If patent owner intends a special meaning, clear disavowal of ordinary meaning required
In an April 4, 2017 decision, the Federal Circuit affirmed the Patent Trial and Appeal Board’s (the “Board”) findings of anticipation or obviousness in two inter partes review (IPR) proceedings. The Court also affirmed in part and reversed in part the Board’s findings of patentability for certain claims.
http://www.ipwatchdog.com/2017/04/14/patent-owner-special-meaning-clear-disavowal-ordinary-meaning/id=82073/
Mylan’s proposed ANDA drug does not infringe MedCo patents
The Medicines Company (“MedCo”) sued Mylan, Inc. (“Mylan”) alleging infringement of two patents (the ’727 patent and the ’343 patent) after Mylan submitted an Abbreviated New Drug Application (“ANDA”). Mylan counterclaimed, seeking a declaration that the patents were invalid. The patents are directed to pharmaceutical formulations, or “batches,” of the drug bivalirudin, which is used to prevent blood clotting in patients undergoing cardiac catheterization. The goal of both patents is to achieve “batch consistency,” or a consistently low level of impurities in each batch of bivalirudin. The issue at the district court and on appeal is whether the claims of the ’727 and ’343 patent require batch consistency to be accomplished through an “efficient mixing” process.
http://www.ipwatchdog.com/2017/04/14/mylans-proposed-anda-drug-does-not-infringe-patents/id=82072/
Myopia in the C-Suite is Wrecking America’s Patent System
While there are notable exceptions to the general rule (e.g., IBM, Qualcomm, Apple, Microsoft), innovation primarily comes from truly small entities [1], such as start-ups, small businesses, individuals and entrepreneurs. This is true because innovation, by its very nature, requires three ingredients: (1) risk-taking; (2) challenges to the status quo; and (3) a significant investment of time, money and resources.
http://www.ipwatchdog.com/2017/04/13/myopia-c-suite-wrecking-americas-patent-system/id=82015/
2016 Patent Market Report: Patent Brokers and Patent Packages
2016 saw a significant rise in both the number of patent brokers and patent packages, with the latter mostly due to IAM Market packages. Though the frequency of package sizes is similar to 2015, there is a remarkable increase in single-asset packages in 2016. While the growth of single-asset packages is again attributed to IAM Market, we continue to see a trend of the market favoring smaller packages due to their marketability.
http://www.ipwatchdog.com/2017/04/13/patent-brokers-patent-packages/id=81698/
Huawei earns first victory against Samsung in China over smartphone patents
On Thursday, April 6th, multiple news outlets were reporting that Chinese telecom company Huawei Technologies, Ltd. had prevailed in a patent infringement case which it filed against South Korean consumer tech giant Samsung Electronics (KRX:005930). The decision requires Samsung’s Chinese subsidiaries to hand over 80 million yuan ($11.6 million) to Huawei and could mark a major shift in the global smartphone market.
http://www.ipwatchdog.com/2017/04/13/huawei-earns-first-victory-against-samsung-china-smartphone-patents/id=81871/
DLA Piper hires Hogan Lovells partner to head China practice
Fisher joins from Hogan Lovells, where he served for six years.
http://www.worldipreview.com/news/dla-piper-hires-hogan-lovells-partner-to-head-china-practice-13804
Apple settles with Unwired Planet day before trial
This ended several years of litigation between the parties.
http://www.worldipreview.com/news/apple-settles-with-unwired-planet-day-before-trial-13800
With patents so hard to enforce in Japan the continuing fall in applications at the JPO is no real surprise
Continuing a trend manifested over the past decade, the number of patent applications submitted to the Japan Patent Office (JPO) fell again in 2016, as businesses reappraise the role that Japanese assets play in their IP portfolios. However, the decrease was significantly smaller than in previous years – suggesting that filing rates may be levelling out, for now.
