Well, well, well. After calling for “patent reform” and denouncing those who license patents without actually making a product, it seems Microsoft is hedging its bets. At least that’s how it appears to a cynic like me.

Oh, I get it. This is different. They are “providing technology,” while those who enforce patents without actually…

Dr. Nathan P. Myhrvold’s recent testimony before the Senate Subcommittee on patent reform makes a strong case for the rights of small inventors and businesses in the patent arena. Coming from a now-wealthy man who could easily join the forces of big business, it’s refreshing that Dr. Myhrvold has not rewritten history or otherwise forgotten where he came from.

(Many thanks to J. Matthew Buchanan, publisher of the “Promote the Progress” I.P. blog, for making this and other records of the Subcommittee hearings available at his site.)
Continue Reading Let’s Hear it For Dr. Myhrvold!

Well, that’s the title of yet another article I came across — this time in The Motley Fool — that intentionally or unintentionally spreads lies, untruths and disinformation about the patent system. I’m shocked and outraged. Think of the possible effect on our young people. (Our young people!)
Continue Reading The Lowdown on Patent Shakedowns???

Two themes echoed throughout yesterday’s Senate Subcommittee hearing on patent reform. First is the need to improve patent quality. Second is the need to improve efficiency in patent litigation.

Given these laudable goals, last week’s Federal Circuit decision in Hoffer v. Microsoft, et al. left me scratching my head.
Continue Reading Promoting Patent Lawsuit Efficiency — Is The Federal Circuit Aboard?

A Senate subcommittee held hearings today on proposed “reforms” to the patent system. IP bloggers J. Matthew Buchanan and Dennis Crouch have a lot of useful information posted for those who are interested. I just finished watching the hearings on C-SPAN earlier this evening and have a few views and thoughts of my own. Congress is free to consider and use them at no charge.
Continue Reading Senate Hearings on Patent Reform

A Delaware jury has awarded $26.4 million to a competitor of Mary Kay Cosmetics in a patent case involving three skin care patents. What’s interesting about this case — aside from the $26.4 million damages award — is that it shows the extent of monetary damages that can arise from even such mundane products as…

Well, the long-awaited decision in Eolas Technologies, Inc., et al. v. Microsoft Corp. was handed down by the Federal Circuit today. The good news for Microsoft is that the case is remanded for further consideration of its invalidity and inequitable conduct defenses. The half-billion dollar jury award against MS thus goes away, for now. The…

Dennis Crouch reports that the Federal Circuit has just affirmed a decision in favor of Reebok in a patent infringement lawsuit brought against it by a fellow named Kalman Gyory. Nothing terribly unusual about this disposition on the merits. What is curious is the Court’s denial Reebok’s request for fees.
Continue Reading Here’s a strange one.