- Barrons reports that troubled cell phone maker Research in Motion (RIM) may sell of license many of its patents to raise cash. Nokia is reported to received half of its revenue from licensing its patents.
- The ACLU has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to invalidate two gene patents owned by Myriad Genetics associated with breast and ovarian cancer. Previously the Federal Circuit had validated these patents.
- Backlog at the USPTO is on the decline with a reported 623,000 new cases awaiting a first action on the merits. This is way down from the 725,000 peak reached a few years ago. The agency has targeted a backlog of 600,000 by end of the year.
Miscellaneous IP Nuggets #8
September 29, 2012 By
Miscellaneous IP Nuggets #6
November 24, 2011 By
- The USPTo has announced an exhibit highlighting the patents and trademarks of Steve Jobs. Located at the atrium of the Madison Building at the Patent Office’s headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia, the exhibit features more than 300 patents in which Jobs was named an inventor. The exhibit was created and designed by InventNow, Inc. a non-profit group fostering creating and invention.
- There is an interesting article in Wall Street Journal’s Law Blog concerning attempts to trademark the term “Occupy Wall Street”. As has been reported elsewhere, several people have filed applications for this mark. Now the Trademark Office will have to decide to whom it should award the mark. None of the applicants are using the mark in commerce, so the rule is to give it to the applicant who applied first. The applications were submitted within a few hours of eah other. One applicant who applied three hours after the first applicant stated that he searched the Trademark Office website and did not find a pending application… which just goes to show the limitations of a trademark search.
- The new Amazon Kindle tablet computer has already come under fire for alleged patent infringement. A company called Personal Audio, LLC, which was successful against Apple, has filed law suit against Amazon for infringement of its “Playlist” patent.
