Law and Innovation

Fresh and interesting article posted on Fortune about the top seven patent-earning tech companies in 2014.  Happy reading! "Patents are the lifeblood of the tech industry—and if last year’s numbers are any indication, that sector is performing with vigor.  More than 300,000  utility patents—those are the ones for inventions, rather than designs —were issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office last year, a record high. Such patents allow companies to put their inventions on lockdown for up to two decades, reaping rewards for significant R&D investments. And there’s another incentive: allowing businesses to stock up their intellectual property warchests and fortify their legal defenses. “If you’re a bully you’re not going to pick on the big kids,” says Larry Cady, vice president of marketing and senior patent analyst at IFI Claims Patent Services, a firm that maintains a database of patents. “You’re going to pick on the pipsqueaks.” So which co...

Fresh and interesting article posted by WIPR  concerning a European patent for a "device for preparing a drink extracted from a capsule", owned by Ethical Coffee Company (ECC). As you all know, Nespresso machines brew espresso from coffee capsules, a type of pre-apportioned single-use container of ground coffee and flavorings. In the case at hand, ECC, a Swiss Company, also creating capsules compatible with Nespresso machines, is suing Nestlé, in Paris, for alleged patent infringement. In other words, ECC is not happy with the way Nestlé modified the Nespresso machines back in 2010, keeping competitors’ capsules out of them and, more importantly, violating the patented "harpoon mechanism". Happy reading! "The man who oversaw  Nestlé’s Nespresso brand of coffee machines  has sued his former employer for alleged patent infringement.   Ethical Coffee Company , which makes coffee capsules that can be used in the Nespresso machine, has claimed that...

Fresh and interesting article posted by Reuters yesterday about the rumors that Samsung was talking about buying BlackBerry for as much as $7.5 billion. However, later that day, Blackberry issued a statement denying that it's in negotiations with with Samsung. Here's what Blackberry said: "BlackBerry Limited ("BlackBerry") is aware of certain press reports published today with respect to a possible offer by Samsung to purchase BlackBerry. BlackBerry has not engaged in discussions with Samsung with respect to any possible offer to purchase BlackBerry. BlackBerry's policy is not to comment on rumors or speculation, and accordingly it does not intend to comment further". The story is definitely not over... Happy reading!  "(Reuters) - Samsung Electronics recently offered to buy BlackBerry Ltd ( BBRY.O ) ( BB.TO ) for as much as $7.5 billion, seeking its valuable patents as it battles Apple ( AAPL.O ) in the corporate market, according to...

Fresh and interesting article posted on TechCrunch about Facebook attempt to legally clone the features and technology of Snapchat. However, Facebook may be violating Snapchat's patent(s).  Happy reading! "Facebook released Slingshot , its second attempt at an impermanent sharing app, last Tuesday. The app borrows heavily, in concept and features, from Snapchat, as well as smaller startups like Frontback and Look. Slingshot and Facebook Messenger feature the same photo and video recording interface–a very user friendly mechanism where you tap the main button to take a picture, and hold that button to record a video. There’s just one problem: Facebook may be violating Snapchat’s patent , “Single mode visual media capture”  that was approved over a year ago. Representatives from both Facebook and Snapchat declined to comment for this story, but the patent appears to describe the way both companies’ apps record media: “An...

Fresh and interesting  article from the famous IPWatchdog website  about the meaning of 'patent trolls'; who can be considered as one, and how should we stop them. "With the enormous media focus on the so-called problem of patent trolls one might start to think that any patent owner can easily stand up to and take on industry giants to obtain lottery like winnings. Not so fast! The great irony is that if you want a larger entity to fold like a cheap suit and settle quickly you would be better off filing a frivolous patent infringement lawsuit using a dubious patent. You see, the great irony is this: Only when large entities get sued on completely frivolous patent claims do they settle right away. Now I’m not advocating that course of action, rather just observing the truth of the matter asserted.   On the other hand, if you have a strong patent that covers real technology, perhaps pioneering technology, and there are substantial damages, the tech giants ...