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Articles by Steven M. Jensen
Report: U.S. Commerce Department Weighs New Patent Fee | JD Supra
U.S. Commerce Department officials are considering whether to charge patent holders a new 1% to 5% patent fee that would be based on "overall patent value," The Wall Street Journal reported on July 28, 2025. There are no official details as to how or when the new patent fee would be applied, or how "overall patent value" will be defined.
USPTO to Expedite Patent Issuance | JD Supra
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) announced today that effective May 13, 2025, the time between an Issue Notification and issue date of a U.S. patent will be reduced to about one week. Currently, it takes three weeks or more for the USPTO to issue a U.S. patent after sending an Issue Notification. The USPTO indicated that this change to accelerate patent issuance should result in efficiencies in the patent issuance process.
USPTO to Increase Patent Fees January 19, 2025 | JD Supra
Effective January 19, 2025, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) will increase patent fees and even create some new ones. A Final Rule, issued Nov. 20, instituted a 7.5% across-the-board increase with new utility applications increasing by about 10%. In addition, the USPTO included certain "targeted adjustments" for fees that will increase by significantly greater percentages, including some new fees that have never been charged before.
USPTO to Terminate AFCP 2.0 Program Effective Dec. 14 | JD Supra
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is terminating the After Final Consideration Pilot Program 2.0 (AFCP 2.0), which provided examiners additional time to search and/or consider responses following final rejection of a patent application. The USPTO will not accept any AFCP 2.0 requests after December 14. The AFCP 2.0 program has served an important purpose the past several years.
A HERO'S LEGACY OP-ED: The moment Stephen Biko became a symbol in international human rights law
A HERO'S LEGACY OP-ED Stephen Biko’s death became a symbol for the debate at the United Nations on expanding the global fight against torture. His stature as a well-known civil society activist, the brutality of the murder and the apartheid regime’s attempted cover-up meant that Biko came to symbolise countless unnamed victims of similar crimes of torture and extrajudicial killings. It led to a remarkable outcome at the 1977 UN General Assembly.
Maverick Citizen: Heritage day Op-ed: ‘For every constitution there is an epic’: South Africa and the evolution of international human rights
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – SEPTEMBER 18: Constitutional Court sitting where it was ruled that the personal use of dagga is not a criminal offence on September 18, 2018 in Johannesburg, South Africa. The ruling follows a Western Cape High Court judgment that the possession, cultivation and use of dagga for private use was allowed.
Chop Wood, Carry Water: A Zen Approach to Sales Success
There is an old Zen proverb that is applicable to the sales process: "Before enlightenment, chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment, chop wood, carry water." There are several interpretations of the proverb, but the one that is most relevant is that many of us get caught up in the end results of what we're working toward or the way things will be when we finally achieve something.
Episode 01: Introduction
Join Rob Jeppsen for an introduction to the podcast. Each episode will help to answer the biggest question in business: How do you create predictable, repeatable and scalable success? We're here to help, by introducing you to the tactics and practices that the best sales leaders use to drive head-turning success. Rob lets you know what you can expect from each episode and gives you his promise: you'll leave each episode with new ideas to help you drive high growth with your team.
Using Sales Coaching to Bridge the Sales and Marketing Gap
The divide between Marketing and Sales is legendary, and most companies have experienced it to some degree at one point or another. The fact that it is so pervasive in corporate culture suggest two things: one, the problem is rooted in human nature and two, we won’t or don’t know how to fix it.
Xvoyant selected as Company of the Year for Sales Coaching Technology
Xvoyant was just chosen as Company of the Year for Sales coaching Technology for 2017 by The Technology Headlines magazine.
(Day 6) One Haunting Sales Statistic Every Sales Leader Should Know
Welcome to Day 6 of our X-Factor: 10 Days of Epic Sales Knowledge! This will be a week filled with insightful, actionable wisdom from some of the biggest names in Sales. Today's article comes to us from Jill Konrath. If you're in sales, you know who Jill Konrath is. An icon in the sales profession, she's made a huge impact in how salespeople make how they sell more important than what they sell.
Who Should I Coach: Sales Team Segmentation
Do you coach your entire team? Or, like most coaches, do you concentrate your efforts on one or two groups of reps? Or maybe you coach only poor performers and when it comes to reps hitting quota, you just get out of their way. So, how do you know where to allocate your time? Because as we all know, a sales manager’s time is scarce at best.
