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In a sweeping move to reshape the U.S. patent system's approach to trial institutions, newly appointed USPTO Director John A. Squires has taken direct control over the decision to institute inter partes review (IPR) and post-grant review (PGR) proceedings. This policy shift—announced in a memorandum to Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) judges last Friday—marks a decisive effort by the Trump Administration to reassert executive oversight over a key element of the America Invents Act (AIA) process. Director Squires Takes Direct Aim at PTAB’s Autonomy In his October 18 memo to all PTAB administrative patent judges (APJs), Director Squires outlined that all...

In a bold signal to innovators in artificial intelligence, the newly appointed Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), John A. Squires, has taken swift action to support the patent eligibility of AI-based technologies. Just a week after his appointment, he led a critical Appeals Review Panel (ARP) decision that could reshape the way AI inventions are evaluated under U.S. patent law. Director Squires Moves Fast on AI Patent Eligibility On September 30, 2025, Director Squires, along with Acting Commissioner Valencia Martin Wallace and Vice Chief Judge Michael W. Kim, convened the rarely used ARP to issue a significant decision...

Even as the government shutdown causes widespread uncertainty, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has confirmed that it will continue processing H-1B, H-2A, H-2B, and CW-1 petitions. However, employers and petitioners should note that delays may occur due to limited access to Department of Labor (DOL) certifications, which are necessary for filing certain petitions such as Form I-129 and Form I-129CW. If a delay in filing results directly from the shutdown, USCIS may treat it as an extraordinary circumstance and exercise discretion to excuse late submissions provided all other eligibility requirements are met. USCIS will continue to monitor the situation and release...