It is impossible to overestimate the sensitivity of this topic but poke at it, we will. At the moment, the less written here; the better. Much of this domain is outside our wheelhouse; though it has settled on a few first principles regarding patents, trademarks and copyrights relevant to the user-interest we describe in our ABOUT.
Many large research universities have a watchdog guarding its intellectual property and trying to generate income from it, and; of course, for branding. We will dwell on salient characteristics of the intellectual property domain with which we reckon daily — highlighting the market actors and the standards they have agreed upon.
Additionally, technical standards developers are generally protected by copyright law, as the standards they create are typically considered original works of authorship that are subject to copyright protection. In the United States, the Copyright Act of 1976 provides copyright protection for original works of authorship, which includes technical standards. This means that the developers of technical standards have the exclusive right to reproduce, distribute, and create derivative works based on their standards, and others must obtain permission or a license to use or reproduce the standards.
Some technical standards may be subject to certain exemptions or limitations under copyright law. In the United States, there is a doctrine called “fair use” that allows for limited use of copyrighted works for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, or research, without the need for permission or a license from the copyright owner. Almost everything we do at Standards Michigan falls under the fair use doctrine. This is why we have no search feature and most pages are protected. If we err in this; let us know.
Patent Act: This is the primary federal law governing patents in the United States. It sets forth the requirements for obtaining a patent, the rights of patent owners, and the remedies available for infringement.
Title 37 of the Code of Federal Regulations: This contains the rules and procedures related to patents, including rules governing the filing and examination of patent applications.
America Invents Act: This is a major overhaul of the U.S. patent system that was enacted in 2011. It includes provisions such as the transition to a “first-inventor-to-file” system and the creation of new post-grant review procedures for challenging the validity of patents.
Manual of Patent Examining Procedure: This is a guidebook for patent examiners that provides detailed information on the rules and procedures for examining patent applications.
Vad är en standard? Syftet med standarder är att skapa enhetliga och transparenta rutiner som vi kan enas kring. Det ligger ju i allas intresse att höja kvaliteten, undvika missförstånd och slippa uppfinna hjulet på nytt varje gång. https://t.co/zKhgPXPdpWpic.twitter.com/oKejdKSm47
— Svenska institutet för standarder, SIS (@svenskstandard) July 15, 2019
The NPADC is a team competition for law students to develop skills in drafting patent applications, focusing on U.S. patent law. Teams receive a hypothetical invention statement, conduct prior art searches, draft specifications and claims, and present their work to judges, including patent examiners and practitioners. For 2025, the invention was an extra-uterine system for supporting premature fetuses, indicating the complexity of tasks involved
There is no publicly available timetable for the 2027 National Patent Application Drafting Competition (NPADC) from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) as of the latest available information. The USPTO typically releases detailed schedules for the NPADC closer to the competition year, often in the fall of the preceding year (e.g., October or November 2025 for the 2026 competition).
After months of hard work, the top five teams met at USPTO headquarters today for the final round of the 2025 National Patent Application Drafting Competition. 🏆 And the winners are … ⬇️
Thomas Jefferson was the leader in founding the United States Patent Office. Jefferson was a strong supporter of the patent system and believed that it was essential for promoting innovation and progress in the United States. As the first Secretary of State Jefferson was responsible for implementing the country’s patent system.
Article I, Section 8, Clause 8 of the United States Constitution reads as follows:
“The Congress shall have Power To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries.”
In 1790, Jefferson drafted the first Patent Act, which established the procedures for applying for and granting patents. The act also created the United States Patent Office as a government agency to oversee the patent system. Jefferson appointed the first Patent Board, which was responsible for reviewing patent applications and making recommendations to the Secretary of State.
Jefferson was deeply involved in the early development of the Patent Office and was instrumental in shaping its policies and procedures. He believed that the patent system should be accessible to all inventors, regardless of their social or economic status, and he worked to streamline the patent application process to make it more efficient and user-friendly.
In recognition of his contributions to the development of the patent system, Jefferson is often referred to as the “Father of American Innovation.”
This clause grants Congress the authority to establish a system of patents and copyrights to protect the intellectual property of inventors and authors. The purpose of this system is to encourage innovation and creativity by providing inventors and authors with a temporary monopoly on their creations, allowing them to profit from their work and invest in future projects. The clause also emphasizes the importance of promoting the progress of science and the useful arts, reflecting the belief of the founders that the development of new technologies and inventions was essential for the growth and prosperity of the United States.
