Skip Page Banner  

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
RSS
BLOG



Category : Patents


June 10, 2013

Obama Joins Campaign Against Patent Trolls; Directs PTO Rulemaking, Suggests Legislation

Bloomberg BNA full story:  Tony Dutra's writeup  of a " fact sheet " published by the White House identifying 5 executive actions and 7 suggestions for patent reform legislation on the general...

May 30, 2013

Newest Anti-Troll Bill in Senate Directed At Specific Abusive Patent Litigation Actions

Bloomberg BNA full story:  Tony Dutra's writeup of S. 1013 - the Patent Abuse Reduction Act - introduced by Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and intended to address specific actions typical of...

May 30, 2013

Goodlatte and Leahy Begin Patent Reform Round Two With Legislation Discussion Draft

Bloomberg BNA full story:  Tony Dutra's writeup of a discussion draft of a bill best labeled "Patent Reform Round Two," appearing in BNA's Patent, Trademark & Copyright Law Daily...

May 20, 2013

Schumer Seeks Permanent, Expanded CBM PTAB Challenges on Any Management Patent

Bloomberg BNA full story:  Tony Dutra's story on Sen. Chuck Schumer's bill that would make permanent the current 8-year term for challenging business method patents at the PTO and expand it...

May 20, 2013

Key Players Update AIPLA on Growing Momentum for Patent Small Claims Court

Bloomberg BNA full story:  Correspondent Paul Shukovsky attends the AIPLA's spring meeting in Seattle and reports  on the status of a proposed patent small claims court, appearing in BNA's...

May 20, 2013

Federal Circuit Split on Computer Method, Media, System Claims in En Banc CLS Ruling

Bloomberg BNA full story:  Tony Dutra's writeup of the six-opinion-with-no-precedential-value ruling by the Federal Circuit on the patent eligibility of computer method, system, and media...

May 20, 2013

Unanimous Supreme Court Says No Patent Exhaustion for Monsanto Roundup Seeds

Bloomberg BNA full story:  Tony Dutra's writeup of the Supreme Court's  unanimous decision  that a farmer infringes Monsanto's seed patents by replanting seeds harvested from a first crop,...

May 17, 2013

'Do You Copy?' Podcast, Episode 57, May 17, 2013

Podcast (stream or download): In this episode, Tony and Ananda discuss the Supreme Court's decision in the controversial Bowman v. Monsanto case. But Tony thinks that a decision, or rather non-decision, by the Federal Circuit in CLS Bank v. Alice is more interesting. Also, the inaugural segment of Listener Mail. The podcast is also available at Apple's iTunes Store.

May 9, 2013

'On the Media' interviews researcher trying to make end run around Myriad

    Blog exclusive: We've been following the Myriad case very diligently, not only in its presentation to the U.S. Supreme Court, but going back to when it was still before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. We've covered it not only in our own publication—Bloomberg BNA's Patent, Trademark & Copyright Journal—and in this very blog and the "Do You Copy?" Podcast. But this past weekend, WNYC's On the Media drew my attention with an interview with Robert L. Nussbaum, a professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco. Nussbaum's problem with Myriad is that in 2006 or so, Myriad stopped sharing its own data that forms the basis of diagnosis related to the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. So about a year ago, Nussbaum decided to compile his own database and make it available to the public. He has been contacting as many genetic clinics as possible and asking them to contribute their data to the joint database, so even if Myriad's own data isn't available for everyone to look at, there will be an alternative for non-Myriad-affiliated diagnosticians to consult.  

May 3, 2013

'Do You Copy?' Podcast, Episode 56, May 3, 2013

Podcast (stream or download): This week's episode features discussions on decisions related to the DMCA's safe harbors, a patent on airline seating knocked out by video evidence, and a mini-rant on a paucity of challenges to covered business method patents. The 'Do You Copy?' Podcast is now available for free at the iTunes Store.

April 30, 2013

Ten Things You Need to Know About Social Media and Intellectual Property

Bloomberg BNA full story:  An outside author contribution (accessible to both subscribers and non-subscribers)   to BNA's Patent, Trademark & Copyright Law Journal by Peter M. Brody and ...

