What Some Think of Patents

November 30, 2011

I recently came across the following blog post, and while it is a bit simplistic and ignores the basic fact that a strong patent system fuels innovation, it does show how some in the tech world feel about patents.  So, enjoy!

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Covenants, Representations, and Warranties: Some “Contracts 101” for IP/Software/Tech Agreements

November 20, 2011

Recently, it has struck me that many business folks who “negotiate tons of IP, Software and Technology agreements” fail to understand the difference between covenants, representations and warranties that are “standard” in many such agreements.  Not surprising.  What is surprising is that many of their lawyers fail to appreciate the difference as well!  So, for [...]

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President Obama Signs Patent Reform Bill into Law

September 16, 2011

Today, President Obama fulfilled his promise to sign the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act, passed by the U.S. Senate on September 8, 2011, and the House of Representatives on June 23, 2011.  Thus, effective on September 26, 2011, the first effect of the law will be felt:  a 15-percent surcharge will be added to all USPTO [...]

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Congress Passes Patent Reform: Highlights for Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises

September 11, 2011

“This is not a patent reform bill.  This is a big corporation patent giveaway that tramples on the rights of small inventors.” – Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) On September 8, 2011, The U.S. Senate voted to adopt the June 23, 2011, House of Representative’s version of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act, advancing it to President Obama’s desk, who [...]

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U.S. IP Brokers: No Ethical Regulations and No Standards

September 6, 2011

It has now been three years since an article entitled “Meet the Middlemen” was authored by Ron Laurie and me, and published in the February/March 2008 issue of Intellectual Asset Management (IAM) Magazine.  In that often-cited article, Ron and I presented a new taxonomy comprised of seventeen IP business models in the United States IP [...]

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Patent Cooperation Truly: Moving Towards a True International Patent?

August 25, 2011

I have previously advised on this blog site that over-filing for foreign patent rights is one of the top five IP-related mistakes made by small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs).  This is because patents are jurisdictional in nature. You cannot enforce an issued U.S. patent in, for example, the UK. Conversely, you cannot enforce an issued [...]

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The 2011 G8 Summit and Intellectual Property

May 31, 2011

The leaders from eight of the world’s richest industrialized countries (commonly known as the “Group of Eight” or “G8”) – Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States – met in Deauville, France from May 27-28, 2011.  This forum, which traditionally discusses issues of mutual or global concern, was the [...]

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SME Foreign Filing Savings: A Single Patent for Europe on its Way?

May 27, 2011

On this blog site, I have previously advised that over-fling for foreign patent rights is one of the “Top Five IP-related Mistakes” made by small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs).  This is because patents are jurisdictional in nature. You cannot enforce an issued U.S. patent in, for example, France. Conversely, you cannot enforce an issued French [...]

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Playing Catch-Up: Google Bids $900M for Nortel Patent Portfolio

April 6, 2011

In 2010, IBM was awarded 5,896 U.S. patents.  Google, in comparison, was issued 276.  At the same time, Google has been adjusting its corporate strategy to offer more than Internet search-related products and services.  It has entered, for example, the wireless and desktop operating systems markets.  Yet, in the last 12 months, Google has been [...]

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A Thriving IP Business Model: The Institutional IP Aggregator

April 4, 2011

As I mentioned in my last post, it has been three years since I co-authored the article “Meet the Middlemen” with Ron Laurie, which was published in the February/March 2008 issue of Intellectual Asset Management (IAM) Magazine.  In that often-cited article, Ron and I presented a new taxonomy comprised of seventeen IP business models in [...]

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