Lerner David LLP

06/02/2026

06/01/2026

Check out the latest USPTO update report by Chip Humkey regarding the "PCT Informed Examination Request Pilot Program."

To read the full article, click the link below:

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has initiated a new PCT Informed Examination Request (PIER) Pilot Program. The PIER Pilot Program relates only to national stage applications filed under 35 U.S.C. § 371.

05/27/2026

In this issue of UnscrIPted, Matthew Shatynski reports on Tesla's latest patent that reimagines the car roof (again).

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Tesla pioneered using massive sheets of automotive glass to open up the passenger cabin when it launched the Model S in 2012. However, if you've ever sat in a Tesla on a summer afternoon, you’ve probably been baked by the sun pouring through that expansive glass roof.

05/27/2026

May is Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month. This week, we highlight Dr. Fazlur Rahman Khan (April 3, 1929 – March 27, 1982). Dr. Khan was a pioneering Bangladeshi-American structural engineer and architect widely known as the "father of tubular designs" for high-rises. Frequently called the "Einstein of structural engineering," Khan is best known for inventing the revolutionary "tube" structural systems for skyscrapers. By turning the exterior of a building into a rigid structural frame, his designs made supertall buildings significantly stronger, lighter, and more economically feasible to construct. He designed iconic landmarks like Chicago’s Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower) and the John Hancock Center.

Before Khan's breakthroughs, skyscrapers relied on rigid, heavy internal steel frameworks that became prohibitively expensive and inefficient as buildings scaled past 40 stories. Khan famously utilized the structural physics of a hollow bamboo stick to fundamentally change how tall structures handle lateral forces like wind and earthquakes.

Khan was born in Dhaka, Bangladesh, where he studied engineering locally at the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) before earning a Fulbright Scholarship to attend the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he completed two degrees and a PhD within three years. Beyond math and physics, Khan believed in deep cross-disciplinary collaboration and bridging the gap between engineers and architects. He famously stated: "The technical man must not be lost in his own technology. He must be able to appreciate life, and life is art, drama, music, and most importantly, people." He passed away from a sudden heart attack in 1982 at age 52 and is buried at Graceland Cemetery in Chicago.

05/14/2026

May is Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month. This week, we highlight Kalpana Chawla, an Indian-American astronaut and aerospace engineer who was the first woman of Indian origin to fly to space, who gave her life in the pursuit of research, science, and exploration. Chawla expressed an interest in aerospace engineering from an early age and took engineering classes at Dayal Singh College and Punjab Engineering College in India. She then traveled to the United States, where she earned her MSc and PhD from the University of Colorado Boulder and became a naturalized United States citizen in the early 1990s.
Chawla’s life was defined by a relentless pursuit of the stars, beginning in Karnal, India, and leading her to the prestigious halls of NASA. After earning her Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering, she was selected for the astronaut program in 1994. Her historic first flight in 1997 on the Space Shuttle Columbia (STS-87) made her the first Indian-born woman to reach orbit, where she logged over 372 hours in space and conducted vital experiments on microgravity.
Her second mission, STS-107 in 2003, was a dedicated science mission focused on biological and physical research. Tragically, Chawla and her six crewmates perished when the Columbia disintegrated during re-entry on February 1, 2003. Despite the tragedy, her legacy as a pioneer remains immense; she is posthumously honored with the Congressional Space Medal of Honor and continues to inspire millions of students—particularly young women in India and the AAPI community—to pursue careers in STEM and aviation. , ,

05/07/2026

May is Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month! This week, we highlight Gitanjali Rao, a young American inventor, an aspiring scientist, author, speaker, and active promoter of STEM around the world. She was recognized as America’s Top Young Scientist and was a recipient of an EPA Presidential award for her patented invention of an innovative lead contamination detection tool.

Gitanjali is also the inventor of “Epione,”—a device for early diagnosis of prescription opioid addiction using genetic engineering, and “Kindly,”—an anticyberbullying service using AI and Natural Language processing. She was honored as Forbes “30 Under 30 in Science” in 2019 and TIME’s “Top Young Innovator” and “TIME Kid of the Year” for her innovations and STEM workshops she conducts globally, which have inspired over 85,000 students in the last three years across 46 countries. Gitanjali is the author of the book “Young Innovator’s Guide to STEM”, which guides students, educators, or teachers through a self-developed prescriptive 5-step innovation process.

She was appointed as a UNICEF Youth Advocate 2021 for using science to solve social problems, such as cyber-bullying, and developing solutions for environmental protection, and recently received the Muhammad Ali Humanitarian and Martin Luther King Beloved Community award for her selfless service for the refugee camp students.

She is currently a student at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

04/30/2026

In this month's issue of Case ClIPs, Lucas Stelling reports on how Federal Circuit addresses claim construction of functional language "configured to".

To read the full article, click the link below.
https://www.lernerdavid.com/news-successes/case-clips/federal-circuit-addresses-claim-construction-of-functional-language-configured-to-

04/29/2026

In this issue of UnscrIPted, Matthew Korwin reports on The World Cup: The World's Most Valuable IP Event.

To read the full article, click the link below:

The stage is set for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. With kick off on June 11 in Mexico City and the finals set for MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 19, North America is about to host the biggest sporting event in history.

04/23/2026

We had a great time celebrating Lerner David's Staff Appreciation Day yesterday! The support staff enjoyed a wonderful breakfast catered by In Thyme Catered Events. Managing Partner, Kevin Kocun addressed the staff thanking them for all they do for the firm. It was a great morning!