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Sector - IP politics
US patent stats that shed sharp light on the current debate about trolls
In the next issue of IAM we have articles which feature observations that should be seared into the consciousness of all those US lawmakers currently vying with each other to introduce laws designed to curb so-called patent abuse and to tackle the “scourge” of patent trolls. An article on patent privateers written by Tom Ewing, the man who first came up with the term back in 2010, tells us: The USPTO issued its first patent in 1790. Patents issue sequentially. On 26th ...
Posted by Joff Wild, IAM Magazine on 24 May 2013 @ 1:57PM
Wide-ranging draft patent abuse legislation could have decent chance of becoming US law
Another day, another draft bill presented to the US Congress designed to, in the words of its author, “modernize our patent litigation system and protect innovators unfairly targeted by trolls”. The Patent Abuse Reduction Act, introduced onto the floor of the Senate yesterday by Senator John Cornyn of Texas will, says the press release accompanying it, “require plaintiffs to disclose the substance of their claim and reveal their identities when they file their ...
Posted by Joff Wild, IAM Magazine on 23 May 2013 @ 4:46PM
If Korea is serious about its royalty deficit, it must think technology first, IP second
Recently, a delegation from the Korean Intellectual Property Office visited Cambridge University to learn more about how it spins off so many successful licences despite filing relatively few patents. Korea averages 100 licences for every 600 patents filed, while Cambridge is converting one out of every two patents into licences. Although Korean companies file tens of thousands of patent applications each year, the country is battling a low rate of patent to licence conversions ...
Posted by Seher Hussain, IAM Magazine on 20 May 2013 @ 8:18AM
Despite potential flaws proposed US patent transparency legislation is worth supporting
Legislation introduced in the US House of Representatives yesterday by Democrat Congressman Ted Deutch aims to greatly increase transparency of patent ownership. The End Anonymous Patents Act would, explained a press release, “require any sales or transfers of patents to be disclosed to the Patent and Trade Office [sic], along with a notice of the real party in interest filing by the purchasing entity. The same disclosure requirements would apply to new patents at the time they ...
Posted by Joff Wild, IAM Magazine on 18 May 2013 @ 12:51PM
Security concerns about Huawei could adversely affect many more than just one company
Huawei, Ericsson and Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN) agreed this week to cross-license operations support systems (OSS) technology. The proposed deal signifies a major commitment to cooperation between the companies – but it could yet be derailed by concerns in the US and Europe over national security and anti-competitive practices. The three signed a memorandum of understanding earlier this week with a view to jointly utilising the systems they have to manage multi-vendor ...
Posted by Jack Ellis, IAM Magazine on 17 May 2013 @ 4:03PM
Do not expect Europe's Unified Patent Court to be up and running until 2016 at the earliest
The UK’s ratification of the agreement to create a unified patent court (UPC) for Europe may not be subject to a referendum, but those expecting a quick sign-off from the British government look as if they are going to be disappointed. In fact, it looks as if the UK will not be in a position to ratify the treaty until the second half of 2015, meaning that it is quite possible that the UPC will not actually get underway until 2016. Yesterday, law firm Bristows – which has ...
Posted by Joff Wild, IAM Magazine on 17 May 2013 @ 7:51AM
Software patents come under mainstream political attack in Germany
A few weeks back we ran a blog that looked at the on-going influence of the IP-sceptic Pirate Party in German politics. Although the party has seen its opinion poll rating slump, we said, it has succeeded in persuading mainstream parties to explore more hostile policy platforms. One manifestation of this is in the growing attacks on software patents being made by politicians of all hues in the country’s Parliament. Yesterday, the legal affairs committee of the Bundestag ...
Posted by Joff Wild, IAM Magazine on 14 May 2013 @ 4:53PM
IP is just as much about collaboration as exclusivity for oncology tech companies
IP advocacy group Ideas Matter showcased the pivotal role of IP in the development of cancer treatments at an event in London today. Representatives from a number of companies active in the field of cancer diagnostics attempted to counter the arguments put forward by IP sceptics by explaining the importance of IP to funding, product development, cross-industry collaboration and ultimately improving the quality of life for cancer sufferers. Dr Deryk Williams, chief medical officer of ...
Posted by Jack Ellis, IAM Magazine on 14 May 2013 @ 3:38PM
The UPC dodges a UK referendum bullet
Last week the British government announced that it is to introduce legislation that will, among other things, “enable the UK to implement the Unitary Patent Court Agreement”. This, you will remember was signed in Brussels in February and mandates the creation of a unitary court system that will hear disputes relating to the EU patent. The press release put out to explain the government’s move stated: “The Court is a central part in introducing a single patent ...
Posted by Joff Wild, IAM Magazine on 13 May 2013 @ 1:54PM
No, New Zealand has not abolished software patents
There has been a lot of excited reporting over the last 24 hours to the effect that New Zealand has enacted legislation that will ban the granting of software patents in the country (you can see some examples here, here and here). However, before writing a story about this I thought I would contact someone in the country who would know the true situation. So I got in touch with Kate Wilson, a partner based in the Hamilton offices of specialist IP law firm James & Wells. As I ...
Posted by Joff Wild, IAM Magazine on 10 May 2013 @ 11:18PM