April 26, 2013

'Do You Copy?' Podcast, Episode 55, April 26, 2013

Podcast (stream or download): This week's episode of the podcast focuses on the oral argument before the U.S. Supreme Court in the Myriad case, which has consumer interest groups, civil liberties groups, cancer patients, and the biotechnology industry all on the edge of their seats.

April 26, 2013

Noninfringement Winner Must File Contingent Cross-Appeal of Patent Validity Judgment

Bloomberg BNA full story:  Tony Dutra's writeup of 2-1 Federal Circuit decision advising litigators that you'd better file a contingent cross-appeal if you lost on any  ground at the lower...

April 26, 2013

If High Court Nixes Myriad Gene Patent, Look to Decades of Uncertainty, Panel Says

Bloomberg BNA full story:  A contribution  by John T. Aquino, who writes for Bloomberg BNA's Life Sciences Law and Industry  and Medical Research Law and Policy Report on a post- Myriad oral...

April 22, 2013

High Court's Myriad Questions Suggest Isolated DNA Patent Eligibility in Doubt

Bloomberg BNA full story:  Tony Dutra's review of oral argument at the Supreme Court April 15 in the controversial Myriad  case, appearing in BNA's Patent, Trademark & Copyright Law...

April 12, 2013

'Do You Copy?' Podcast, Episode 54, April 12, 2013

Podcast (stream or download):   In this week's episode of "Do You Copy?," Ananda and Tony discuss the big picture when it comes to Novartis's failure to get a patent on its improved cancer drug. And then it's on to two decisions in which copyrights are pitted against service providers. In one case, Tony revisits an old rant against the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit when talking about the latest decision in the Aereo case. And Ananda talks about the downfall of ReDigi's attempt to sell second-hand digitized music.

April 8, 2013

Novartis Loses Patent Appeal for Cancer Medication Glivec

Bloomberg BNA full story:  BNA's correspondent in India, Madhur Singh, provided this writeup of the decision by India's top court rejecting Novartis's appeal seeking grant of a patent for...

April 5, 2013

'Do You Copy?' Podcast, Episode 53, April 5, 2013

Podcast (stream or download): This week's episode of "Do You Copy?" is all about the Supreme Court and two cases that have stirred significant controversy. Ananda analyzes the long-awaited decision in the Kirtsaeng case, which involved the interplay of the first-sale doctrine with the Copyright Act's importation right. Tony offers his perspective on oral arguments in the Actavis case, in which the Federal Trade Commission has objected to "pay-for-delay" agreements between brand-name pharmaceutial manufacturers and their rival generics makers. This is also the first episode that will hit the blog and the iTunes Store simultaneously.  

April 3, 2013

High Court Considers Options for Antitrust Review of Reverse Payment Patent Settlement

Bloomberg BNA full story:  Tony Dutra's writeup of the March 25 oral argument at the Supreme Court on whether so-called pay-for-delay drug litigation settlements violate antitrust laws,...

March 18, 2013

Government Continues Anti-DNA Patenting View in Myriad Supreme Court Amicus Brief

Bloomberg BNA full story:  Tony Dutra's writeup of the Solicitor General's amicus brief in the Myriad case on patenting isolated DNA, appearing in BNA's Patent, Trademark & Copyright...

March 15, 2013

'Do You Copy?' Podcast, Episode 52, March 15, 2013

Podcast (stream or download):  Announcement: "Do You Copy?": Bloomberg BNA's Intellectual Property Law Podcast is now available for free at the iTunes Store. Do a search for "BNA" podcasts and subscribe to the "INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY" podcast. You can also find it through this URL: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/intellectual-property/id625225058?mt=2    On this week's podcast, Ananda and Tony marvel at Congress's sudden interest in intellectual property issues. They discuss the introduction of the Shield Act, which is intended to address the patent troll problem. They also discuss the political furore over cellphone unlocking.  

March 7, 2013

Apple's Award for Infringement by Samsung's Phones and Tablets Sliced Pending New Trial

Bloomberg BNA full story:  Tony Dutra's writeup  of the latest development  in the battle between Apple and Samsung in the Northern California District Court, appearing in BNA's Patent,...

