Approval pending.

In this article the author discusses the increase in the pending patent applications at the patent offices of the U.S. and Japan, and European Patent Office (EPO). It is stated that this backlog has resulted from the sharp increase in the patent application in the last decade. Information on patents and how the clients, investors and competitors are dealt with, in respect to the patent law is also provided. The importance of a patent to an individual or an organization is also discussed. INSET: To do list.