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Court Holds that IP Assig…

Court Holds that IP Assignment Must Include “Magic Words”

The United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has affirmed a District Court’s decision to refuse a motion by Apple to dismiss a patent infringement lawsuit against it by Omni MedSci (“Omni”). The inventor of the patents at issue wa… Read More
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Who is leading the Global…

Who is leading the Global Blockchain Patent Race?

Bitcoin has regained popularity as a result of its recent resurgence, but other blockchain applications have been quietly developing. Some of them have the potential to make a significant impact on people’s lives. Blockchain technology opens up… Read More
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The Growing Startup Scene…

The Growing Startup Scene in Africa

It’s a great time to be a startup in Africa. The overall amount of startup investment obtained by African startups nearly quadrupled in 2018. The number of fundraising transactions has more than doubled, and companies on the continent are increasin… Read More
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Spread-Spectrum Method for Sending Data Found Patent-Ineligible

A federal district court held that grouping data together with a single code is an abstract idea and thus not eligible for patent protection. Zyrcuits sued Acuity Brands and Universal Electronics Inc. for infringement of claim 4 of its US Patent No.… Read More
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Patents for Getting Your…

Patents for Getting Your Food Fast

“Take out” food is a very old concept. As the BBC reported, the ancient Roman city of Pompeii (and probably most other Roman cities) had a food counter (thermopolium) that served hot food and drinks to go. The idea of a delivery service for ready… Read More
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Racing to Control the Fut…

Racing to Control the Future of Technology: The 5G Patent Race

According to some projections, about 50% of the world’s data volume will be created by or between cars, sensors, or other diverse sorts of networked devices in the future. 5G, which has been hailed as a game-changer, has the potential to disrup… Read More
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Federal Circuit Makes It…

Federal Circuit Makes It Easier to Get a Design Patent

A recent decision by the Federal Circuit should make it easier for applicants to be granted design patents. The US Patent Office (USPTO) explains design patents in the Design Patent Application Guide, A design consists of the visual ornamental charac… Read More
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Jury Awards Optis $300 Mi…

Jury Awards Optis $300 Million in Apple Patent Trial

A federal jury has awarded Optis Wireless Technology LLC and several related companies $300 million in damages after a second patent trial against Apple. A jury previously found that Apple infringed five Optis wireless “standard essential patents… Read More
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Ten Years of the America…

Ten Years of the America Invents Act

The America Invents Act (AIA) was signed into law by President Barack Obama ten years ago, on September 16, 2011. The AIA was the most significant change to US patent law since the Patent Act of 1952. Among other things, the AIA switched the US from… Read More
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Can AI Be Listed As An In…

Can AI Be Listed As An Inventor? South Africa and Australia say YES!

Last year, the USPTO confirmed that artificial intelligence (AI) cannot be listed as an inventor on a patent application. Now, an Australian court has ruled that AI systems can be legally recognized as inventors in patent applications. The decision i… Read More
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Categories: Patents