Patent Baristas

Is Google Gearing Up for a Patent Fight?

Alan Wan, at Patently-O, looks at the recently recorded assignment of 1029 patents from IBM to Google – which more than doubles the number of U.S. patents assigned to Google.  A review of the patents suggests that they were carefully chosen from among IBM’s tens of thousands of [...]

Law Grads Sue Alma Maters For Millions In Tuition Refunds
Two lawsuits seeking class action status were filed against Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Michigan and New York Law School. The plaintiffs, who are all graduates of the defendant schools, seek $250 million from Cooley and $200 million from NYLS in tuition refunds, as well [...]

Today is Take Your Dog to Work Day.  Apparently, businesses worldwide have been opening their workplaces to employees’ four-legged friends since 1999, according to Pet Sitters International’s Take Your Dog to Work Day website.
It’s not just the small places like mom and pop stores or pet stores that are allowing this.  In fact, large companies such [...]

The Ohio Academy of Science (OAS) and The Ohio State Bar Association Intellectual Property Law Section (OSBA) announced that March 1 is the deadline for Ohio inventors to apply for Ohio Patent Awards to recognize individuals or organizations and their counsel who have contributed intellectual property in the form of granted patents within Ohio.
Ohio has [...]

Does Patent Reform Need Congressional Action?
The Coalition for Patent Fairness (CPF) has put out a memo trying to debunk what it sees as the myth that patent reform no longer requires congressional action.  From CPF:   “The Court’s ability to effect needed changes is limited because it is restricted by the language Congress enacted more than [...]

Ireland Overhauls Patent Rules
Ireland has overhauled its patenting rules to make patent applications more user-friendly and the awarding of patents more in line with US and European standards. The new changes include removing legal impediments to the online delivery of Patent Office services. The Office website already offers a range of online interactive services on [...]

Patenting Genes
WAMU Radio Station (88.5 FM) hosted a segment with Rebecca Roberts on patenting  gene-related products. The biotechnology industry says these patents are necessary to spur innovation. Opponents say they actually stifle science. We examine the intersection of cutting-edge genetic research and intellectual property. Guests included Hans Sauer, Associate General Counsel for Intellectual Property, Biotechnology [...]

University of Missouri v. Professor: Round 2
Earlier, the university filed a lawsuit in federal district court against chemical engineering professor Galen Suppes to regain rights to his research relating to renewable energy.  Now, a federal judge has dismissed the lawsuit ruling that federal patent law does not apply in the case. The university says that [...]