Resources

Articles, guides, webinars, and case studies on IP operations.

The Foreign Practitioner Mandate: What Your Systems Need to Track — From July 20, 2026, foreign-domiciled applicants and patent owners must use a US patent practitioner. Find which of your matters it touches.
AI in IP Operations: Count the Handoffs, Not the Tools — Modern IP operations isn't more tools, it's fewer handoffs. See what makes a practice modern, and where AI helps or just fills a broken line faster.
The State of IP Operations 2026 — See how a document actually moves through an IP practice: five to seven hands each, 737,000 a year, and where the time and risk hide.
Quartz IP vs. Black Hills: Own the Operation, or Hand It Off — Black Hills runs your IP operation for you. PracticeLink is a platform your firm controls, staffed by your own team or a vendor you route to. See which fits.
Quartz IP vs. CPI: What Each One Actually Does — CPI runs your docketing and renewals. PracticeLink runs the operations on top of your CPI docket, with no migration. See where each one fits for a firm.
How Quartz IP Compares — How Quartz IP compares to Anaqua, Clarivate (FoundationIP and Inprotech), CPI, and Black Hills. PracticeLink runs on top of your docketing, not instead of it.
Quartz IP vs. Anaqua: Which Fits a Law Firm? — Anaqua or Quartz IP for a patent or trademark firm? PracticeLink connects the tools you already use instead of replacing them. See where each one fits.
Quartz IP vs. Inprotech: Where One Ends and the Other Starts — Inprotech is Clarivate's privately hosted docketing system. PracticeLink runs the operations layer on top of it, with no migration. See how the two fit.
Quartz IP vs. Clarivate: You Might Not Have to Choose — Clarivate owns FoundationIP. PracticeLink runs on top of it, so you keep your docketing and add the operations layer. See how the two fit together.
Modernizing IP Operations: Using the Best Tools to Serve Clients Better — Modernizing IP operations isn't about buying the newest tool. It's building the operation that lets you use the right tool at the right time and get its work to the client. Where AI actually fits, why
USPTO selects Georgia and Alabama HBCU and MSI innovation ecosystems for Southeast Community Engagement Office expansion — USPTO selected Georgia and Alabama innovation ecosystem partnerships to expand its Southeast Community Engagement Office, with a focus on HBCUs and MSIs, ...
Remarks by John A. Squires for the USPTO America 250 Flagship Celebration — Remarks by John A. Squires for the USPTO America 250 Flagship Celebration! July 4, 2026. Remarks as delivered.
What Is an IP Operations Platform? — An IP operations platform runs the work around your docketing dates: sorting the mail, prepping forms, routing tasks, tracking matters, and getting clients an answer. Here's what it is, how it differs
USPTO updates Director Review process to extend the deadline for decisions instituting trial from 14 days to 30 days — USPTO extends Director Review deadline for institution decisions to 30 days, with further extensions in exceptional cases.
Great American State Fair Ribbon Cutting — Remarks by John A. Squires, 60th USPTO Director — Great American State Fair Ribbon Cutting. June 25, 2026. Remarks ...
The AI Questions to Ask Before You Buy an IP Platform — Every IP platform demos AI now, so the demo proves little. These are the questions that actually separate them before you buy. Get the checklist.
USPTO designates as precedential a decision waiving Director Review deadline and terminating proceeding under "Hulu" — Director waives review deadlines, allows extensions in exceptional cases, and vacates institution under "Hulu" after invalidity findings.
What to Do When Your Docketing System Gets Acquired — Platforms get acquired and roadmaps shift. A calm, practical guide to what actually changes when your docketing system or IPMS gets acquired, what to ask your vendor, and why not to panic into a migra
Evaluating IP Operations Platforms: A Buyer's Checklist — Most vendor demos sound the same. A 10-question checklist for evaluating IP operations platforms, from migration and data ownership to what a platform does after the AI hands back an answer.
Deborah Stephens appointed to permanent role of Chief Information Officer (CIO) for the USPTO — As CIO, Stephens will serve as principal advisor to the agency on the design, development, and management of its information systems and technology.
USPTO designates informative decision declining to discretionarily deny institution where multiple considerations, including U.S. manufacturing, weighed against denial — USPTO designates informative decision declining to discretionarily deny institution where multiple considerations, including U.S. manufacturing, ...