March 7, 2013

Pre-Akamai Decision Remanded for Analysis Of Inducement Instead of Joint Infringement

Bloomberg BNA full story:  Tony Dutra's writeup of a Federal Circuit decision , in the wake of its en banc Akamai  ruling, requiring that a district court conduct an inducement analysis as an...

March 1, 2013

'Do You Copy?' Podcast, Episode 51, March 1, 2013

Podcast (stream or download): Ananda and Tony discuss the Supreme Court's ruling in Gunn v. Minton, which slaps down the Federal Circuit for trying to block state courts from entertaining malpractice claims against patent attorneys. Also, Tony reports on his visit to the high court to observe the oral argument in Bowman v. Monsanto, and things don't seem to be looking very good for Bowman.  

February 28, 2013

High Court Requests CAFC Reconsider Patent Malpractice After Gunn v. Minton

Bloomberg BNA full story: Tony Dutra's writeup of the Supreme Court's grant-vacate-remand order asking the Federal Circuit to revise its view on jurisdiction over patent attorney malpractice...

February 28, 2013

Supreme Court Gets Another Petition On Hatch-Waxman Safe Harbor Dispute

Bloomberg BNA full story: Tony Dutra's writeup of a cert petition  filed hoping the high court will resolve discrepancies between two Federal Circuit opinions on the Hatch-Waxman safe harbor for...

February 24, 2013

Supreme Court Hears Arguments on Patent Exhaustion for Self-Replicating Articles

Tony Dutra's writeup of oral argument at the Supreme Court in a case challenging exhaustion of patent rights under the first-sale doctrine when the patented item is self-replicating, like seeds,...

February 15, 2013

'Do You Copy?' Podcast, Episode 50, Feb. 15, 2013

Podcast (stream or download): Tony reports on his visit to the Federal Circuit to hear arguments on software patenting and Ananda notes that the long-simmering disparaging trademark issue involving Washington's professional football club has recently become a subject of public interest again.  

February 15, 2013

Obama Nominates Chen, Hughes to Federal Circuit; Taranto's Nomination Moves to Full Senate

Bloomberg BNA full story: Tony Dutra's writeup  about the three new nominations for a seat on the Federal Circuit bench, appearing in BNA's Patent, Trademark & Copyright Law Daily...

February 15, 2013

Federal Circuit Hears Arguments on Appeals of Liability Judgments in Bifurcated Trials

Bloomberg BNA full story: Tony Dutra's writeup of arguments on whether the Federal Circuit has jurisdiction over appeals between the two parts of a bifurcated patent infringement trial,...

February 15, 2013

En Banc Argument at Federal Circuit Shows Continuing Split on Computer Claim Eligibility

Bloomberg BNA full story: Tony Dutra's writeup of arguments for and against patent eligibility of software before the Federal Circuit, sitting en banc, appearing in BNA's Patent, Trademark...

February 7, 2013

PTO Director Kappos Gets Fond Farewell; Leahy Lauds Director in Congressional Record

Bloomberg BNA full story: Tony Dutra's writeup of a farewell party held for PTO Director David J. Kappos, who resigned Feb. 1, appearing in BNA's Patent, Trademark & Copyright Law Daily...

February 7, 2013

International Harmonization of Patent Law Gets Serious; PTO to Hold March 21 Hearing

Bloomberg BNA full story: Tony Dutra's writeup of a PTO request for comments and hearing announcement, based on international patent harmonization efforts of the so-called Tegernsee Group,...

February 4, 2013

Not All Software Is Equally Patent Eligible

Hallelujah! I wrote a story for my publication, the Patent, Trademark and Copyright Journal, that assessed the arguments in CLS Bank International v. Alice Corporation Pty. Ltd. , a case the en...

February 1, 2013

'Do You Copy?' Podcast, Episode 49, Feb. 1, 2013

Podcast (stream or download): In this week's podcast, Tony gets to reminisce about his old employer, CompuServe, whose pre-internet online mall on a private network served as prior art to render obvious a patent in an internet shopping service. Ananda talks about a decision by the Connecticut Supreme Court that says that the states FOIA statute's exception for "federal law" includes the Copyright Act, and, thus, a state agency is not stuck with paying $9 million in licensing fees when a private citizen wants copies of 400,000 aerial images licensed by the state from a private party.  

