The United States Senate passed, and President Barack Obama signed the America Invents Act September 16, 2011, at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Alexandria, Va. The Act is the first major overhaul of the United States Patent System in over 50 years and we believe that changes included in the Act…
This year’s World Intellectual Property Day on April 26th celebrates the role of design in the market-place, in society and in shaping the innovations of the future. Across the world, IP Offices, associations, businesses and technology institutions have announced activities to mark the day, including competitions, exhibitions and public discussions. World Intellectual Property Day has…
GM Leads in Clean-Energy Patents Ranking demonstrates GMâs commitment to sustainable transportation DETROIT â General Motors received more clean-energy patents last year than any other organization, according to the Clean Energy Patent Growth Index of U.S. patents. GMâs 135 patents represent nearly 14 percent of the total 1,881 received by 700 entities. âU.S. clean-energy patents…
By: David PascarellaOn December 16, 2010, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) announced that it will open its first ever satellite office in Detroit, Michigan in the summer of 2011. Currently, all U.S. patent examiners are located at the USPTOâs offices in Alexandria, Virginia, or within a limited radius of that office. The…
By: Annette I. Kahler A year into David Kappos’s term as Director of the USPTO, he and his team have unveiled a new five-year strategic plan aimed at reducing patent pendency and backlog, increasing quality, stabilizing the organization’s workforce, and transforming the Office into the nation’s “Innovation Agency” to serve as a model for IP…
By: Kellie Fredericks Following up on our prior reporting of new rules in the European Patent Office (EPO) affecting divisionals, claims practice, and responses to search reports and opinions, we now provide further updates on those changes and advise of additional disclosure requirements when entering the EP National Phase. Beginning on January 1, 2011, the…
IP LAW 360 By: Jesse Greenspan A federal jury has awarded $7.8 million to Excelsior College, which had accused a test preparation service of misappropriating its copyrights and trade secrets in regards to a series of nursing exams and content guides. The verdict was one of the largest ever reached for the infringement of test…
By: Eric Durr The clients of an Albany law firm fighting the maker of John Deere farm equipment in a trademark infringement case, have won the latest round in their legal battle with Moline, Ill. based Deere Company. Four farm-equipment companies, represented by Heslin Rothenberg Farley & Mesiti P.C., which specializes in intellectual property cases,…
by Richard A. D’Errico Law firm Heslin Rothenberg Farley & Mesiti P.C. has created an Energy & Environmental Group to meet a need created by the rise of local high-tech companies and universities working on alternative energy products. “The formation of the group is a reflection of our faith and confidence that this area will…