http://www.iam-media.com/blog/Detail.aspx?g=daecfdb1-e4e3-4920-87fe-e38b99052dd9
Definiteness and Patent Drafting: The Nautilus Surfaces
The public notice function of patents lies at the heart of the definiteness requirement
http://www.ipwatchdog.com/2017/04/18/definiteness-patent-drafting-nautilus-surfaces/id=82140/
Optimizing Patent Applications: Drafting to Withstand Challenge
Drafting patent applications can be a daunting task, particularly today where virtually every commercially valuable patent will likely be challenged at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB).
http://www.ipwatchdog.com/2017/04/17/optimizing-patent-applications-drafting-withstand-challenge/id=82138/
“We’re not sure that investing significant amounts of capital in patents really makes sense,” says WiLAN CEO
Yesterday’s news that WiLAN will purchase an Internet of Things (IoT) business as it looks to diversify away from patent licensing represented another nail in the coffin of the NPE sector as we know it.
http://www.iam-media.com/blog/Detail.aspx?g=269aba10-bb5c-49a7-99bc-962024b56523
With patents so hard to enforce in Japan the continuing fall in applications at the JPO is no real surprise
Continuing a trend manifested over the past decade, the number of patent applications submitted to the Japan Patent Office (JPO) fell again in 2016, as businesses reappraise the role that Japanese assets play in their IP portfolios. However, the decrease was significantly smaller than in previous years – suggesting that filing rates may be levelling out, for now.
http://www.iam-media.com/blog/Detail.aspx?g=daecfdb1-e4e3-4920-87fe-e38b99052dd9
2016 Patent Market Report: Patent Prices and Key Diligence Data
What is a good price for a patent? Are you getting a great bargain or are you being overcharged? Are you overcharging or selling yourself short? Whether as a buyer or a seller, those are hard questions to answer without comprehensive pricing analysis. In the absence of a truly public market in which a buyer or seller can look at comparable packages, many questions arise around pricing. It is difficult to know what is a fair price, a bargain price or a good deal. We continue to address these questions with our pricing analysis. We use the pricing analysis not only to help our clients buy and sell patents, but also to provide market-based pricing – knowing the asking price of an average patent allows us to model the price of a specific patent or package. As an added benefit, this method avoids discounted cash-flow analysis and having to determine an imputed royalty.
http://www.ipwatchdog.com/2017/04/18/2016-patent-prices-key-diligence-data/id=81708/
A Software Patent Discussion with Matt Levy
It is probably fair to say that Matt Levy’s views are contrary to mine with respect to many patent related matters, but particularly so with respect to software patents. It, therefore, probably comes as a shock to at least some that we have a very cordial and friendly relationship. We chat whenever we are attending the same industry functions, we get together for lunch periodically in DC, we talk via telephone, and we swap e-mails.
http://www.ipwatchdog.com/2017/04/18/software-patent-discussion-matt-levy/id=82166/
Federal Circuit remands part of Samsung’s $15.7m patent ruling
The US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit remanded part of a patent suit earlier this week, meaning that Samsung may not have to pay the full $15.7 million in damages to Rembrandt Wireless.
http://www.worldipreview.com/news/federal-circuit-remands-part-of-samsung-s-15-7m-patent-ruling-13818
Uber follows in footsteps of Google and AST with new patent purchase promotion
Uber has announced that it is established a patent buying programme modelled on similar initiatives recently launched by Google and a consortium led by defensive aggregator Allied Security Trust (AST).
https://www.iam-market.com/blog-entry/uber-follows-footsteps-google-and-ast-new-patent-purchase-promotion
Want to Revive the Economy? Restore the Patent System!
Forgetting the lessons of the past is an expensive way to learn.
http://www.ipwatchdog.com/2017/04/19/revive-the-economy-restore-patent-system/id=82145/
SCOTUS Asked to Resolve Splits in Patent-Eligibility Analysis in Context of Video-On-Demand Technology
On April 13, 2017, Broadband iTV, Inc. (“BBiTV”) filed a petition for a writ of certiorari with the Supreme Court of the United States, requesting that the Court to take the case to resolve three recurring issues relating to patent-eligibility and the procedure by which courts analyze patent-eligibility. Charles R. Macedo and Sandra A. Hudak of Amster, Rothstein & Ebenstein LLP and Paul Alston and John Rhee of Alton Hunt Floyd & Ing were authors on the brief.
