Patent Holding Companies Unfairly Trashed
There's no shortage of people who think the patent system is unfair, broken and an impediment to progress. An article I came across earlier today is a good example of what's commonly heard and highlights many of the misperceptions surrounding patents, patent owners and patent lawsuits.
The point is made, for example, that, "A new industry of companies collecting patents with the sole purpose of suing others for money has formed in the past years." Hmmm...sounds pretty bad doesn't it? Companies formed for the sole purpose of suing others? For money? In America?
Continue Reading...Sun's Patent Lawsuit Policy: Good News for Patent Owners and Trial Counsel?
A while back I slammed Sun Microsystem's President and CEO Jonathan Schwartz for calling those of us who enforce patents "spurious litigators." Well, an article I came across today suggests Sun may now be ready and willing to do the right thing. At least that's the sense I get from hearing Sun's recent statement regarding patents, patent lawsuits and the actions Sun might take in the future.
Continue Reading...The Future of Big Patent Law Firms
In his "Trademark Blog," noted trademark attorney Martin Schwimmer asks, "Why Are The Big Patent Firms Disappearing?" As he points out, many of the largest and oldest patent firms, which "have been competently handling the largest, most complex patent litigations, since forever," are disappearing, either by merging with large general firms or by shutting their doors altogether. Why is this? Why, he asks, do clients accept the higher fees that almost always result?
Well, I'm a bit biased but think I can shed some light on these excellent questions.
Continue Reading...Is Microsoft Planning A Patent Litigation Offensive?
That's the question raised by an interesting piece I came across earlier today. Seems Microsoft has been paying big money to settle various claims and lawsuits it has been facing recently. The question is "why?" Are they merely doing the right thing? Or is something more sinister afoot?
The Contingent Case Mindset
Contingent fee litigation differs from traditional hourly billing in a way that is brutally direct and fundamentally honest. If you don't get results, you don't get paid. There's a kind of rough justice there I find appealing.
Continue Reading...Dell, Amazon and Disney Targets of New Patent and Copyright Suits
It's been a busy week for those filing patent and copyright suits.
News comes that computer maker Dell Inc. has been sued by DE Technologies over a business method patent originally applied for in 1996 and issued in 2002. Several aspects of the case are interesting.
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