Apr
15
Google never ceases to amaze
Posted by Dirk Avery at 12:59 pm under Internet, Technology.
(Apologies for writing so little lately. The final finals season is heating up even though the weather is not - very much.)
Anyway, Google recently announced they will be employing software tools originally intended to filter out copyrighted material to track down missing and exploited children used in the pornography industry. It is tragic […]
Apr
8
Free Stem Cell Patent Database
Posted by Irene Soto at 6:38 am under Innovation, Internet, Patent, Wikinomics.
Stemcellpatents.com announced the launch of its updated stem cell patent database. The site includes summaries and analysis of over 1275 expert-selected patents identified as relevant to stem cell commercialization.
According to the website, this database is an effort to exploit the infinite potential of stem cell therapeutics. “Unfortunately, due to the nature of current day science, […]
Apr
7
Rulemaking Authority in H.R. 1908
Posted by Irene Soto at 11:02 am under Uncategorized.
Several commentators present some interesting conclusions about the language of H.R. 1908 and its potential effect on the Tafas v. Dudas litigation.
From Patently-O: “The pending Patent Reform Act includes language that would provide substantive rulemaking authority to the PTO. That provision would directly overrule yesterday’s decision.”
From IPBiz: “The current version of S 1145 does not contain […]
Apr
7
Please note:
Posted by Irene Soto at 7:16 am under Uncategorized.
That’s all.
Apr
7
Do professors have copyright in their lectures?
Posted by Irene Soto at 7:15 am under Copyright, Litigation.
A textbook publisher, Faulkner Press, sued Class Notes (dba Einstein’s Notes), a student note-taking service at the University of Florida, for copyright infringement.
Faulkner sells textbooks and CDs used to submit assignments and quizzes. These materials are required for the courses in which they are available. Class Notes hires students to take notes during lectures and […]
Apr
4
9th Circuit says CDA does not shelter Roommates.com
Posted by Irene Soto at 9:14 am under Internet, Litigation.
Big loss for Roommates.com, internet forums, and ISPs yesterday.
[Background: The touchstone of § 230(c) of the Communications Decency Act (CDA) is that providers of internet computer services are immune from liability for content created by third parties. The immunity applies to a defendant who is the “provider… of an internet computer service” and is being sued […]
Apr
4
Reid commited to get patent reform to floor
Posted by Dirk Avery at 7:55 am under Legislation, Patent.
Rick Merritt, from EE Times, writes,
A spokeswoman for Senator Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said the majority leader is committed to bring the Patent Reform Act (S-1145) to the Senate floor in the current working session which ends in late May. “It could come up as early as next week,” she said.
The Senate bill echoes many of […]
Apr
2
The new Acacia business model
Posted by Dirk Avery at 10:09 am under Litigation, Patent.
Back in 1993, Acacia began business as a venture capital firm. After the dot-com bust, it changed business models and began managing intellectual property for small entities without the resources to effectively capitalize IP assets. According to Forbes’s Maurna Desmond most of Acacia’s deals with patent owners involve a 50/50 revenue split.
Recently shares […]
Apr
2
Practitioners respond to rejection of new rules
Posted by Dirk Avery at 9:36 am under Litigation, Patent.
Yesterday Judge Cacheris rejected the PTO’s attempt to make substantive changes to its rules, as Irene noted. The Reporter’s Zusha Elinson writes today about the decision and responses from several patent practitioners.
“There’s a lot of good cheer going around,” said Hans Troesch, a veteran patent prosecutor with Fish & Richardson in Redwood City, […]
Apr
1
Finally: Tafas/GSK v. Dudas Decision
Posted by Irene Soto at 12:22 pm under Litigation, Patent.
Judge Cacheris has come to a decision: SJ granted for GSK/Tafas; SJ denied for PTO.
Opinion available here.
As I thought earlier, the court only addressed whether the rules were substantive or procedural and, finding them substantive, leaves the numerous other issues for another day.
“The Court believes that one who judges least judges best.” With respect to […]