Julie Burke - Innovation Gadfly

About Julie Burke

Julie Burke has a PhD in Biochemistry from the University of London College of Science, Technology, and Medicine and a BA in Cellular and Molecular Biology from Johns Hopkins University. As a registered patent agent with 20 years'of experience at the patent office, Julie founded her own consulting company, IP Quality Pro LLC. She helps patent attorneys navigate complex situations in the patent system to protect the inventors' ideas. She is an advisor for Petition.ai, the first searchable database of US patent prosecution petitions and associated documents.

She serves as an expert witness in court on patent office procedures and practices and is frequently invited to speak on patent office issues at bar association conferences.

Time to Turn the US Rejection Office Back into the US Patent Office – Part 1

Julie Burke - May 10, 2025

In 2024, the Sunwater Institute’s study Patent Quality in the United States, Findings and Suggestions for Policy Makers, determined that This outcome was observed in groups that examined chemical, mechanical, telecommunications, computer and electronical technologies. From the Sunwater Institute report, it can be estimated that TC3600 improperly rejects 15% of claims directed to electric vehicles, […]

Heads I Win, Tails You Lose: How the USPTO Retains their Ill-gotten Gains (Part II)

Julie Burke - June 12, 2024

As we are well aware, the patent examination process is complex. USPTO personnel, USPTO technology, inventors, and patent applicants can and do make mistakes. Regardless of how an error arises, there should be a workable, reliable, and consistent petition process to address and correct errors. When it comes to financial mistakes, 35 USC 42(d) authorizes. […]

Highway Robbery: How the USPTO Pockets Excess Filing Fees (Part I)

Julie Burke - May 26, 2024

$15,880 Gone! $13,900 Missing! $13,540 Taken! $17,120 Lifted! $6,390 Pilfered! $8,300 Borrowed! This article is dedicated to inventors and IP practitioners who have checked their USPTO deposit accounts only to realize “we’ve been robbed!” Unlike the burglar who stealthily snuck into Steve Martin and John Candy’s motel room in Planes, Trains and Automobiles under the […]