Wondering what I did on my summer “vacation”? Go check out the all-new PatentFizz, which was launched this week, and you’ll get an idea.

You’ll notice right away that the site has been completely redesigned. It’s a bit easier on the eyes, you might say. The FizzDisplay pages present the abstract, claims, and bibliographic information in an attractive, easy to read format that loads quickly. The FizzDisplay is sweet, instant gratification.

The improvements are not just cosmetic, though. Nope….PatentFizz has an impressive slate of all new features designed to more effectively deliver patent-based information. I’ll be detailing these features on Fizzure, the PatentFizz blog, over the coming weeks, so be sure to subscribe to the RSS feed.

I’ll let one new feature out of the bag now….you can download patent pdf’s right from the new FizzDisplay page for a particular patent. Just look for the “PDF” box in the upper right portion of the FizzDisplay page for your patent and click the “Go” button. A new page will load that presents an ad while the .pdf is assembled. Once ready, a link for the .pdf will appear…just right or control click it and save the file to your machine. Presto!

As always, please let me know if you have any comments, questions or suggestions.

PatentFizz was recently mentioned in A patent improvement, a feature article in The Economist magazine’s Technology Quarterly. Read the article online here or pick up the September 8-14th print edition at your local newstand.

Andy Oram, the story’s author, does an excellent job of profiling the Peer to Patent project, which aims to open the examination of patent applications to the public. Well worth the read.

I note the following from today’s floor debate of H.R. 1908, The Patent Reform Act of 2007:

1. Patent trolls and “bad patents” continue to be the rallying cry of the reformers. Amazing, then, that no mention was made of eBay v. MercExchange, KSR v. Teleflex, or the PTO rules limiting the ability to file continuation applications. Not one mention.

2. Patent reform has been fully politicized. The reformers have deftly called on the majority’s ability to control the rules of debate. A dissenting Democratic voice, Marcy Kaptur (from my hometown of Toledo, OH) stated it best (paraphrasing):

“Our time should not be squashed on this important issue” (speaking in an elevated voice over the speaker telling her that her time has expired)

Let the games begin.