January 24, 2013

Mootness Finding Unaffected By Contingency Payment Pending Successful Appeal

Bloomberg BNA full story: Tamlin H. Bason's writeup of the Federal Circuit's Jan. 17 ruling that a finding of mootness in a patent infringement case is not altered by an appeal contingency...

January 15, 2013

Solicitor General Recommends Cert Denial In Hatch-Waxman Safe Harbor Patent Case

Bloomberg BNA full story: Tony Dutra's review of a brief filed by the solicitor general recommending that the Supreme Court deny the cert petition in GlaxoSmithKline v. Classen...

January 11, 2013

'Do You Copy?' Podcast, Episode 48, Jan. 11, 2014

Podcast (stream or download): In the first podcast of 2013, Tony kicks it off with some calendar items on patent policy discussions that might not be very well publicized. Ananda helps Tony celebrate the N.F.L. playoff season by bringing back an old topic, the dispute between Frederick Bouchat and the Baltimore Ravens. Also on the agenda is a discussion about an ongoing dispute between the descendants of jazz singer and band leader Cab Calloway.  

January 4, 2013

AIA Technical Amendment Clears Congress Minus Pre-GATT Patent Application Provision

Bloomberg BNA full story: Tony Dutra's writeup of Congress's approval of H.R. 6621 , a bill that mostly makes technical corrections to the 2011 patent reform bill, the America Invents...

December 27, 2012

Supreme Court Will Review Whether Reverse Payment Settlements Are Antitrust Violations

Bloomberg BNA full story: Tony Dutra's writeup of the Supreme Court's Dec. 7 cert grant on the question of whether a "pay-for-delay" settlement--in which a patent-owning brand name drug...

December 27, 2012

Obama Signs Legislation to Implement Hague Agreement, Patent Law Treaty

Bloomberg BNA full story: Tony Dutra's writeup of President Obama's signing into law Dec. 18 of the Patent Law Treaties Implementation Act of 2012 , S. 3486, amending the Patent Act to...

December 27, 2012

‘Technical Amendment' Goes Beyond Corrections to America Invents Act

Bloomberg BNA full story: Tony Dutra's writeup of a " technical amendment " to the America Invents Act, introduced in the House Nov. 30 that would go beyond the scope of the AIA to force...

December 27, 2012

Supreme Court Will Weigh Patent Eligibility of Human DNA in Myriad Case

Bloomberg BNA full story: Are human genes patentable?" Tony Dutra's writeup of the Supreme Court's Nov. 30 cert grant regarding the patent eligibility of claims on isolated DNA in Association...

December 27, 2012

Current and Former Federal Circuit Chief Judges Defend Patent System Benefit to U.S. Public

Bloomberg BNA full story: Tony Dutra's writeup of a Licensing Society meeting in Washington, D.C., at which Federal  Circuit Chief Judge Randall R. Rader and his predecessor, Paul R....

December 27, 2012

Kappos to Step Down As Head of PTO in January

Bloomberg BNA full story: Tamlin H. Bason's writeup of David J. Kappos's decision to step down as director of the Patent and Trademark Office in January, appearing in BNA's Patent, Trademark...

December 14, 2012

'Do You Copy?' Podcast, Episode 47, Dec. 14, 2012

Podcast (stream or download): In the last podcast of the year, Tony kicks off the holiday season by airing his anxieties regarding case names that he doesn't know how to pronounce. But the podcast gets down to more substantive issues with the Supreme Court's granting of certiorari in the Watson case, which will take a look at the antitrust implications of reverse payment deals between brand name and generic drug makers. Ananda brings the holidays back into the discussion by turning to two intended holiday releases, a blockbuster and a knockbuster. Ananda also has an update on the ongoing saga of digital movie pirate Jammie Thomas-Rasset. And, to top off the holiday podcast, Ananda talks about a Federal Circuit decision, In re Yamazaki, that addresses an attempt to extend the term of a patent through reissue.  

December 7, 2012

'Do You Copy?' Podcast, Episode 46, Dec. 7, 2012

Podcast (stream or download): The big news this week is the Supreme Court's granting of a writ of certiorari in the Myriad case. ...

