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Posted on March 4, 2013 by Derek L. Prestin
The Leahy-Smith American Invents Act (AIA) will be expanding the scope of prior art that may be considered by the Patent Office as part of the examination of a patent application on March 16, 2013. This change will result in significant changes to the consideration of prior art prior to filing a patent application and, […]
Posted on March 1, 2013 by Derek L. Prestin
The Leahy-Smith American Invents Act (AIA) will be making a significant change to the process of obtaining a patent in the United States on March 16, 2013, when the United States patent system transitions from the long-standing first-to-invent system to a first-to-file system. This change will bring U.S. patent law into line with the patent […]
Posted on February 27, 2013 by Sara J. Ackermann
By March 8, 2013, employers covered under the federal Family Medical Leave Act (those with 50 or more employees) must display the Department of Labor’s new version of the Employee Rights and Responsibilities Under the Family and Medical Leave Act poster. Where can I get the new poster? A copy is available via download from […]
Posted on February 1, 2013 by Amy E. Ebeling
State officials are warning Wisconsin business owners about “Corporate Records Service,” a company sending out formal-looking “Annual Minute Forms” to Wisconsin businesses in an attempt to collect confidential information and fees for unnecessary paperwork. The Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions issued a news release earlier this week stating they have received numerous inquiries from […]
Posted on January 24, 2013 by Mary Ellen Schill and Ruder Ware Alumni
A final rule containing a wide range of changes to the privacy and security provisions of HIPAA was released last Thursday (January 17, 2013) by the Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights (OCR). The final regulations include a variety of implementing provisions for three primary rules that were required by the […]
Posted on January 21, 2013 by Amy E. Ebeling and Mark J. Bradley
After a flurry of last-minute negotiations to avoid the so-called “fiscal cliff,” Congress passed, and President Obama signed, the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012. Among other things, it makes permanent the $5 million amount that may be transferred tax-free through a combination of lifetime gifts and transfers at death. For both gift and estate […]
Posted on January 7, 2013 by Ruder Ware Alumni
Physicians can breathe a sigh of relief for at least another year. The “fiscal cliff” legislation that was passed by Congress on New Year s Day and signed by President Obama Wednesday night (January 2, 2013) averted the planned cut in Medicare payments for physicians that were scheduled to take place on January 1, 2013. […]
Posted on January 2, 2013 by Shanna N. Fink
Congress passed the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 overnight. President Obama has not yet signed the bill into law, but he is expected to sign the bill as proposed. The bill proposes some increases in tax rates, but the changes are not as significant as they could have been if Congress had failed to […]
Posted on November 21, 2012 by Mary Ellen Schill
The Internal Revenue Service has announced the optional standard mileage rates for computing the deductible cost of operating an automobile for business, medical, and moving expenses for 2013. Effective January 1, 2013, the optional standard mileage rates will increase to 56.5 cents per mile for business transportation, and increase to 24 cents per mile for […]
Posted on November 9, 2012 by GeraldM
On Tuesday, President Obama was elected to a second term in office. The congressional election results indicate the potential for continuing gridlock between the House of Representatives and the Senate. The election results add to the uncertainty of whether we will return to pre-Bush era tax rates if there is no political compromise before year-end. […]