- Federal Courts (including the Federal Circuit) are continuing to operate on remaining budget surplus;
- USPTO is continuing to Operate on Remaining Revenues, although the agency is taking cost cutting measures and the 18th Annual Independent Inventors Conference has been cancelled.
- The FDA is largely closed and is not accepting filings that require FY2014 fees.
- FTC is closed and has postponed its patent troll investigation until further notice; and
- USITC has closed and is postponing its patent infringement investigations until further notice (all case deadlines are tolled).
[T]he Republican Party is now viewed favorably by 28% of Americans, down from 38% in September. This is the lowest favorable rating measured for either party since Gallup began asking this question in 1992.Ouch. That’s what happens when you let the Teabaggers take over: only the Teabaggers approve.
The title of this thread is Government Shutdown &Patent Law Practice.Can anyone explain what ‘norm’ of discussion exists that would suffer (and I do mean suffer) the excessive political rants on this thread?
I watch shows called Big Brother and Survivor. Every year there seems to be at least one person who tries to run the “house,” telling everyone what to do and who to vote for, and providing intimidation when they don’t get their way. My way or the highway is their motto. No compromise. No negotiation. Partisan voting all the way. Needless to say, these folks never win the show even though they may bully their way to the finals. That kind of persons is, well, not the kind of person one would vote for.
“My way or the highway is their motto. No compromise. No negotiation…… That kind of persons is, well, not the kind of person one would vote for.Too bad that isn’t true in elections for government officiators.
If Boehner would let the House vote on a clean CR the shutdown would be over in a day or two
Lefty, you might say something similar about the O-man.The problem with squabbles like this is that the public view of the two sides seems to merge over time such that both lose respect.
Lefty, you might say something similar about the O-man.What? Obama’s not the speaker of the House. It’s Boehner’s decision not to let the House vote on a clean CR, not Obama’s.The problem with squabbles like this is that the public view of the two sides seems to merge over timeYou think the public’s view of the Democratic Party and the Republican party is “merging”? I guarantee you that you are wrong about that. Republicans likely wish that were true, but even they understand that something in their party needs to change if they want to participate in our democracy, as opposed to sabatoging it. These guys can’t gerrrymander their old, lily white manbutt’s into Congress forever. See, e.g.,:link to nytimes.com…Bush’s comments reflect what has become gospel among many Republican professionals: that the language and images projected by the Washington wing of the party are interfering with efforts to modernize.Of course, it’s not just “language and images” that’s hurting the Republicans. It’s their policies, which are less and less meaningful to the overwhelming majority of the citizens of this country who are not wealthy white fungelical men.
MM, on this issue I think they will see both sides somewhat the same way. The O-man saying that he refuses to negotiate. The B-man refusing to take Obamacare off the table. Now, if I were not getting paid because of this crisis I would hope the two sides would negotiate. If I chose one or the other as being right, then I wouldn’t care how much I suffered or how much damage was done to the economy, so long as my side won in the end.Over time, though, I think the American people will insist on negotiations.
on this issue I think they will see both sides somewhat the same way.I’m not sure that people who work for the Federal government are as confused as you seem to think they are about what’s going on and why. After all, the Republicans holding the country hostage (and those who support those Republicans) are the same people who tirelessly accuse Federal workers of being lazy incompetent teat-suckers and who would fire all of those workers in a second if they had the chance (except, of course, for those “essential” workers that are needed to fly rich people around and clean up the Congressional offices).
