Solutions at the speed of now

The USPTO has announced a new pre-order procedure that, for the first time, gives patent owners a formal opportunity to weigh in before the Office decides whether to order ex parte reexamination. Signed by Director John A. Squires on April 1, 2026, the Official Gazette Notice takes effect for all reexamination requests filed on or after April 5, 2026.

Since January 1, 2008, California law has required retailers to redeem remaining gift card balances of less than $10 for cash when a consumer requests it. This threshold is about to change. Effective April 1, 2026, gift cards with a remaining balance of less than $15 must be redeemable for cash in California. This change, enacted through California Senate Bill 22, marks the first adjustment to the cash-out requirement since the current $10 threshold was established.

Companies that sell goods or services in California should be aware of this change. Gift cards are widely used across various industries and channels. According to Bankrate, Americans currently hold up to $27 billion in unused gift card balances. Therefore, even this seemingly small adjustment in the law can lead to significant compliance, litigation, and financial implications if businesses do not update their policies and systems in advance.

Most consumers have had the experience of “buying” a digital product, such as music, a movie, an ebook, or a video game, only to learn later that what they received was not ownership of the product but a revocable license with restrictions.