Pattoo - Patent and Invention Portal

Patent reform tops list of tech concerns

Pattoo — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 13:23:45 -0500

Technology industry executives are pushing the U.S. Congress to reform the way patents are issued in order to process them more quickly while also making sure they are legitimate.
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Generics to fight use of "authorized generic"

Pattoo — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 10:19:48 -0500

To counter the opportunity given to generics when proprietary drugs go "off patent", the branded companies have come up with new ways to salvage as much of their business as possible.
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District Court Skewers Pto, Grants Summary Judgment in "the Last Best Place" Lawsuit

Pattoo — Thu, 05 Oct 2006 20:31:12 -0400

The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia did not mince words in granting summary judgment to Last Best Beef, LLC in its lawsuit against the USPTO.
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Court denies Synopsys motion to block patent reexamination

Pattoo — Fri, 29 Sep 2006 21:44:26 -0400

U.S. District Court Judge Maxine Chesney has denied a motion by Synopsys Inc. seeking to enjoin the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office from reexamining two patents held by rival Magma Design Automation Inc.
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Victory for 3M

Pattoo — Fri, 29 Sep 2006 20:42:23 -0400

On Wednesday, September, 27, a federal court upheld a favorable jury verdict for 3M against Avery Dennison Corp.
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Pet Innovations

Dave — Mon, 11 Sep 2006 21:47:20 -0400

I don't have a pet; however, PetSafe is sponsoring the My Pet Idea contest.

Have you ever wished you had a product for your pet that you just couldn't find? Now you not only get the chance to have that product created, you could win $25,000.

The contest allows you to vote on other people's ideas, as well as, submit you own ideas. The website says they are choosing one winner a week. Good Luck!

USPTO Outsourcing Again!

Dave — Sun, 10 Sep 2006 23:27:04 -0400

The Washington Business Journal is reporting that the USPTO is outsourcing its classification for $138 million.

Reston-based SI will provide the patent office with patent classification services to support the office in examining, granting and disseminating patents and trademarks.

You may remember that the USPTO is also outsourcing the examination of international applications. I wonder what will be next.

The Tax Patent Cometh

Dave — Wed, 30 Aug 2006 10:09:32 -0400

Business-Method patents strike again. Fortune, via CNN Money, writes about the tax patent trend.

In recent years, the Patent Office has begun granting patents to people who claim to have invented novel ways of avoiding taxes. The trend is part of a larger explosion in the number of patents granted to financial firms for so-called "business method" innovations. So far, 48 patents for tax reduction strategies have been granted and at least another 61 applications are pending.

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Wikipedia is Toilet Paper?

Dave — Mon, 28 Aug 2006 23:08:46 -0400

Greg Aharonian, whose only credentials seems to be that he writes a newsletter criticizing the patent system, calls Wikipedia toilet paper. From the Wall Street Journal Law Blog is this quote from Patents Commisioner John Doll:

“The problem with Wikipedia is that it’s constantly changing.” Doll says the agency used Wikipedia entries as background and not as the basis for deciding on an application. A PTO spokesperson attributed inquiries from Business Week for the shift in policy.

Sticky Patent

Dave — Sun, 27 Aug 2006 22:05:44 -0400

I thought chewing gum already helped freshen ones breath. At least it worked for me. Apparently, Wrigely thought the current gum lineup didn't go far enough in combating halitosis. NutraIngredients.com has an article about the patent.

Wrigley, who own the brands Juicy Fruit, Extra and Doublemint, claim the gum is an improvement on existing brands as contains enough flavour to mask any unpalatable taste.

The patent, 7,087,255, entitled "Chewing gums that provide breath freshening characteristics" puts it this way in the abstract . . .