Patents give holders a great deal of control over an invention. These rights determine who may use, sell and license the invention, and it can be a crucial component of a business's competitive edge in the marketplace. However, people can challenge patents. And a...
IP controversy: Should US lift vaccine rights?
The global population has been suffering the effects of COVID-19 for over a year. In many countries, vaccine availability has been a source of hope. However, not all countries have access to enough vaccines. This is due in part to intellectual property rules that...
Supreme Court slaps down PTO pursuit of attorneys’ fees
The U.S. Supreme Court has weighed in on a new U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) practice when patent applicants appeal adverse decisions in district court. And the Court’s conclusion is welcome news for applicants who want to go this route to contest the denial...
Supreme Court Patent Update
Inter partes review survives constitutional challenge Patent trolls are a significant nuisance to a range of industries. But the U.S. Supreme Court recently upheld a procedure that makes it easier for patent trolls’ potential victims to avoid prolonged litigation or...
Kappos Reviews Patents After the AIA
Former Director of the USPTO, David Kappos, gave an excellent review of Patents After the AIA, a patent law treatise co-authored by Patterson Thuente IP partner Brad Pedersen. The review was published by IP Watchdog. Read it here.