By Donald Zuhn — In a final rule published in the Federal Register (88 Fed. Reg. 12560) last week, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office announced that it will start issuing patents electronically under a new digital USPTO seal and bearing the digital signature of the USPTO Director beginning on Tuesday, April 18, 2023. The Office indicated that electronic patent issuance will reduce pendency of patent applications, foster a green economy by reducing paper waste, and permit issued patents to be viewed and printed by applicants and the public immediately upon issuance in Patent Center. The Office noted that following…