10 Sales Leaders Who’ve Mastered Storytelling
10 Sales Leaders Who’ve Mastered Storytelling Rachel LaCroix at Everspring has written an article that coaches should find very useful. The article is about story-telling as a salesperson and our very own Rob Jeppsen is the first person listed. There is video for several of the highlighted experts so that you can see them in their element. Check out the article, here www.everstring.com/blog/10-sales-leaders-who-have-mastered-storytelling/
With Software Patents and Means-Plus-Function, “Structure” Takes On a New Meaning | JD Supra
Software patents are generally directed to a sequence of steps or rules, i.e., an algorithm, performed by a computer programmed to carry out the algorithm. Because algorithms are inherently functional in nature, software patent claims are frequently written using functional, as opposed to structural, terms. In many cases, software claims recite vague sounding “units” or “modules” to carry out steps of the algorithm.
With Software Patents and Means-Plus-Function, “Structure” Takes On a New Meaning
Software patents are generally directed to a sequence of steps or rules, i.e., an algorithm, performed by a computer programmed to carry out the algorithm. Because algorithms are inherently functional in nature, software patent claims are frequently written using functional, as opposed to structural, terms. In many cases, software claims recite vague sounding “units” or “modules” to carry out steps of the algorithm.
How to find your selling strengths and weaknesses fast
For SMEs, finding the strengths and identifying the weaknesses quickly can make or break your business. The most effective way to distinguish your strengths and weaknesses in your sales cycle is by starting at the end. By implementing a reverse audit, SME owners can break the pattern of auto pilot and find out what is really happening in the sales cycle, and where their strengths and weaknesses lie.
5 Keys Elements to Becoming a World-Class Sales Coach
The best sales leaders share common practices. This post details five of those practices—processes that separate world class leaders from everyone else. Each element stands on its own, but taken together, they are powerful instruments of change and implementing them will help any leader be more relevant to their reps and more successful in their career. A clear vision of the future is necessary to motivate a sales rep to improve.
7 Reasons Why Your 2018 Sales Coaching Initiative Will Fail
2018 is shaping up to be the Year of Coaching. More and more sales thought leaders are coming to the conclusion that robust coaching programs can make a huge difference in win rate, quota attainment, and overall revenue. Coaching your sales team has become non-negotiable. Knowing that you should create and maintain a coaching program is easier said than done.
(Day 8 Bonus!) 5 Lessons A 2-Year Old Can Teach You About Sales Coaching
Another day, another bonus article in the X-factor: 10 Days of Epic Sales Knowledge series from Ryan Leavitt. Today's experts are sharing thoughts around sales coaching. Ryan Leavitt is the Chief Revenue Officer for LearnCore, a best-in-class coaching and enablement technology company. Ryan sees coaching from the lens of coaching his own fast-growing sales team as well as through the lens of helping other leaders benefit from building a coaching culture.
(Day 7) Hiring Kick Ass Salespeople
Welcome to Day 7 of X-Factor: 10 Days of Epic Sales Knowledge! Week 2 continues with an article from Don Cash. At Xvoyant we are privileged to work with the world's greatest Sales Leaders and Sales Organizations. Getting to see how the best in the business work reveals a lot of common traits. The best sales teams generally are fueled by predictable process. This includes processes around how they hire. Don Cash is the SVP of Global Inside Sales for BMC Software.
(Day 7 Bonus!) It is Time for More Women in Sales
Welcome to today's bonus article in the X-factor: 10 Days of Epic Sales Knowledge series. We're committed to bringing you the best thought leadership in Sales. To that end, we're fortunate to have a second, epic article today from Lori Richardson. Veteran sales consultant and women-in-sales champion Lori Richardson contributes her thoughts on a leadership success strategy – finding, hiring, retaining and promoting great women in sales.
(Day 6) One Haunting Sales Statistic Every Sales Leader Should Know
Welcome to Day 6 of our X-Factor: 10 Days of Epic Sales Knowledge! This will be a week filled with insightful, actionable wisdom from some of the biggest names in Sales. Today's article comes to us from Jill Konrath. If you're in sales, you know who Jill Konrath is. An icon in the sales profession, she's made a huge impact in how salespeople make how they sell more important than what they sell.
(Day 5) Designing a Social Sales Blueprint for Sales Leadership in 2018
Welcome to Day 5 of the X-Factor: 10 Days of Epic Sales Knowledge!. Todays article comes from Jack Kosakowski of the Creation agency. The sales world has undergone a digital transformation. While this has had a huge impact on how we connect with buyers, it has had an even bigger impact on how people make purchase decisions. And the transformation isn't over...things are just changing faster every day.
(Day 3) The Most Important Attribute in Coaching Top Performing Salespeople
Welcome to Day 3 of 10 Days of Epic Sales Knowledge! Today we have an article from Shari Levitin. Shari has helped salespeople and sales orgs around the world generate billions of dollars in over 40 countries. As a bestselling author she's helped thousands of salespeople get out of sales H.E.L.L. (check out her stuff to learn what that's about...) and today she shares her thoughts about how to hire for coachability. This is a question we get asked all the time: How do you hire for coachability?