Hilarious update to this issue:With the partial shutdown entering its fifth day, the GOP-run House passed a bill Saturday that would make sure the furloughed workers get paid for not working. The White House backs the bill and the Senate was expected to OK it, too, but the timing was unclear.The 407-0 vote in the House was uniquely bipartisan, even as lawmakers continued their partisan rhetoric.LOL! So no everybody else *except* the Federal Government has to suffer because of the Republican hostage taking. I thought the government shutdown was supposed to save money? Isn’t that the point? Now everybody is going to get paid anyway? For doing nothing, when they could be making money (e.g., by collecting fees for national parks).Your Republican party, folks.
the central principle of Tea Party conservatism, an aggressive attack on government programs, has given way, among a growing number of Republicans, to a full-throated defense of federal functions as varied as national parks and nutrition programs for the impoverished.ROTFLMAO. What’s the point of the shutdown again? Oh, right: the nuttiest rightwingers, who spent most of the last decade trashing the Federal government and the President don’t want to be “disrespected”:“Republicans have to realize how many significant gains we’ve made over the last three years, and we have, not only in cutting spending but in really turning the tide on other things,†[Dennis Ross, R-FL] said. “We can’t lose all that when there’s no connection now between the shutdown and the funding of Obamacare. … I think now it’s a lot about pride,†he said.Your Republican party, folks. Everyone else needs to suffer so their feefees don’t get hurt.
The budget deficit, in fact, has been one of the lowest priorities. Republicans first pressed to eliminate the health care law, a move that would actually have swelled the debt over time. (The Affordable Care Act’s tax increases and spending cuts, mainly to Medicare, put it in the black.) When that failed, they scaled back their ambitions to eliminating a tax on medical devices that helps pay for the law, which would add $30 billion in red ink but do nothing to stop the law and what many conservatives see as government overreach. After defending such actions by saying they were taking aim at a major new government program, House Republicans set about reassembling the government they had shut down, piece by piece. Programs that conservatives had tolerated at best were suddenly lavished with praise: nutrition assistance for women and children, federal medical research, national parks, the Smithsonian Institution, even the government of the District of Columbia, which was authorized to spend money to pick up Washington’s trash, maintain its needle exchange program for intravenous drug users — and even implement the health care law.link to nytimes.com…The best part is that Republicans like to call this “winning.” They need to do that, or else their feelings might get hurt. Sort of like how patent trolls insist that they are “promoting progress” when all they are promoting is lining their own pocketbooks at the expense of everyone else.
I’m sure they’ve already written the FTC report. Now they’re just waiting a while to release it. Investigate? Why? They already know what conclusion they’re supposed to come to since the last report didn’t have the desired impact.
Funny how the GAO report is receiving so very little ‘press,’ even given (especially given) the tainted source of data in that report.But of what possible consequence can it be to require a conversation to acknowledge a complete picture? It is simply not important, it it? Shouldn’t we promote the ability to proselytize (ad nauseum) one side without ‘attacking’ the merits? Such ‘attacks,’ even based completely in truth and merely using what the one side actually states are below the norms of a ‘civil and productive’ conversation (whatever that is deemed to mean), right?C’est la vie.
“We’re not going to be disrespected, We have to get something out of this. And I don’t know what that even is.”– Rep. Marlin Stutzman (R-IN), quoted by the Washington Examiner, on the government shutdown.Did you hear that? “They” are not going to be “disrespected.”They couldn’t win an election. And so now everyone has to put up with their tantrum. Hundreds of thousands of people put out of work and millions of dollars lost to local communities all over the country. Because “they” are not going to be “disrespected.”Priceless.
“I do not negotiate.” – Barack ObamaOkay, then shut it down.
Both parties are to blame.Period.Anyone who maintains it is one party only – no matter which one party that is – is immediately suspect, and their views should be viewed with extreme suspicion.Soapboxing and dueling monologues simply are NOT dialogues.
As a libertarian, I could care less. But let’s be honest here, Obamacare is a disaster, and we’re broke. The time to fix it is 5+ years ago, but the situation has become critical as the debt has increased exponentially over the last 8 years or so.
As a libertarian, I could care less.Classic.