Over the years, the Patent Office has played a crucial role in the development of the United States as a technological leader, granting patents for inventions ranging from the telephone and the light bulb to the airplane and the computer. Today, the Patent Office is part of the United States Department of Commerce and is responsible for examining patent applications and issuing patents to inventors and companies.
Congratulations to the winners of this year’s National Patent Application Drafting Competition – Khailee, Bree, Rita, and Maria from @gwlaw, and thank you to all participants! Learn more about the competition: https://t.co/gB64fnXaM6pic.twitter.com/FWqak6Mr1m
From creating a race car safety device that protects drivers from injury to revolutionizing chemotherapy, Spartans have contributed to more than 3,300 inventions. #SpartansWillpic.twitter.com/dchCs0BFBx
The Board of Regents acquisition of the 140-acre Geddes Road landmass of the former Concordia University later this month will give it shoreline on a major Southeastern Michigan river system and, 104 miles downstream the Huron River Water Trail, direct access to Lake Erie.
On Friday this group Facetimed me. This is their yearly get together. They tell me that they “are connected for life.” When you commit to something bigger than yourself you don’t just give yourself a better chance to win, the bonds you build are for life. pic.twitter.com/mSc4BECrb3
Sydnee Sinn, Sarah Forsyth, Olivia Millen and Kate Stewart-Barnett run 8:33.40 in the 4x800m relay to break the school record at Penn Relays!🟢⚪ pic.twitter.com/y6VQFJVrMT
— MSU Track & Field/Cross Country (@MSU_TFXC) April 25, 2026
Riley Gaines is a beautiful example of the joy of motherhood.
From championing women’s sports to working out women with her daughter, Margot, she shows how motherhood deepens purpose and fills life with unmatched love.
📣 NSAI is seeking new members for our standards committees
We are establishing new technical committees on Light Gauge Steel, Mass Engineered Timber, and the National Annex for Eurocode 5 (structural fire design).
Once was fun, twice is very nice! UVM Olympian Ben Ogden has done it again, capturing silver in the men’s cross-country team sprint w/teammate Gus Schumacher! This is the first medal for Team USA in this event and makes Ogden the team’s most decorated men’s cross-country skier. https://t.co/0SxTfMnKQI
✅ SCHOOL RECORD
✅ NCAA RECORD (by 8 seconds btw)
✅ 10TH FASTEST 5000M BY AN AMERICAN
✅ 11TH INDOOR 5000M TIME IN THE WORLD
✅ FIRST COLLEGIATE WOMAN TO RUN SUB 14:50 (indoor AND outdoor)
CHASE DOWN❗️ Şilan Ayyildiz finishes 9th individually at the cross country national championship to lead the Ducks to a 3rd place finish. Ayyildiz went from 18th to 9th place over the final K 😮💨 #GoDuckspic.twitter.com/spP7A0UEmo
Yale topped previously undefeated Harvard in the 141st playing of The Game, earning a share of the Ivy League title and the league’s first-ever automatic bid to the NCAA FCS playoffs.