(Day 2) Annoying Persistence vs. Professional Persistence
Welcome to Day 2 of 10 Days of Epic Sales Knowledge! Today we have an article from John Barrows. We selected John because he trains the sales teams of some of the world's fastest growing companies. He is one of the world's top sales trainers and his systems, Filling the Funnel and Driving to Close, have helped thousands of salespeople make how they sell more important than what they sell.
(Day 1) Millennials In Sales: What You Need To Know For 2018
As the year draws to a close and companies begin to plan for the challenges of the coming year, Xvoyant presents X-Factor: 10 Days of Epic Sales Knowledge to gear up and get ready to crush it. We’ll be presenting an article a day for the next 10 days from the brightest stars in Sales, covering topics that include working with millennials, time management, social selling, team dynamics, coaching and much more.
Sales Leader Secrets: Becoming a Relevant Coach
We all want to make a difference. We all want to be relevant. Sometimes, however, it can be difficult and sales coaching is one place where it is extremely hard. We recently did a training for one of our customers and during the session, one of the sales reps approached us. He was a star performer for the company, but he had some concerns about coaching. He told us, “If you are going to help me get a deal, that’s great.
5 Huge Problems Sales Coaching Helps Solve
According to CSO Insights, only 55% of sales reps met their quotas in 2016*. That’s down from 63% in 2012 and the percentage continues to fall. The harsh reality is that companies continue to increase sales goals but do so without expanded headcount. “Do more with less” is the mantra. In this environment, the sales leader must do more with what he or she has to be successful. One of the best ways to approach this problem is with sales coaching.
3 Questions Every Sales Leader Should Answer
Sales leaders know that in order to have successful teams, they need to coach. But where do you start? And how do you measure success? There are three questions that sales leaders should ask themselves: Answering these questions can provide the basis of establishing and maintaining a strong coaching culture. How Do I Prioritize My Limited Coaching Time?
Anatomy of a World-Class Sales Coaching Session
The days of reviewing a sales rep’s pipeline briefly over lunch and calling it coaching are long gone. Today’s best sales teams have developed methodologies that have transformed coaching and the effect has been seen on the corporate bottom line. In fact, high-performing firms provide 15 to 20% more coaching compared to other firms (Measuring Sales Management’s Coaching Impact, The Sales Management Association), and according to CEB, coaching can improve sales productivity by a whopping 88%.
Sales Coaching By-The-Numbers
The world of sales coaching is as complex as it is important. There have been many studies and reports in recent years about the efficacy and impact of sales coaching and making sense of it all can be difficult. Questions like “How does sales coaching help me?” “How much time should I spend on it?” and “Who should coach?” can be daunting. Here’s a handy infographic to help you navigate the landscape—Sales Coaching By-The-Numbers. Special thanks to graphic artist Doug Cole.
The Sales Coach’s Gatorade Shower Moment-How to Turn Your Team into Raving Coaching Fans
So—you’ve found the time to coach and you’ve scheduled face-to-face meetings. Now, what do you bring to the table that will capture your team’s attention? What can you show them with that will help them meet quota or beat their previous best or blow away their sales goals? How do you become essential to your reps’ success? When will you get your Gatorade moment? Great coaches turn their teams into raving coaching fans. Here’s how to do it.
Finding Time: A Sales Coach’s Challenge
When he said “Time is the fire in which we burn,” poet Delmore Schwartz touched upon an undeniable truth. Our projects, careers and lives flash brightly but briefly. Time is our most important resource. It’s also the thing we are worst at managing and is in the least supply. According to the TAS Group, 73% of managers spend less than 5% of their time coaching their sales teams. In a 50-hour week, that equates to just 2 ½ hours. Best practices dictate something closer to 30 minutes per rep per month.
Rules and Practice Tips Regarding Official Notice at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
What is Official Notice? MPEP §2103(VI) states that when a rejection is imposed, the “Office action should clearly communicate the findings, conclusions and reasons which support them.” Examiners commonly satisfy this requirement by citing one or more prior art references allegedly teaching each of the limitations of a claim. Occasionally, however, an Examiner may eschew documentary evidence on the record and instead opt to rely solely on his or her own opinion in support of a rejection.
Rules and Practice Tips Regarding Official Notice at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
MPEP §2103(VI) states that when a rejection is imposed, the “Office action should clearly communicate the findings, conclusions and reasons which support them.” Examiners commonly satisfy this requirement by citing one or more prior art references allegedly teaching each of the limitations of a claim. Occasionally, however, an Examiner may eschew documentary evidence on the record and instead opt to rely solely on his or her own opinion in support of a rejection.
To Seek Design Protection or Not, That is the Question!
While design patents are gaining wider attention—thanks in part to the highly-publicized litigation involving Samsung and Apple—they still remain an underutilized form of intellectual property (IP) protection. This blog discusses the benefits of design patent protection, and what is required to obtain a design patent.
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