The Future of the USPTO: Workforce Disruptions, Policy Shifts, and the Growing Backlog
Nerd Lawyer, Patenting Curtis Wadsworth Nerd Lawyer, Patenting Curtis Wadsworth

The Future of the USPTO: Workforce Disruptions, Policy Shifts, and the Growing Backlog

Holding a patent is not merely a legal formality—it is a strategic asset that significantly enhances a company’s ability to secure funding and drive growth.all begins with an idea. While the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”) faces unprecedented uncertainty as conflicting mandates on telework, hiring freezes, and return-to-office requirements disrupt operations, patent holders should expect more delays in patent prosecution as the USPTO backlog increases.

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The Misguided Stance of the Copyright Office on AI-Generated Works
Nerd Lawyer Curtis Wadsworth Nerd Lawyer Curtis Wadsworth

The Misguided Stance of the Copyright Office on AI-Generated Works

The U.S. Copyright Office has taken the position that AI image generating tools, like MidJourney, (not the user using the tool) are the authors of the images that are created. The best example we have is the case of  Kristina Kashtanova’s graphic novel, Zarya of the Dawn, which was partially generated using AI. The Copyright Office’s reasoning is flawed, and the issue of who the author is when using AI tools needs careful examination.

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