WEEKLY TO THIS EDITION OF WEEKLY PATENT NEWS
USPTO has issued more patents in the year 2014 than in any other prior year. The total is expected to be around 300,000 utility patents. Further, the number of grants has more than doubled since 2005.
Drug makers face another patent cliff as major drug patents expire their terms. The industry will lose roughly 65 billion dollars in revenue through the end of 2019, according to a study from London-based GlobalData.
Thomson Reuters Analysis Shows China’s that Patent Dominance is continuing despite Stagnant Foreign Innovation. In 2013, China not only passed, but dwarfed Japan and U.S patent output. China increased its overall invention patent applications from mere 40,000 in 2003 to over 600,000 in 2013.
A Ford patent revealed their research on an-vehicle system using Siri. By utilizing voice command button on a steering wheel, a driver may be able to activate SIRI on a user’s phone.
Apple is developing a new laser-based system for future iPhones, enabling the devices to map their surroundings. The newly submitted patent would bring NASA-like technology to the masses.
Apple has begun to transfer intellectual property over from PrimeSense, the Israeli firm it acquired last year. PrimeSense was a key partner to Microsoft, for developing the Kinect 3D motion sensing camera.
IBM has secured new patents for the rapid analysis of cloud data to make cloud service deployment more cost-effective and efficient.
To date, IBM has invested over $7 billion in 17 acquisitions to accelerate its cloud initiatives and boost its cloud portfolio. The company currently holds over 1,500 cloud patents.
IT IS TIME FOR THE COURTROOM
Cisco filed two lawsuits against Arista Networks, accusing the smaller rival of copying its networking technologies covered by 14 patents. Shares of Arista tanked by 7%.
Cisco filed these lawsuits on the same day the US Supreme Court agreed to review a $64 million patent infringement verdict that Commil USA won against the company.
Here are the litigation stats for the last week.
LETS MOVE ONTO THE INTERNATIONAL NEWS
EU Tax Working Group Proposes Retooling of Patent Boxes. The proposal?s goal is to ensure that governments don?t grant tax breaks on patent income for technology developed outside their jurisdictions.
More than 2 million patent applications were filed at the world?s five largest IP offices in 2013.
European patent office withdraw its limitation of international applications containing business methods filed by citizens and / or residents of the United States. However, the business methods are still not the subject of patent in the European Patent Convention.
EPO has signed a Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) pilot programme with the Israel Patent Office to enable accelerated treatment of patent applications starting January 2015.
EPO recently signed similar agreements with the patent offices of Canada, Mexico and Singapore.
Ericsson has dealt a severe blow to popular Chinese smartphone maker, Xiaomi with Delhi High Court, ordering immediate suspension of mobile sales in India.
Apparently Xiaomi violated Ericsson’s – Standard, Essential Patents which are subject to Fair, Reasonable and Non-Discriminatory terms.
The company’s e-commerce affiliate, Flipkart is also indicted in the case.
Ericsson also won a major verdict against Indian smartphone maker Micromax last month.
EPO employees striked on 10 December due to increased tension between EPO President and his staff. Recently 700 EPO employees took to the streets of Munich.
The current EPO president Mr. Battistelli “is perceived by the staff as being unduly autocratic. However, the EPO attributed all of the staff’s activism to resistance against necessary reforms.
Moving on to, This week in Patent history
On December 12 1980, The Computer Software Act was passed, the act defined computer programs and clarified the extent of protection afforded to computer software by law.
Recently we created a 3d animation of a Meglav helicopter.
