Office Refuses Two Patent Applications Designating A Machine Inventor

The European Patent Office has refused two European patent applications in which a machine is designated as an inventor. Both patent applications indicate “DABUS” as inventor, which is described as “a type of connectionist artificial intelligence.” The applicant stated that they acquired the right to the European patent from the inventor by being its successor […]

Trademark Licensing Protection Act

Franchising is governed by trademark law which is enacted in the Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C. 1051 et seq. This law requires that franchisors police the use of their intellectual property licensed to third parties so that the brand is consistent and uniform to consumers. While trademark law requires franchisors and franchisees to enact controls to […]

U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Enacts a New Rule Mandating Electronic Filing for Trademark Submissions

Subject to limited exceptions, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office is enacting a new rule that mandates electronic filing for trademark submissions. In particular, trademark applicants and registrants will be required to: File their trademark applications and documents concerning trademark applications and registrations online using the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s Trademark Electronic Application System; […]

Implications of The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement

U.S. President Donald Trump tweeted that the USMCA “will be the best and most important trade deal ever made by the USA.”  U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi added that “there is no question of course that this trade agreement is much better than NAFTA.” What will be the impact of the USMCA?  The U.S. International […]

U.S. Senators Introduce A Bill to Enforce Design Patents at the U.S. Border

On December 5, 2019, four U.S. senators introduced a bill that would allow Customs and Border Patrol (“CBP”) to directly seize goods based on design patent infringement.  The bill is titled the “Counterfeit Goods Seizure Act of 2019.”  Currently, design patents at the CBP can only be enforced by seeking an exclusion order from the […]