BYU’s Jane Hedengren just beat the defending 5K and 10K national champion by 42 seconds head-to-head at regionals. FORTY-TWO SECONDS! We are witnessing greatness. 🏃♀️ pic.twitter.com/6ELw3anmhL
Led by senior Chad Perrine and junior Luke Skuratowicz, three Hope College men’s cross country runners finished in the Top 30 of the 167-runner field at the Muskegon Community College Jayhawk Invitational on Saturday. Read the meet recap on the Hope Athletics website. #d3xcpic.twitter.com/Dynob8mVrX
Northwest High School junior Cooper Lutkenhaus has run the fastest 800-meter race in the world for any athlete younger than 18! Cooper set the new U18 world best at the USA Track & Field Outdoor Championships by running a time of 1:42.27 to earn silver. pic.twitter.com/5imZ9yZHLN
The U.S. men’s four won gold for the first time at the U23 World Championships. Ryan Martin, Wilson Morton, Sam Sullivan, and Lyle Donovan are victorious in the A Final, winning by 2.25 seconds. pic.twitter.com/2fAtSEwewA
Over the weekend, Anhelina Khmil earned a second place finish at the CEV Nations Cup Final in Portugal as part of the Ukrainian team! pic.twitter.com/2zuEa9wk9c
The bottom of the ground was nothing for Emily Beisel! She moves into the Top 4 of her set by almost two tenths of a second to lock in her place at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Semifinals. pic.twitter.com/1uDeztOlZM
— The Cowboy Channel (@Cowboy_Channel) July 20, 2025
Savannah Sutherland d capped an incredible career at Michigan with her second NCAA title and has been named the 2024-25 Female Michigan Athlete of the Year! 〽️ #LeadersAndBest
— Michigan Track & Field / Cross Country (@UMichTrack) June 23, 2025
𝐀𝐔𝐁𝐔𝐑𝐍 𝐁𝐄𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐀𝐔𝐁𝐔𝐑𝐍
Our list of Fences Riders of the Year is getting long…
✔️ 2025: Avery Glynn (SEC & NCEA ROTY); Kate Hagerty (SEC Freshman ROTY)
✔️ 7-straight SEC ROTY awards
✔️ 4 of the last 7 NCEA ROTY honors
✔️ 7 SEC Freshman ROTY awards#WarEaglepic.twitter.com/1bRaWk4ytY
Savannah Sutherland sets the Hodges Stadium facility record and for the second straight year she sets the NCAA East First Round record in the 400H! pic.twitter.com/u48jsKv3Zm
— Michigan Track & Field / Cross Country (@UMichTrack) June 1, 2025
Your Duke family is proud of you guys! Dom and Gavin both fared well in the state tournament!! Dom went 2-2, and Gavin went 7-1! Gavin finished 3rd overall in his weight class!! Congratulations to both boys!! @WEVSD_sports@whsladydukes@AndyPeltzpic.twitter.com/5yEMNYkU7Q
Another @MSU_Hockey BIG10 Championship! What an exciting night at Munn Arena for our Spartan players, coaches, students and fans. Go Green!! pic.twitter.com/u9ZWUTeBVc
Every Thursday, coach Brandon runs men’s IM threshold practice and Coach Sarah & I run the women’s IM group. It’s one of those “all hands on deck” type of day. Last night, in the 400 IM the men went 1-2-3-5-10-11 and the women went 2-3-4-5-6-10-17-22. pic.twitter.com/pCfhLWSvoA
What a shot at the buzzer! Michigan State pulls off the win at Maryland, 58-55. #Spartans have won four games in a row, including three straight against ranked opponents.pic.twitter.com/1NMM6xdH46
Great day in the weight room at Weatherford High School! We have football, basketball, girls and boys track programs working hard. We are blessed with the best facilities in the state! pic.twitter.com/gvH85GZmoM
The Revere Varsity Competition Squad traveled to Big Walnut High School today to compete in the OASSA State of Ohio Cheerleading Championships! They finished in fourth place, D3 Non Build Division!!! We are so proud of you ladies! @RevereLocalpic.twitter.com/evF06thfAD
Wow! What an amazing couple of weeks for ‘OE’ Justin Davies. He broke the Welsh indoor 800m record at the Keely Klassic and then went on to become the British champion at the UK Indoor Championships! #uptherose 🌟🏅 pic.twitter.com/fgFq5AOX09
— Sport & PE | King Edward’s School (@KESBathSport) February 24, 2025
My girl shot her first ever perfect 5 bullseyes at her county tournament today
Great job girl! pic.twitter.com/Xhyl1bEK0R
“We’re putting every school receiving taxpayer dollars on notice that if you let men take over women’s sports teams or invade your locker rooms, you will be investigated for violations of Title IX and risk your federal funding.” –President Donald J. Trump 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/MUd6FAetWr
Remember when it was so cold the rivers and lakes iced over? Our college wild swimmers certainly do – they took the plunge (without wetsuit insulation) and lived to report back! 🥶 pic.twitter.com/CKyLK0ySMu
“We’re feeling confident in our performance so far. We’re being challenged, but so far have managed to stay sharp.” – Catherine Clifford, third
This quote sums up the Canadian women’s performance thus far at the World University Games, as they remain undefeated after two wins on… pic.twitter.com/jetQK1TtbH
“Rowing is more poetry than sport.” — George Pocock (‘Boys in the Boat’ 2024), a British-born boat builder, rowing coach, and influential figure in American rowing, best known for his craftsmanship of racing shells and his philosophical approach to the sport.