Soapboxing and dueling monologues simply are NOT dialogues.The “dialogue” already happened. The Affordable Care Act was passed after many many months of “dialogue.” It was challenged and taken to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court approved. The public approves.What’s happening now is that a few (mostly) Southern lunatic/anarchists who want to destroy the Federal government are using a fake crisis (the debt ceiling) to hold the rest of the country hostage until they get shown some “respect.”Anyone who maintains it is one party only … is immediately suspect, and their views should be viewed with extreme suspicion.That’s absurd. I’ll grant you that Obama could have avoided the silliness by instructing the Treatury to mint the platinum coin and eliminate the debt ceiling issue, but I’m afraid even more teabaggers would be calling for civil war had he done so. Of course, it’s not too late for that (the platinum coin).
Just in case there is any confusion about the platinum coin option I’m referring to:link to slog.thestranger.com…link to eschatonblog.com…”Money is a creation of the state and congress has told the Treasury they have the power to make money in one particular form [the platinum coin] of any denomination. The only issue is the scale, but that’s not actually an issue. It doesn’t let the executive spend money Congress hasn’t authorized, it just lets the executive spend money Congress has authorized.”
If Obama wanted to “negotiate” like the folks across the table, he’d jack up his own “demands” before he’d sign a clean bill. How about all those languishing judicial nominees? Give me the clean bill in 24 hours or I’ll demand that you approve all of them first before signing. And if you wait two days then I want statehood for DC, too. After three days I want stronger controls on financial markets in the bill. Etc., etc.Of course, Obama doesn’t need to do that. The Republicans have painted themselves into a corner that they can’t scream their way out of. All they can do is make themselves look even more insane, by the minute:In an astounding confrontation that took place yesterday at the World War II Memorial in DC, a Tea Party congressman from Texas appeared to blame the Park Service for denying veterans access to the facility — and then made a Park Ranger apologize for the shutdown. “How do you look at them and … deny them access?” Rep. Randy Neugebauer asked the unidentified Ranger in an incredible exchange that was caught on camera by NBC Washington.These people are clueless. And I’m shocked – shocked! – that Randy Neugebauer is from Texas.
You crack me up. Keep up the good work.
“I don’t care about a kid with cancer.” – Harry ReidIt’s amazing what kind of truths a little stress will bring out.
It’s amazing what kind of truths a little stress will bring out.The “truth” here is that Harry Reid is not responsible for shutting down the government. It wasn’t his idea to use the threat of defaulting on the debt ceiling to undo a law that was passed by both houses of Congress, signed by the President, and approved by the Supreme Court. That’s the Republican party’s strategy.By the way, the same lunatics driving this would like to get rid of Social Security, Medicare and public schools but they can only get elected by “pandering” to the overwhelming majority of the public who supports those programs. But if their hostage-taking strategy is perceived to be successful, they’ll certainly try it again in other contexts. Why not? The goal is create chaos, and then try to fix blame for that chaos on Obama, who they have alwyays believed is not “entitled” to be the President (any guesses as to why?).
Apparently Marlin has issued a “clarification” today after his statement embarassed his fellow Congresscritters:Yesterday, I carelessly misrepresented the ongoing budget debate and Speaker Boehner’s work on behalf of the American people. Despite my remarks it’s clear that the American people want both parties to come to the table to reopen the government, tackle this nation’s debt crisis, and stop ObamaCare’s painOops! Looks like Marlin has a couple minor issues with those pesky facts. First, there is no “debt crisis” to be concerned about. Americans want jobs, and there’s plenty of work to do. Once Americans are back to work and working again, the “deficit” will disappear. And if the deficit was such a “crisis”, why not raise taxes on the super wealthy, who can easily afford it? Most Americans would support that. Also,”Americans” are not interested in “stopping” any “pain” caused by the Affordable Care Act. Americans want affordable health care. This was a major election issue and it’s just one of the reasons why Americans elected President Obama, twice, decisively. But a little bit of truth did leak out of Marlin’s statement: the only reason the Republicans in Congress are holding the government hostage is to prevent the Affordable Care Act from being implemented. This lunatic fringe would rather simply watch the country burn then allow any American to benefit from a governmental program that they don’t approve of (and meanwhile, Marlin and his fellow wingnuts will gleefully take all the government benefits they can grab).
FYI, your post a minute ago warns of default. How do you default if you have no debt crisis?
