http://blog.patents-tms.com Patent + Trademark News Made Simple: By Attorneys for You Mon, 12 Jul 2010 16:30:24 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en On Friday July 9, 2010, NTP Inc. filed patent infringement suits against six major smartphone companies.  NTP is suing Apple, Google, HTC, LG Electronics, Microsoft, and Motorola over eight NTP Inc. patents which relate to wireless e-mail delivery.  NTP is a patent holding company or also known as a “non-practicing ... http://blog.patents-tms.com/?p=291 On June 28, 2010, the Supreme Court of the United States released a long-awaited opinion regarding the patentability of business method patents.  The Supreme Court upheld a decision which found a process for hedging commodities was non-patentable subject matter.  In 1997, Bernard Bilski and Rand Warsaw filed a patent application ... http://blog.patents-tms.com/?p=290 The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USTPO) is requesting comments and input from the general public about a potential multi-track examination initiative.  The proposed “Three Track” initiative will give applicants better control over their examination process while increasing efficiency in the Patent Office.   The proposed “Three Track” initiative would ... http://blog.patents-tms.com/?p=289 On Friday, May 14, 2010, the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit announced that it would grant an ‘en banc’ hearing of the TiVo v. Echostar case.  An ‘en banc’ hearing is a decision made by all the judges of a court, where typically only a panel ... http://blog.patents-tms.com/?p=288 Recently, Interbrand, a leading brand consulting firm, released their ranking of the top 100 brands based on brand value. This is the ninth consecutive year that Interbrand has released the ranking. Interbrand reports that this is the first year that the aggregate value of the top 100 brands has declined, ... http://blog.patents-tms.com/?p=285 Recently, Paice LLC filed a complaint with the U.S. International Trade Commission (“ITC”) claiming Toyota is infringing its patent. The ITC was set up to protect U.S. markets from unfair trade practices. To protect U.S. markets, the ITC has the power to order U.S. Customs and Border Patrol to block ... http://blog.patents-tms.com/?p=284 Recently, U.S. District Court Judge Garrett Brown rejected the argument made by Teva Pharmaceuticals Industries Ltd. that the patent covering the main ingredient in Merck & Co.’s asthma and allergy treatment drug Singulair® was invalid or unenforceable. The patent that covers Singulair's® main ingredient is U.S. Patent No. 5,565,473 and ... http://blog.patents-tms.com/?p=283 Attorney General Lisa Madigan recently filed lawsuits against three suppliers and one marketer of the Acai berry in the Circuit Court of Cook County.  The lawsuits allege that the companies use deceptive techniques to lure customers, prematurely charge their credit cards, and make it almost impossible to cancel orders of ... http://blog.patents-tms.com/?p=282 On August 13, 2009, Gary Locke, Secretary of Commerce, swore in David Kappos as the new Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).  Kappos faces many challenges in the USPTO.  To read about the challenges that face the new director, please read the two earlier blog posts. Possible ... http://blog.patents-tms.com/?p=281 On August 11, 2009, a United States District Court Judge in the Eastern District of Texas ordered Microsoft to stop selling Microsoft Word.  Judge Leonard Davis ordered the permanent injunction because Microsoft Word is infringing a patent to I4I or Infrastructures for Information Inc., namely,U.S. Patent No. 5,787,449, which is ... http://blog.patents-tms.com/?p=280