On Friday this group Facetimed me. This is their yearly get together. They tell me that they “are connected for life.” When you commit to something bigger than yourself you don’t just give yourself a better chance to win, the bonds you build are for life. pic.twitter.com/mSc4BECrb3
I can confirm that @GreenPlusAnE spent part of his wedding reception discussing entitlement reform. And the new Mrs. Greene is possibly the most elegant Tocqueville scholar in existence. https://t.co/XRfnxJ027G
In non soccer, non portal, non athletic news, our family just grew by one 😀 we gained a future son in law!!! So happy for Madison and Dylan. #weddingplanspic.twitter.com/3DNx0tNr5D
Congrats to my son for graduating with Honors from Eastern Michigan – don’t blink time flies – so so proud of what he’s accomplished & love him to pieces 💙🎉🥳 pic.twitter.com/qAj2ndRVwA
We need a reality dating show called “Average SEC Couples” that’s just 15 Average Joe’s from the South wooing 15 gorgeous women with generational wealth. pic.twitter.com/hhNGYUPw3S
Since I’m making happy announcements, Anne and I are expecting our first grandchild (a grandson we’re told) in February. We’re very proud of and happy for our oldest son Aedan and his wife Addy. Thanks be to God! pic.twitter.com/3xFXGYaes0
💙Last middle school dance💙
Time is flying, but I’ve loved every moment of this phase — shopping for his unique style, the cologne hunts, the late-night talks, and watching him chase what he loves. Keep being authentically you, GT!💥 pic.twitter.com/glH8AHyid4
One week postpartum with the sweetest baby ever. I am blessed beyond measure to have had my 5th successful home birth and a very smooth recovery. God is so good! pic.twitter.com/bWBqAtOUkj
A South African man who recently picked up an abandoned baby in Mpumalanga suburb of Emalahleni is now applying for court permission to adopt the boy and get him a birth certificate
Ten years after our wedding, our triplets have finally arrived… Thank you to everyone who sent us congratulations. These are our most precious treasures. #fblifestylepic.twitter.com/AXKOj7vL7Q
The body of 8-year-old Mystic camper Virginia Hollis was found along the Guadalupe River earlier this week, more than a week after the July 4 floods in Texas.
Yesterday, this angel’s favorite horse followed her casket through the streets to bid her farewell. 😭 pic.twitter.com/T8f8O6n4q3
After 15 years of marriage, the first child is actually twins! 🥳Maybe no one will say it, but we want to share this joy anyway. 🌹 pic.twitter.com/T60zPJZ0tT
He was with me almost every day for 12 years. The best living creature I’ve ever known including humans.
He protected children and loved his job out here.
I hope I can be half the man this dog was to our world. I buried him last evening in his beloved woods.
A heartfelt surprise for her best friend on graduation day.. She didn’t expect it because they hadn’t seen each other in so long, ever since her friend moved to another citypic.twitter.com/3pxswYFVNt
From couple matching to couple chief-ing!!!thrilled and honored to serve as chief residents together at the program that shaped us. Grateful for the journey and excited for what’s ahead! #HUHpic.twitter.com/lClrJpGABW
20th March 2010
A couple – just married – choose to cycle from the church to their reception.
From my book ‘Cambridge – Town & Gown’. pic.twitter.com/Y9zzcUsHh4
We got him moved into the new house! His bride-to-be is helping him decorate and put things away and will be joining him there on their wedding night! Today, only a few tears were shed (out of his sight). We are beyond happy for them! @BrandonLansdownpic.twitter.com/NSNmzg8hyG
Naistenpäivän kunniaksi haluan jakaa, että minulla on onni ja siunaus odottaa omaa tytärtä. Toivon näyttäväni hänelle samanlaista naisen mallia kuin oma äitini on näyttänyt minulle. Nainen voi olla vahva ja lempeä, sitkeä ja kaunis, herkkä ja periksiantamaton. Nainen voi olla… pic.twitter.com/MivsLRh1wJ
Syracuse University. Kissing Bench: This bench on the Quad is steeped in tradition. Legend has it that if a couple kisses on the bench, they will eventually marry. Conversely, if a single person sits there alone, they risk staying single forever.
