Report Finds Average US Patent Cost US$ 374,000 In 2012 12/02/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments A new quarterly report on patent sales by technology shows that in 2012 the median price paid for issued US patents was US$ 221,000, while the average price paid was US$ 374,000.
Intellectual Ventures Sues Internet Providers For DSL Patent Infringement 12/02/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Intellectual Ventures, a patent holding company, has filed a patent infringement suit against DSL providers AT&T, CenturyLink and Windstream Communications.
Expiring GMO Patents Raise Regulatory Issues; Private Sector Takes Measures 05/02/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment A number of patents on genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in agriculture will expire in the coming years and this could be a problem for the biotechnology industry in terms of regulatory authorisations. A private sector initiative has recently been launched to address the issue.
EPO Sees Record Patent Filings, Grants 18/01/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The European Patent Office has announced that it reached new records in 2012 for patent filings and patents granted, according to preliminary figures. The United States remained at top, but growth was fastest in Asia, while European filings remained stable, it said.
Syngenta Opens Doors To Its Patented Technologies, For Easier But Not Free Access 18/01/2013 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments A new innovation platform launched yesterday by Syngenta, the international agri-business company, means to broaden availability to some patented traits and technologies for vegetables, but also aims at opening new ways to use the intellectual property system.
Company Takes A Fair Shot At Facebook, LinkedIn, With Social Networking Patents 15/01/2013 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments A Virginia-based company in the midst of a multi-million dollar merger is asserting patents on fundamental aspects of social networking it says have been infringed by Facebook, LinkedIn and three other companies. But even if the patents have validity, they come at a time of what may be a backlash against such lawsuits.
US Issues Statement On Injunctions In Cases Of Standards Essential Patents 09/01/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The United States Patent and Trademark Office and US Department of Justice yesterday issued a joint policy statement on standards essential patents that encourages voluntary technology licensing on fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory terms, and discourages injunctions or exclusionary orders that block infringing products from the market. Their advice to the International Trade Commission cites innovation, competition, consumers and the public interest.
Most-Read IP-Watch Stories Of 2012: India Pharma, Europe, ACTA, WIPO Technical Assistance, Gene Patents 30/12/2012 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment As 2012 becomes a memory, it is fair to say that the intellectual property rights discussion shifted over the past year, with trade agreements, over-reaching in copyright and patents, and the provision of technical assistance all falling under increased pressure. At least if the most-read Intellectual Property Watch stories of the year are any indication.
US Supreme Court Poised To Rule Human Genes Are Not Patentable 21/12/2012 by Steven Seidenberg for Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments For decades, the United States has pioneered the patenting of human genes, and other countries have followed this lead. But the US will soon perform an abrupt about-face, most experts predict. When the US Supreme Court hands down its decision in Association for Molecular Pathology v. Myriad Genetics, the justices appear likely to rule that human genes are not patentable subject matter. And the ruling may go even farther, holding that other forms of human DNA are not patentable.
European Unitary Patent And Court Becomes Reality 11/12/2012 by Dugie Standeford for Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments A years’-long struggle ended Tuesday when the European Parliament overwhelmingly backed the creation of a unitary EU patent and patent litigation court system. The vote followed Monday’s approval by the Council of Ministers. But hard feelings over a last-minute government compromise, and continuing concerns about whether the new regime will make patenting in Europe cheaper and more accessible to smaller enterprises, continued to rankle. The European Court of Justice (ECJ), meanwhile, appears headed toward rejection of a legal challenge by Italy and Spain, who have refused to join the unitary patent system.