December 6, 2012

Are Human Genes Patentable?

Blog Exclusive: No. Okay, are we done? Can we go home now? The question that the Supreme Court has decided to consider in Association for Molecular Pathology v. Myriad Genetics Inc . is "Are...

November 21, 2012

PTO's Kappos says software patent critics should ‘move beyond the flippant rhetoric'

Bloomberg BNA full story: Tony Dutra's writeup of PTO Director Kappos's defense of software patents for...

November 16, 2012

'Do You Copy?' Podcast, Episode 44, Nov. 16, 2012

Podcast (stream or download): In this week's podcast, Tony rants about the high fees for the new inter partes review system at the PTO. And he suspects that there were some hidden reasons for doubling the number of administrative patent judges when setting up the new Patent Trial and Appeal Board. Ananda and Tony also discuss changes on the Federal Circuit bench and whether that might have any impact on the court's jurisprudential balance.  

November 14, 2012

Webinar discusses split in Federal Circuit: Hatch-Waxman safe harbor a ‘safe ocean'?

Bloomberg BNA full story: Tony Dutra's writeup of a webinar discussion about the scope of the Hatch-Waxman Act's safe harbor for...

November 13, 2012

Amici file seven briefs supporting ACLU challenge to isolated DNA patent eligibility

Bloomberg BNA full story:  Tony Dutra's writeup of amicus briefs supporting the ACLU in the Myriad case for...

November 9, 2012

'Do You Copy?' Podcast, Episode 43, Nov. 9, 2012

Podcast (stream or download): After a wild week of storms, Ananda and Tony regroup to talk about the oral arguments in the Kirtsaeng case, which the Supreme Court heard while the rest of Washington was shut down in anticipation of Hurricane Sandy. And Tony takes note of a little-noticed federal district court ruling that could result in some patent holders, particularly of pharmaceutical and biotechnology patents, getting the benefit of patent term adjustments if the PTO moves too slowly.

November 8, 2012

Opposing brief in DNA patent challenge: ACLU misunderstands scientific principles

Bloomberg BNA full story: Tony Dutra's writeup of the opposing brief in the Myriad case for...

November 8, 2012

Patent on automated voting devices not infringed by machine manufacturers

Bloomberg BNA full story: Tony Dutra's writeup of a ruling in a case over patents on automated voting devices for...

October 30, 2012

En banc Federal Circuit rules 10-1 that PTO can nix patent despite contrary court ruling

Bloomberg BNA full story: Tony Dutra's writeup of a Federal Circuit decision that a patent application was properly rejected...

October 26, 2012

'Do You Copy?' Podcast, Episode 42, Oct. 26, 2012

Podcast (stream or download): On this week's "Do You Copy?" Podcast, Ananda and Tony talks about the Copyright Office's latest push to tackle the orphan works problem as well as what seemst to be a resurgence of the doctrine of equivalents in patent law.  

October 24, 2012

Federal Circuit Bar Association to Offer Clearinghouse for Pro Bono Patenting Aid

Bloomberg BNA full story: Tony Dutra's writeup of a progam to help inventors find pro bono patent law services for...

October 19, 2012

'Do You Copy?' Podcast, Episode 41, Oct. 19, 2012

Podcast (stream or download): In this episode, Tony and Ananda talk about a major blow to the Authors Guild in its battle against mass digitization and Tony threatens a rant on standards-essential patents.  

October 17, 2012

Smartphone patent war briefing in Congress with one conclusion: Legislation unlikely

Bloomberg BNA full story: Tony Dutra's writeup of a congressional hearing addressing the smartphone patent wars for...

October 16, 2012

CLS v. Alice en banc: Finally resolving post-Bilski mess?

Blog exclusive: We may finally be making progress toward finding an answer to the question: Is Section 101 of the Patent Act a "coarse filter" that pretty much lets everything through, or the only...

October 15, 2012

Motorola must offer Microsoft license to standard essential patents at court rate

Bloomberg BNA full story: Tony Dutra's writeup of a decision setting limits on licensing fees for patents used in industry standards for ... 