University of Idaho. Hello Walk and Kissing Rock: While not a bench, this area on campus features a large rock where students have historically kissed. It’s a romantic tradition for couples at the university.
It is so rare for people to see a normal, white family that lefties think it gives ”Third Reich vibes”. This really tells us that we need to make it less rare.
Iowa State’s CyTown is a going to be a revenue engine, and the pro forma is starting to show it. The university is projecting $184M in net revenue over 30 years, with about half coming from a revenue-share with developer Goldenrod and roughly 30% from a tax arrangement with the… pic.twitter.com/5938dy6cfb
The founding of many education communities is inspired by faith communities. In many of them the place of worship was the very first building. College and university chapels are central places of worship for students, staff and faculty, and provide a space for solitude and reflection. A place for feeling at home in the world.
There are several hundred technical standards, or parts of standards, that govern how churches and chapels are made safe and sustainable. Owing to innovations in construction, operation and management methods, those standards move, ever so slightly, on a near-daily basis. They are highly interdependent; confounded by county-level adaptations; and impossible to harmonize by adoption cycle. That movement tracked here as best we can within the limit of our resources and priorities. That’s why it’s best to simply click into our daily colloquia if you have a question or need guidance.
Richard Miniter observes that the United States was founded as four distinct religious utopias, each originating from different regions and historical periods in England (and the broader British Isles). These groups, shaped by conflicts like the English Civil War, brought competing visions of society, governance, and faith that continue to influence American culture and politics today.1. New England Puritans (from East Anglia): Strict, communal Calvinists seeking a “city upon a hill” with moral oversight and collective piety.
2. Cavalier culture in Virginia and the South (from southwest England): Hierarchical, Anglican/Royalist tradition emphasizing order, honor, and aristocratic values.
3. Middle States (influenced by the West Midlands): More tolerant, pluralistic Quaker and other nonconformist approaches fostering commerce and individual liberty.
4. Appalachian borderlands (from the English-Scottish border): Scots-Irish Presbyterian folkways stressing independence, martial honor, and anti-authoritarian egalitarianism.These enduring subcultures create ongoing tensions over freedom, authority, and religion in America.
Today is the Feast of Corpus Christi.
The 13th century Eucharistic chant of Ave verum corpus was set to music by Mozart in 1791 to be sung especially to celebrate the feast day.
The image criteria of our WordPress theme does not permit many images of college and university chapels to be shown fully-dimensioned on sliders or widget galleries. We reproduce a few of the outsized images here and leave the complexities of financing, designing, building and maintaining of them in a safe and sustainable manner for another day. CLICK HERE for the links to our Sacred Space Standards workspace.
Click on any image for author attribution, photo credit or other information*.
Corpus Christi, Latin for “Body of Christ,” originated as a Catholic feast honoring the Eucharist but can be understood secularly as a powerful cultural and social ritual. It centers on the symbolic act of communal consumption—bread and wine representing shared sacrifice and unity—echoing ancient practices where meals foster social bonds, identity, and collective memory.
Anthropologically, it functions like other harvest or solidarity festivals: public processions, mystery plays, and vibrant street celebrations transform abstract ideas into lived community experience. Participants affirm group cohesion through synchronized movement, costumes, music, and shared space, reinforcing “one body” as a metaphor for social interdependence.
Today, the feast highlights how religious symbols evolve into secular heritage—blending indigenous traditions, civic pride, and tourism—while illustrating humanity’s enduring need for rituals that embody belonging, remembrance, and renewal.
Så var äntligen studentfirandet över för denna gången. Sjukt kul och lyckat men helt slut 😅 Dottern mer än nöjd vilket såklart är det viktigaste, hennes studentmössa gör att man anar att det kan finnas visst släktskap 😂😇 pic.twitter.com/TlnLvJrAsO
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New update alert! The 2022 update to the Trademark Assignment Dataset is now available online. Find 1.29 million trademark assignments, involving 2.28 million unique trademark properties issued by the USPTO between March 1952 and January 2023: https://t.co/njrDAbSpwBpic.twitter.com/GkAXrHoQ9T
