Today I point you to some content that examines recent patent law changes.

Not grabby enough? Well, what if you knew that it covers a law—the Leahy–Smith America Invents Act—that altered our patent law system more than at any time since the early 1950s?

The law has not been without controversy. Opponents had said that it would disadvantage small and startup companies—where innovation often arises—and that its approach could make the U.S. patent system irrelevant.

In any case, here is the article by Sheri Qualters titled “Top 10 Things You Should Know About the New Patent Law.” For the article, she contacted practitioners to ask what people need to know about the law enacted on Sept. 16, 2011.

She opens with the top piece of guidance: File Early and Often:

“When first-to-file takes effect on March 16, 2013, it’s critical for inventors to race to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office with high-quality provisional filings, which can be turned into full applications within a year.

“‘They should make sure their initial filing provides good support for all of those features that they’re later going to claim,’ said Steven Koffs, a partner and senior patent attorney at Philadelphia’s Duane Morris. Making additional provisional filings when there’s a significant improvement is also key for important inventions, Koffs said. Speedy filing is equally critical for lawyers concerned about potential liability. ‘The AIA has greatly increased the possibility of malpractice or even just malpractice allegations,’ said William Dippert, a White Plains, N.Y., partner at Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott.”

Keep reading here.