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Welcome to weekly patent news,a show that provides quick updates on the recent activity in the patent world
Toyota opens up hydrogen fuel car patents. The patents will be made available free of charge to anyone wanting to use them. The patent portfolio covers fuel cell stacks, high-pressure hydrogen tanks, software control systems and the industrial processes involved in generating and supplying the gas.
Bob Carter senior vice president of automotive operations said “When good ideas are shared, great things can happen,”
Toyota’s move follows that of Tesla motors which shared its patent portfolio in 2014.
The Patent Public Advisory Committee (PPAC) recently released its 2014 Annual Report evaluating a variety of programs at the USPTO.
The PAIR system on the USPTO’s website is notorious for crashing. The report recommends putting a strong emphasis on increasing funding to IT and replacing legacy systems.
The backlog of RCEs has gone from about 17,000 in October 2009 to over 110,000 in March 2013. The Report explores ways to reduce the exploding backlog of RCEs.
The PPAC Report encourages increasing use of second non-final rejections, improving the quality of final rejections, and increasing consideration of after-final amendments.
Patent Troll Lodsys Is Probably Dead as its Domain Has Expired. The company held four US patents owned by Daniel Abelow. The one-man company seems to have run out of money. The killing blow come from Kaspersky Lab, which refused a settlement or licensing deal. After that, Lodsys has not issued any new lawsuits anywhere in the United States.
Lodsys states that it is not a corporate subsidiary of Intellectual Ventures, contrary to speculation from media sources.
ITC is involved in a dispute between Align Technology and ClearCorrect Operating, related to scanning teeth to produce digital files, which are then used to 3D print teeth. ClearConnect produced the original teeth scans in the United States but subsequently sent the files to Pakistan. There, the digital data sets were converted to 3D models, which were then sent back to ClearConnect where the actual molds were 3D printed.
ITC found that the digital data sets, produced using Align’s patented method, must be considered “articles”; therefore, ClearConnect imported articles from Pakistan and violated Align’s patents. This decision by the ITC has tremendous implications where 3D printing technology is concerned.
Apple patented a system for detecting emergency situations including automotive accidents, attacks in a dangerous area at night and medical emergencies.
The iPhone uses GPS to determine that the device suddenly stopped moving with a deceleration exceeding a specified threshold. In response, the device automatically makes a telephone call to emergency services and emits an alarm to attract nearby people who might be capable of rendering aid.
This patent could help rescue teams reach the accident site sooner and probably save lives too!
Apple has been granted a patent for a flexible phone that can be deformed, twisted, and even bent in half.
So bendate was not a fluke!
Nike has received a patent on a recyclable golf ball.
The invention comprises a golf ball from which the cover can be separated so that the rest can be reused or recycled.
LETS MOVE ON TO COURTROOM SECTION
The on-going battle between Federal Circuit and the Supreme court is getting interesting.
For Silicon Valley tech giants, Federal Circuit has gathered unprecedented influence – often having the last word in the epic patent battles.
However, the U.S. Supreme Court has started to review more the Federal Circuit’s cases than ever, reversing five of six decisions it examined last term.
The Federal Circuit had long been considered staunchly behind strong rights for patent holders.
With the Supreme Court scaling back those rights, particularly for patents on tech such as software, the Federal Circuit has started to shift its viewpoint.
In a jolt to US pharma major ABBOTT BIOTECHNOLOGY the Indian patent office has set aside its earlier order that granted a patent to the company’s Humira drug, touted to be a blockbuster medicine for treating severe forms of arthritis, on a review petition by Glenmark Pharmaceutical.
Here are statistics for patent litigations filed last week.
MOVING ON TO THE INTERNATIONAL NEWS
CHINA is aiming to triple the number of patents it files by 2020 in an effort to boost the country’s high-tech economy in areas from agriculture to pharmaceuticals.
China wants to become a bigger player in high-technology industries as the country grapples with slower growth and rising costs for its manufacturing base.
China also issued an action plan on further implementation of the country’s IPR strategy.
The plan, released by the State Council General Office, highlighted the goals and measures for IPR generation, use, protection and management from 2014 to 2020.
China established the third Intellectual Property Rights Court at Shanghai. Late last year, China established two specialized IP courts at Beijing and Guangzhou respectively.
IT IS TIME FOR THIS DAY IN PATENT HISTORY
On January 6, 1925 – Agronomist George Washington Carver was granted a patent for cosmetics.
On January 7, 1913, a patent was granted to William Burton for the manufacture of gasoline.
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Until next time, Keep innovating and keep patenting!