http://www.ipwatchdog.com/2017/04/19/scotus-asked-resolve-splits-patent-eligibility-analysis/id=82212/
A silver lining
With the release of Azure IP Advantage, Microsoft has agreed to use its patent portfolio to protect customers from litigation. WIPR assesses how the programme will work and how beneficial it might be.
http://www.worldipreview.com/article/a-silver-lining
Audi and VW handed victory at Federal Circuit
In a win for Audi, Volkswagen (VW) and other car makers, the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit affirmed that seven patents owned by patent licensing company West View Research are invalid.
http://www.worldipreview.com/news/audi-and-vw-handed-victory-at-federal-circuit-13839
Motorola continues patent war against Hytera
Motorola Solutions has sued Hytera Communications in Germany as part of its continuing war against the China-based company.
http://www.worldipreview.com/news/motorola-continues-patent-war-against-hytera-13838
Trademarks
Kerrygold seller obtains restraining order over butter TM
On Thursday, April 13, Ornua obtained the temporary restraining order against Eurogold and Old World Creamery.
http://www.worldipreview.com/news/kerrygold-seller-obtains-restraining-order-over-butter-tm-13806
Moncler recovers 148 domains in cybersquatting battle
Italian sportswear company Moncler has recovered 148 domain names featuring the company’s ‘Moncler’ trademark, with the majority selling counterfeit goods.
http://www.trademarksandbrandsonline.com/news/moncler-recovers-148-domains-in-cybersquatting-battle-4977
News analysis: Three stripes and you’re out
Adidas’s enforcement of its three-stripe trademark has raised controversy in recent times, as WIPR recaps.
http://www.worldipreview.com/article/news-analysis-three-stripes-and-you-re-out
Copyright
Beyoncé seeks to dismiss $20m copyright suit under fair use
Back in February, the estate of deceased New Orleans rapper Anthony Barré, also known as Messy Mya, brought the lawsuit against Beyoncé and Sony Music at the US District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana.
http://www.worldipreview.com/news/beyonce-seeks-to-dismiss-20m-copyright-suit-under-fair-use-13798
Hot Topic in hot water with artist in copyright suit
US-based retail chain Hot Topic has come under fire in a copyright infringement lawsuit focusing on a dragon design created by an artist.
http://www.worldipreview.com/news/hot-topic-in-hot-water-with-artist-in-copyright-suit-13837
Counterfeiting
Gucci grabs $9m verdict in counterfeiting claim
Gucci America, the US arm of the luxury brand, has secured a $9 million verdict and a permanent injunction against online counterfeiters.
http://www.worldipreview.com/news/gucci-grabs-9m-verdict-in-counterfeiting-claim-13816
Intellectual Property
China’s IP and business environments continue to move in opposite directions, say foreign firms
It is IP week in China, and that means we’ll be getting a lot of statistical insight into China’s relatively closed court system in the coming days as the Supreme People’s Court releases white papers summing up how many IP case were filed and by whom in 2016
http://www.iam-media.com/blog/Detail.aspx?g=06beeb88-11dd-4f23-8873-9315de311e9d
Top 3 Ways Legal Tech is Improving IP Management
From the moment we wake up in the morning, until the moment we lay our heads down on the pillow at night, we consume an immeasurable amount of information about every facet of our lives. Think about it, would you go to a movie or try a new restaurant without first Googling reviews and then checking out reservations or show times on booking sites like Open Table or Fandango? For most of us, the answer is probably no, because modern technology makes doing it so simple! Today’s technology delivers terabytes of data to our fingertips in an easily digestible, visual format that allows us to make better decisions.
http://www.ipwatchdog.com/2017/04/19/top-3-ways-legal-tech-improving-ip-management/id=81951/
Pierce Atwood boosts IP practice with four attorneys
US-based law firm Pierce Atwood has strengthened its IP practice with the appointment of Robert Abrahamsen, Ilan Barzilay, Christopher Baxter and Cyrus Miller.
http://www.worldipreview.com/news/pierce-atwood-boosts-ip-practice-with-four-attorneys-13836