Stay Up to Date on the Latest Firm and Industry News from SLW

As a kid growing up in the 1980s, I was captivated by the emerging world of home computers. I had a TI-99/4A first and later upgraded to a Commodore 64.  I spent countless hours as a child writing programs in BASIC, trying to make these first home computers do various things, and absorbed in the possibilities they represented.  In reflecting on the evolution of computers over the decades since those childhood experiences, I’ve come to the realization that one of the major exponential advances in computer technology for users was when home computers became widely available.  That was the biggest change in our lives that came from computers and, in my view, far more transformative than any of the incremental improvements that followed.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has introduced a new Streamlined Claim Set Pilot Program designed to expedite examination of qualifying utility patent applications. The program aims to reduce pendency and improve examination efficiency by focusing examiner resources on concise, clearly structured claim sets.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has announced the Automated Search Pilot Program (ASAP!), launching October 20, 2025. This initiative marks a significant step in the agency’s adoption of AI tools to improve patent examination efficiency and transparency.

The USPTO’s decision in Ex parte Desjardins is good news for applicants in the AI and software spaces. The Appeals Review Panel (ARP), including newly appointed Director John Squires, overturned a Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) decision that had raised a new § 101 eligibility rejection.  

The PTAB had treated the claims as directed to a mathematical algorithm without integration into a practical application, but the ARP found they reflected concrete improvements in how an AI model functions. This matters beyond one case: the ARP emphasized that eligibility should not be denied merely because claims involve mathematical concepts, algorithms, or machine learning.

TL;DR Because cited non-patent literature (NPL) may be increasingly AI-generated, patent practitioners should examine NPL more closely and develop enablement-based strategies for challenging questionable references. Overview A recent Harvard Kennedy School study¹ on AI-generated scientific papers infiltrating Google Scholar raises important considerations for patent attorneys and IP counsel regarding prior art rejections under § 102 […]

On August 4, 2025, the USPTO issued a subject matter eligibility memorandum aimed at examiners in key technology centers handling AI and software inventions. The memo makes clear that it is not intended to announce new policy or procedure but rather to reinforce longtime guidance under 35  U.S.C. § 101. 

We’re on the move! SLW is excited to announce our California office’s relocation from downtown San Jose to our new location at 3031 Tisch Way, Suite 125, in the vibrant Santana Row district. While we cherish our time in downtown San Jose and remain committed to its dynamic community, our new location offers enhanced accessibility […]

—By Lucas Hjelle, with Contributions from Nathan Elder. As a patent attorney experienced in transformer-based AI architectures and large language models (LLMs), I want to share insights on the evolving landscape of AI-assisted inventions.  This is particularly relevant in view of the 2024 publication of the USPTO’s AI Inventorship Guidance (“Inventorship Guidance for AI-Assisted Inventions,” […]

Minneapolis, MN – SLW, a leading intellectual property law firm, recently announced its partnership with DeepIP, marking another milestone in the firm’s comprehensive artificial intelligence strategy. This collaboration adds to SLW’s existing partnerships with Black Hills AI and Butler Labs, positioning the firm at the forefront of AI-enabled patent practice.  “Our mission has always been to […]