October 12, 2012

'Do You Copy?' Podcast, Episode 40, Oct. 12, 2012

Podcast (stream or download): Ananda and Tony fear that the chances of a Washington Nationals vs. Cincinnati Reds National League playoff isn't as certain as it had seemed to be. But on to business: The U.S. Supreme Court agrees to review a case involving Monsanto's seed patents and also one on the Federal Circuit's malpractice standard. But Tony thinks the bigger news is the Federal Circuit's decision to sit en banc on patent eligibility of computerized methods. Finally, there's a break in the long-running Google Books dispute.  

October 9, 2012

Supreme Court grants cert petitions in seed patenting, malpractice cases

Bloomberg BNA full story: Tony Dutra's writeup of the U.S. Supreme Court's granting of review in two cases...

October 5, 2012

'Do You Copy?' Podcast, Episode 39, Oct. 5, 2012

Podcast (stream or download): Ananda and Tony chat about a victim of the statutory numbering problem that came up in Episode 38. Moving on to X-box news, the next topic is Motorola's efforts to set a royalty rate for use of patents incorporated into an industry standard. And then peculiar wording in an Indiana statute requires a court to decide that selling a toy gun is, under the state's counterfeiting law, "uttering a writing."  

October 3, 2012

Patent and Trademark Office: AIA patent challenges at PTO get slow start after reexamination filing ‘bubble'

Bloomberg BNA full story: Tony Dutra's writeup of filings under the new patent reexamination process for... 

September 28, 2012

'Do You Copy?' Podcast, Episode 38, Sept. 28, 2012

Podcast (stream or download): In this week's podcast, Ananda and Tony discuss developments in trademark, false advertising, and patent law. Ananda talks about the only IP legislation we're...

September 26, 2012

ACLU files cert petition in Myriad case asking ‘are human genes patentable?'

Bloomberg BNA full story: Tony Dutra's writeup of a petition asking the U.S. Supreme Court to review the Myriad decision for... 

September 25, 2012

Prior to going on recess Senate approves bill to implement patent treaties

Bloomberg BNA full story: Tamlin H. Bason's writeup of the U.S. Senate's approval of legislation implementing two patent treaties for...

September 21, 2012

'Do You Copy?' Podcast, Episode 37, Sept. 21, 2012

Podcast (stream or download): In this week's podcast, Ananda and Tony discuss a grab-bag of issues, including a potentially problematic implementation of the first-inventor-to-file standard by the Patent and Trademark Office, a series of personality rights decisions involving Humphrey Bogart, Marilyn Monroe, and Chuck Yeager, a decision in the red-soled-shoe trademark case, and a resolution of a court's demand that parties reveal financial relationships with bloggers...  

September 18, 2012

Eight petitions filed on PTAB Day One challenging patents under new AIA rules

Bloomberg BNA full story: Tony Dutra's writeup of events on the first day of the new Patent Trial and Appeal Board for...

September 7, 2012

Akamai/McKesson inducement rule affects wide range of industries, practitioners say

Bloomberg BNA full story: Tony Dutra's writeup of reactions of patent practitioners to the Federal Circuit's Akamai and McKesson rulings for...

September 7, 2012

'Do You Copy?' Podcast, Episode 36, Sept. 6, 2012

Podcast (stream or download): This week's podcast features two patent stories. The first is the explosive verdict in the Apple v. Samsung trial, which has had the mainstream media buzzing with its judgment that Samsung infringed the iPhone design patents. The second story is what Tony thinks is an unjustifiably neglected story: The Federal Circuit's shocking decisions on joint liability.

September 6, 2012

Federal Circuit changes inducement law: The flip side of patent eligibility?

Blog exclusive: It was the Friday before Labor Day and the patent community had been inundated all week with articles about how the jury in the Apple v. Samsung case reached its verdict. It was...

August 28, 2012

Jury awards Apple $1 billion; Tenenbaum fails to get damages reduced by remittitur

Bloomberg BNA full stories: Tony Dutra's writeup of a $1 billion jury award in favor of Apple in the Apple v. Samsung dispute for... Anandashankar Mazumdar's writeup of Joel Tenenbaums failure to get damages for copyright infringement reduced by remittitur for...