International, invention, Technology
Chicago—Home of the Cubs, Hotbed of Innovation
It’s tempting to segment and isolate innovation, on one hand, from the drama of life, as evidenced in sports, the arts, business, and other fields of activity.
General Counsel, invention, Patent Prosecution, Patents, Technology
3 steps to patent success
In the last six weeks, as in the last four decades, I have attended intellectual property (IP) and patent litigation conferences across the country and around the world.
History, International, invention, Litigation, Patent Prosecution, Patents, Technology
Would you rather win a Nobel Prize or a Patent?
Which would you pick: The Nobel prize or a patent? If you’re like me, your instinctive reaction is to choose the Nobel.Its scarcity, prestige,
Appeals, Claim Construction, Federal Circuit, General Counsel, Information technology (IT), Infringement, invention, Litigation, Patent Prosecution, Patents, Technology, Validity
How long should a patent claim be?
House counsel for a large software company has written an open letter to me titled Pursuit of Extremely Short Patent Claims. He has thrown down the gauntlet in a public forum.
General Counsel, History, Information technology (IT), Infringement, International, invention, Licensing, Litigation, Patent Prosecution, Patents, Technology
Three Takeaways from Computer Chip Patent Wars
On April 25, 1961, Robert Noyce, then of Fairchild, was issued U.S. Patent 2,981,877 for the first silicon-based integrated circuit.
Appeals, Claim Construction, Federal Circuit, General Counsel, History, Information technology (IT), Infringement, International, invention, Litigation, Patents, Supreme Court, Technology, Validity
What everyone should know about Apple slide-to-unlock patent vs. Samsung
In the last inning of the Apple-Samsung game of smartphone hardball, Samsung slid into home. Apple failed to make the tag. “Samsung is safe!” cried the umpires.
International, invention, Patents, Technology
How to make patent profits – iPhone maker Foxconn buys Sharp for $3.5b
Foxconn has agreed to acquire Sharp for a mere $3.5 billion, says a Reuters headline. Foxconn, as you may know, is the maker of the Apple iPhone.
Appeals, Federal Circuit, General Counsel, Infringement, Inter Partes Review (IPR), invention, Litigation, Patent Prosecution, Patents, Supreme Court, Technology
How to Profit from Patents While Apple, Samsung Weigh In At Supreme Court
The Supreme Court has granted Samsung’s appeal of a $500 million dollar judgment rendered on the latter’s infringement of Apple’s smartphone (iPhone) design patent.
General Counsel, International, invention, Patents, Technology
Get Sharp, patent prize, for $5b
Nations and mega corporations are locked in a tug of war over the $5 billion prize Sharp Corporation and its patent portfolio.
Infringement, International, invention, Licensing, Litigation, Patent Prosecution, Patents, Presidents, Technology, Trademarks, Validity
Billion Dollar Lego Patent
Fifty-eight years ago today, Kirk Godtfred of Lego filed his patent application on the basic building block, literally, of Lego’s billion dollar private fortune. Now, here’s the thing: A patent filed 58 years ago is long expired. The then-standard-17-year term ended in 1978. So how is it that Lego is still the only game in town?