Quartz IP Deepens Its Commitment to Docketing and DMS Integration — PracticeLink connects to the docketing systems and DMS platforms patent and trademark firms already run, from FoundationIP to netDocuments, without migrating off anything. How Quartz IP builds integra
How PracticeLink Connects Your Existing IP Tools — Your IPMS isn't going away. PracticeLink connects the IP tools you already run, your docketing system, DMS, AI tools and agents, foreign-agent email, and billing, and runs the work between them. No mi
How PracticeLink Works with CPi — CPi runs your docket and your renewals. PracticeLink adds the operations layer on top: dashboards, client portals, mail intake, office action workflow, and US filings. No migration. The systems connec
Scaling IP Operations Without Scaling Headcount — The first hire most IP practices make solves the wrong problem. Visibility, runbook, measurement: the 90-day path to scaling without bodies.
What Does an IP Operations Manager Actually Do? — The job title is everywhere now. The job description on most postings is mostly wrong. Five weekday scenes from the role IP practices need but rarely define.
How PracticeLink Works with Patricia — Patricia tracks your docket. PracticeLink runs the operations layer above it: dashboards, client portals, US filings, mail intake, foreign-agent workflow. No migration. And no dependency on any single
How PracticeLink Works with Inprotech — Inprotech tracks your docket. PracticeLink runs the dashboards, client portals, IDS, office actions, and mail intake on top. See how the two connect with no migration.
Quartz IP Welcomes New Firms to PracticeLink — More patent and trademark firms chose PracticeLink this year, keeping the docketing systems they already run. PracticeLink adds the operations work around the docket, from document intake to client re
What Happens When IP Systems Don't Talk — A modern IP practice runs on five systems that don't talk: docketing, the DMS, billing, an AI drafting tool, and foreign-agent email. Here's what breaks at the seams.
USPTO issues precedential decision detailing the principles underlying the Director's exercise of discretion — USPTO issues precedential decision detailing the principles underlying the Director's exercise of discretion. May 14, 2026.
USPTO designates as informative three decisions applying the Office's Revvo and Tesla claim construction precedent — The Director determined that: (1) the petitioner did not sufficiently explain why the different claim construction positions are warranted, and (2) the ...
The Spreadsheets Holding Your IP Practice Together — Every IP practice runs on dozens of spreadsheets nobody named. They carry three risks: single-person dependency, version drift, no audit trail. Here's how IP operations owns them.
Why Your Docketing System Needs an Operations Layer — Don't replace your docketing system. Add the layer that makes it actionable across mail, the DMS, AI tools, and client reporting. Cluster 2 in our Pillar 2 series.
Director Squires addresses INTA in London, highlights the new frontier of trademarks and personal brands — USPTO Director John A. Squires delivered a rousing keynote address this morning at the INTA Annual Meeting held in London, looking out ahead as to what's ...
Remarks by Director Squires — INTA 2026 Annual Meeting — Keynote remarks as delivered. John A. Squires, Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO. INTA 2026 Annual Meeting.
USPTO Open Data Portal to require registration for access beginning June 18, 2026 — The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) will require registration for access to the Open Data Portal (ODP) starting on June 18, 2026.
Why AI Tools Fail Without an Orchestration Layer — AI tools fail in IP practices because they can't see matter context, workflow position, or client guardrails. Here's the orchestration layer that fixes it.
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to bring trademark and brand protection education to NFL Draft® — The USPTO will bring its name, image, and likeness (NIL) and trademark education to the 2026 NFL Draft® in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, April 23 through 25.
The IP Operations Orchestration Layer: What AI Tools Need to Actually Work in a Patent Practice — The orchestration layer is what makes AI tools work inside an IP practice. Here's what it does, why it isn't the same as docketing or an AI-native platform, and how to test any vendor's pitch.
How to Map Your IP Workflow in One Afternoon — Every IP team has two workflows: the one on paper and the one that actually runs. Mapping the real one takes one afternoon, one matter type, and a whiteboard. Here's the method.
USPTO turns the corner on unexamined patent application backlog reduction — The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) notched several significant milestones this week in its ongoing effort and commitment to reduce patent pendency ...
