Knobbe Martens partner Mauricio Uribe was quoted by Bloomberg Law in the article “‘Patent Bar Lite’ Could Boost Women, Design Protection at PTO.” The article discusses the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s (USPTO) proposed separate practice bar for design patents, which could allow for attorneys who want to work in the space without having a technical degree in a science or technology field to do so. Currently, having backgrounds in science and engineering are prerequisites to practice patent matters before the USPTO.
In discussing the requirements to file design patents and the amount of STEM specialization such applications actually require, Uribe agreed there’s a “logical disconnect”. It’s a factor that has a disproportionate effect on women and minorities, groups already underrepresented in the STEM fields needed to practice at the PTO, he noted. While there are practical implementation questions that remain unanswered, Uribe said, it’s clear “we can deemphasize that technical degree” for design patents. “I think there’s going to be a lot of energy behind it, a lot of support,” he said.
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