Patently-O Bits & Bytes by Lawrence Higgins

Jason Rantanen’s Patently-O post cited by District Court

  • In Arlington Industries, Inc. v. Bridgeport Fittings, Inc., 2011 WL 703612 (M.D.Pa. Feb 18, 2011), the district court cited Jason Rantanen’s Patently-O post discussing the Federal Circuit opinion in that case. [Link]The citation was support for the argument that the Federal Circuit decision is controversial and has some likelihood of being re-heard en banc.  The district court favorably noted the “over 100” comments that had been added to the post.

Mary Wong named Franklin Pierce Center for Intellectual Property Director

  • The Franklin Pierce Center for IP was formed after the Franklin Pierce Law Center and the University of New Hampshire (UNH) decided to unite. Wong has been with UNH since 2005 and is currently a professor and the Chair of the Intellectual Property Graduate Programs. Wong’s research interest focuses mainly on the international intellectual property rights framework. [Link]

AT&T and Sony Ericsson sued over expired patent

  • Romek Figa is suing AT&T and Sony Ericcson over a patent issued to him in 1990 and that expired on May 12, 2008. The patent at issue is patent # 4,924,496, which essentially claims a caller-id device. Figa contends certain Sony Ericcson mobile phones that were sold through AT&T infringed patent 496. In the complaint Figa asserts that prior to the expiration of the patent at issue he notified Sony and AT&T that they were infringing patent 496. Thereafter, Figa and the parties were in negotiations about licensing the patent, but no agreement was ever reached. [Link]

Article One hired to help find prior art that will invalidate the patents in the Interval Licensing lawsuit

  • Article One Partners is a company that makes a profit by using crowdsourcing to try to find prior art to invalidate patents that are at issue in patent infringement lawsuits. Article One will pay researchers money, if they find prior art used to help invalidate a patent. According to Article One Partners CEO Cheryl Milone, multiple stakeholders are sponsoring a project to try to find prior art that would invalidate Interval Licensing’s patents. [Link]

New Patent Blog

  • www.ReexamLink.com is a blog about patent reexamination, reissue, opposition and related patent procedures.  ReexamLink.com will include the interplay between ex parte prosecution, reexamination, litigation, and appeals.  It is intended to provide useful content for litigators, prosecutors, and anyone interested in patent law.  The blog is written by Timothy Bianchi a patent attorney with 17 years experience in patent law.

Patent Jobs:

  • Synaptics is searching for an IP Engineer for their Santa Clara location. [Link]
  • DuPont is looking for an experienced Patent Agent with 3-5 years experience for their Delaware location. [Link]
  • International IP Law Group is looking for a Patent Engineer/Agent with 2-3 years technical experience to work in their Houston Office. [Link]
  • Fiala & Weaver is searching for Patent Attorneys/Agents to work in their D.C Office or to work remotely. [Link]

Upcoming Events:

  • The Wake Forest Journal of Business and Intellectual Property Law will host its Spring Symposium on March 25th. The Symposium will discuss “Creative Capital: Intellectual Property Creation and Venture Capital.” The Keynote Speaker is Bob Young CEO and Founder of Lulu.com; other speakers include Michael Mireles, Therese Maynard, and Daniel Egger. [Link]
  • The Columbus School of Law will host the Dean William Callyhan Robinson Intellectual Property Lecture Series on March 29th. The lecture will be delivered by Jeffrey Lefstin, with an introduction by Judge Alvin Schall. [Link]
  • The University of Dayton, School of Law will host a Symposium Series on Current Issues in Intellectual Property Law on March 31st. The guest speaker will be Scott Kief of The George Washington University Law School. [Link]