How PracticeLink Works with FoundationIP — FoundationIP tracks your dates. PracticeLink runs the mail, IDS, forms, approvals, and client reporting around them. See how the two connect.
What Is IP Operations? — Docketing tracks deadlines. IP operations runs everything around them: mail intake, forms, IDS, approvals, client reporting. See how they differ.
IP Operations Is Not Docketing — Docketing tracks deadlines. IP operations manages everything around it: intake, workflows, forms, client reporting, and every handoff between systems.
Opening Statement by Director Squires before the House IP Subcommittee — Director Squires thanks President Trump for his commitment to IP and outlines priorities before the House Courts and IP Subcommittee oversight hearing.
Trademark Classification Goes Agentic with USPTO's Class ACT — The USPTO's new Class ACT tool uses AI to automatically assign international classes to trademark applications, handling time-consuming pre-processing steps.
U.S. Chamber of Commerce International IP Index — Inventors invest when the rules are clear. Entrepreneurs take risks when the law is predictable. And innovators build when they know their ideas will be ...
USPTO Issues Updated Guidance on Patent Examination Fairness — The memorandum, issued to all patent employees, provides guidance regarding the examination of patent applications and stock ownership. See the Guidance on ...
USPTO and DOJ File Statement of Interest on Patent Incentives — The USPTO and DOJ filed a statement of interest reaffirming that preserving incentives to innovate is key to growth and competition in the U.S. economy.
Opening of the USPTO Mountain West Community Engagement Office — Director Squires opens the USPTO's new Mountain West community engagement office in Utah to serve innovators across the eight-state Rocky Mountain region.
Utah Selected for New USPTO Community Engagement Office — The USPTO announced the selection and grand opening of a new community engagement office location in Utah to serve innovators in part of the eight-state ...
Consistent Intake Processes — When the information you need is scattered across three systems, two spreadsheets, and someone's email, it's a workflow problem, not a people problem.
Weekly Patent History - Feb 9, 2026 — This week in patent history: On Feb 9, 1870, the U.S. moved patent, trademark, and copyright administration into the Department of Justice.
Great operations help you keep great people — Talented IP professionals leave when their days are consumed by chasing information and fixing errors. Great operations let them do the work that matters.
Improving Client Transparency — Clients want understanding and confidence, not just status updates. PracticeLink turns daily IP work into shared visibility across the practice.
Weekly Patent History - Feb 2, 2026 — This week in patent history: Alexander Graham Bell filed the telephone patent in 1876, plus other notable moments from IP history.
See the Entire Prosecution Story — Real ROI in IP operations comes when everyone can see the full prosecution flow, not just individual deadlines. Visibility drives better decisions.
Do More With the Same Team — Most IP teams don't need more people. They need fewer manual steps and interruptions. PracticeLink increases capacity without increasing headcount.
Technology that supports the way you already work — New software shouldn't mean starting over. PracticeLink fits into how IP teams already work instead of forcing migration and retraining.
USPTO to Launch SPARK Pilot Program to Strengthen U.S. Innovation — This initiative will incentivize meaningful participation by U.S. small and medium-sized businesses, universities, and non-profits in standards development ...
Unifying IP Workflows After a Merger — After a merger, IP teams face different docketing systems, naming conventions, and processes. Unifying workflows is the hardest and most important step.
Design workflows around outcomes, not software features — Building IP workflows around software features leads to workarounds. Design around outcomes first, then let the right tools support the process.
Zero-Disruption Implementation — IP teams are short on time, trust, and patience for change. PracticeLink deploys alongside existing systems with zero disruption to daily operations.
File Wrapper — Pulling the file wrapper is just the starting point. PracticeLink normalizes, structures, and routes wrapper data to the right teams automatically.
Happy New Year — Quartz IP looks back on 2025 and thanks the IP operations and legal community for a year of collaboration, progress, and shared learning.
Why I’m proud of the client outcomes our team is helping deliver right now -Chris Kave — Chris Kave reflects on the client outcomes Quartz IP is delivering. Not features shipped or milestones hit, but real operational improvements for IP teams.
One Source of Truth for the Practice — PracticeLink connects attorneys, paralegals, docketing, and clients into one operational flow. No rip and replace required. Just clarity across the practice.
Montana Selected for New USPTO Community Engagement Office — The USPTO reimagines its community engagement footprint as an agile model to meet innovators where they are.
