October 9, 2009 - Yesterday the USPTO announced in a press release that it has rescinded a patent regulations package first proposed in 2007 in the Federal Register.

Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO David Kappos has signed a new Final Rule rescinding the regulations.

Had the new rules passed, they would have limited the number of continuation applications an inventor could file, as well as the number of claims that could be included in each application.

Patent applicants felt that the regulations would unfairly and unduly restrict their ability to protect their intellectual property.

The full text of the USPTO's press release, including background information on the rules, can be read here.