Why Quartz IP exists — IP work is high stakes and unforgiving. Quartz IP exists because great legal work shouldn't be slowed down by fragmented systems and disconnected tools.
Reduce Administrative Overhead Create Better Client Outcomes — The biggest hidden cost in IP work is admin: generating forms, reviewing intake, repeating steps. Reducing that overhead directly improves client outcomes.
Remarks by Director Squires at IP Attache Consultations — Director Squires welcomes IP attaches from around the globe to Alexandria for consultations on international patent and trademark cooperation.
Letter from Director Squires to Congress on Sound Recording Copyright — Director Squires writes to Congress supporting amendments to the Copyright Act requiring fair compensation when sound recordings are broadcast over the air.
See What Actually Matters Today — IP teams juggle deadlines, reviews, filings, and client questions daily. Smarter prioritization means knowing what matters most right now, not just what's due.
Everyone says they “automate IP operations.” — Most vendors claiming IP automation just shuffle deadlines and add dashboards. Real automation connects every step of the workflow end to end.
Know Exactly What's Going On — IP teams don't struggle with the work. They struggle with visibility. Who touched the file? Is the client waiting? PracticeLink answers those questions.
Centralize matter metadata before you centralize files — Before consolidating your DMS, centralize matter metadata first. Without a single source of truth for names, statuses, and dates, files lack context.
Eliminate Manual Mistakes. Protect What Matters. — Lateral hires bring talent but also onboarding risk. Client variance, unique rules, and manual steps create mistakes. Workflow automation protects the work.
What You Need, When You Need It — PracticeLink pulls intake details, matter data, prosecution history, forms, and documents into one unified, searchable view for IP teams.
Thank You! From Quartz IP — A thank you to the clients, partners, and friends who make Quartz IP's work possible. Your trust and collaboration drive everything we do.
Client Reporting at a Lower Cost — PracticeLink cuts client reporting from hours to minutes. Handle client variance with ease instead of burning time on exports, formatting, and fixes.
Quartz IP Releases New Website — Quartz IP launches its redesigned website, improving how the company communicates its mission, capabilities, and outcomes for IP teams.
Imagine Logging In to Everything You Need, Right Where You Need It — Five tabs, three systems, constant switching. PracticeLink gives IP teams one login with everything they need in a single unified view.
Map your end-to-end IP workflow—not just your docketing steps — Docketing is critical, but it's only one chapter. Mapping your full IP workflow reveals friction points and connections most firms overlook.
When Docketing Lives in a Silo, the Whole Firm Feels It — Siloed docketing creates duplicate data entry, reconciliation headaches, and missed deadline risk. Connected IP operations fix the root cause.
True IP Workflow, Not Workflow Theater — Most IP systems track dates but don't move work forward. True IP workflow connects every step, from intake to filing, so nothing falls between the cracks.
When your DMS and docketing system work together — Your DMS tracks documents. Your docketing system tracks deadlines. PracticeLink connects both so IP teams work from one source of truth.
Define what IP Operations means inside your firm — IP Operations isn't a department. It's the repeatable system your firm uses to manage intellectual property from filing to renewal. Here's how to define it.
The 'IP Ops' Impostors — Most platforms claim end-to-end IP operations but only automate pieces. Real IP ops connects docketing, documents, workflows, and reporting into one system.
Client Reporting — Client reporting shouldn't take hours of exporting and formatting. PracticeLink automates IP client reports so they're repeatable, accurate, and on time.
Remarks by Director Squires at the USPTO Veterans Day Event — Remarks as written · John A. Squires, · USPTO Military Association Veterans Day Event · November 6, 2025.
USPTO extends comment period for One Challenge NPRM — The proposed rule's comment period is extended until December 2, 2025. The USPTO is granting a 15-day extension of time in response to several requests from ...
Real Difference For Clients — IP firms are customizing Quartz workflows to fit their practice. See how clients adapt intake, reporting, and filings to match the way they actually work.
Automation That Protects Quality — Rising filing volume threatens review and docketing quality. Automation built into the workflow catches errors before they become missed deadlines.
Why We’re Launching the IP Operations Best Practices Series — Quartz IP launches a series on IP operations best practices. Small improvements in workflow, docketing, and process design compound into meaningful results.
Unifying IP Workflows After a Merger? — IP mergers create real risk: disconnected docketing, conflicting processes, scattered data. Here's how to unify workflows without missing deadlines.
Remarks by Director Squires at the 2025 AIPLA Annual Meeting — Today, I am wrapping up week five as Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and the 60th Director of the United States Patent and Trademark ...
USPTO Launches New Streamlined Claim Set Pilot Program — Under this new initiative, certain pending utility patent applications may be advanced out of turn for their first Office action.
Trilateral Offices Meet to Discuss Ways to Enhance Patent Examination — The EPO, JPO, and USPTO held their 43rd annual meeting to discuss patent filing trends, AI tools for patent offices, and cross-border examination quality.
How the Client Advisory Board Drives PracticeLink Development Priorities — Quartz IP's Client Advisory Board shapes PracticeLink development priorities so new features solve real IP operations problems, not hypothetical ones.
Open Letter from America's Innovation Agency — The USPTO's open letter on restoring institution authority under 35 U.S.C. sections 314 and 324 to the Director. What it means for patent review proceedings.
Statement by Director Squires before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee — Director Squires defends expansive patent eligibility before the Senate IP Subcommittee, calling it fidelity to statute and the spirit of American ingenuity.
Quartz IP Launches PracticeLink 2.4 — Quartz IP releases PracticeLink 2.4 with faster USPTO filing preparation and improved operational control for intellectual property practices.
10 Classic Board Games That Changed Play and the IP Behind Them — From Monopoly to Twister, the board games we grew up with all have IP stories. Ten iconic games and the patents that turned hobbies into global icons.
Why The IP Operations Function Is More Strategic Than You Think — This white paper explores the evolution of IP operations into a strategic function.
Forms and Automation: A Strategic Imperative for Modern IP Practice — IP practices face rising filing volumes and complexity. Manual form handling is no longer viable. How automation reduces risk and improves efficiency.
Quartz IP + NDA - Platinum Business Partner — Quartz IP Joins National Docketing Association, Reinforcing Commitment to Excellence in IP Operations
Introducing PracticeLink 2.4 — Version 2.4 was designed for the challenges faced by IP Paralegals and Legal Assistants managing high prosecution volumes
Mintz Selects PracticeLink — Mintz invests in PracticeLink as part of its commitment to industry-leading IP technology, pushing the boundaries of innovation in practice operations.
Buchanan Ingersoll selects PracticeLink — Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney joins the PracticeLink family, choosing the platform to support IP operations across a rapidly expanding practice.
Simplify Mail Processing, for You and Your Clients, with PracticeLink — PracticeLink manages over half a million pieces of inbound mail each year for top US IP practices, cutting processing times roughly in half.
Announcing PracticeLink 2.3: Faster, Friendlier, and More Connected! — PracticeLink 2.3 introduces more user-defined views, new integrations, and a faster architecture designed to handle the heaviest workloads
Quartz IP and Prokurio Partner to Streamline IP Cost Forecasting — Quartz IP and Prokurio have partnered to integrate IP forecasting capabilities into the PracticeLink IP practice management workflow suite.
Haley Guiliano Selects PracticeLink to Streamline IP Workflow — Haley Guiliano selects PracticeLink to accelerate mail processing, client reporting, and internal processes to support continued growth.
Quartz IP Integrates PracticeLink with the new FoundationIP REST API from Clarivate — New levels of integration mean faster, easier setup and near real-time visibility into docketing updates
PracticeLink 2.2 Helps IP Professionals Organize and Prioritize Daily Tasks — PracticeLink 2.2 introduces new tools to help IP professionals organize and prioritize daily tasks, with workflow capabilities that save billable time.
Quartz IP Partners with Rowan TELS to Integrate Automated Prosecution Support into Patent Practitioner Workflow — PracticeLink 2.2 users can now access Rowan Patents directly from a workflow task, bringing automation and consistency to Office action responses.
Aurora North Software is now Quartz IP — Aurora North Software is now Quartz IP. After completing the sale of our Intapp business, our brand reflects our total focus on IP solutions and services.
Aurora North Divests its Intapp Practice to Focus on Intellectual Property Solutions — Aurora North Software sold its Intapp solutions practice to Wilson Allen and is reinvesting fully in intellectual property solutions and services.