How do you default if you have no debt crisis?You “default” because there is an arbitrary “ceiling” on the debt, put in place by Congress. Defaulting creates a crisis. But the “debt crisis” is a “crisis” in the same way that “midnight” is a “crisis” if you promised yourself that you would go “jogging before midnight unless you change your mind about the deadline anytime prior to midnight”.
You mean the law that is as arbitrary as any other law on the books, Malcolm?You mean the law that is grounded in history (or does the lesson from post-World War I escape you?
You mean the law that is as arbitrary as any other law on the booksAll laws are equally arbitrary? What? Where do you come up with this stuff?the law that is grounded in historyAll laws are “grounded in history” to the extent they were passed for one reason or another in the past. Who cares? What’s your point? Whatever usefulness was perceived in putting a “debt ceiling” law into place 100 years ago has long ago been superseded by changes in how spending is allocated and the exploitation of the law for purely political purposes.link to en.wikipedia.org…
We’ll have to wait longer for the FTC’s patent troll investigation?! The horror.
FTC is closed and has postponed its patent troll investigation until further notice; Well, then keep the gubmint closed.
Amen!
Wouldn’t want the gubmint exposing potentially illegal activities would we now?
illegal, LOL.
Tell it to the judge when you’re facing RICO charges.
Absolutely nothing wrong with exposing potential illegal activities.But let’s not overlook the use of government power and such things as search and seizure, compunction against testifying against oneself, and due process.Or perhaps we should allow government unfettered access to knowing ALL about EVERYONE’s personal property (you know, the actual legal status of patents – notwithstanding the smokescreen that is kicked up about patents being granted by the government and the fallacy that that somehow makes the personal property of patents somehowlegally different than any other personal property).So what was all that fuss about Snowden and the NSA…? That stuff wasn’t even about personal property, was it? There’s no danger with unchecked political power, is there? The ends always justify the means, don’t they?
perhaps we should allow government unfettered access to knowing ALL about EVERYONE’s personal property (you know, the actual legal status of patentsRight, because allowing the government to know the “actual legal status of a patent” that the government conferred is just like letting the government come into my house whenever it wants so it can document all of my personal property.Patents are different from other types of personal property, for obvious reaons. Shall I list some of them for you? Or do such facts not matter to you?
Different from other types of property?In a legally cognizable manner?Or in the manner like my genuine rolex is different from your smelly running shoe?Please Malcolm, show me a legally cognizable difference – I have the actual law waiting in response.
Different from other types of property? In a legally cognizable mannerNice goalpost move. What do you mean by “legally cognizable manner”? Are you suggesting that there are no legally recognized differences between patents and other personal property?I have the actual law waiting in response.The “actual law”? Does the “actual law” say that the government can’t require you to disclose your ownership interest in a patent? Please show everyone where the “actual law” says that. If you can’t do that, then maybe try explaining to everyone what you are rambling on about without the unnecessary insults. Good luck.
“Nice goalpost move†LOL – accuse me of moving goalposts while I ask you to maintain a conversation bound within law? Sorry Malcolm, but ‘opinions’ and ‘likes’ about personal property are what a goalpost moving looks like. Come man – you want to do something in the legal realm concerning personal property, you can at least provide a legal basis for that, can you not? SO tell me Malcolm, do you know the section in 35 USC that dictates how patents are to be treated under the law?“ say that the government can’t requireâ€Another dust-kicking by Malcolm. Show me a law – a general law that deals with ANY personal property that has what you want the law CHANGED to be as implicit in your statement.ANY.You will not because you cannot. Then note that your accusations of me rambling with insults is a blatant 1ie, as I am neither rambling, nor insulting. By the way, countering your posts cannot be labeled as ‘insults,’ unless you think that anyone knocking you off your soapbox must be an insult, in which case, you need to (also) recognize the difference between competing monologues and a true dialogue.
I ask you to maintain a conversation bound within lawWhat is that supposed to mean? ‘opinions’ and ‘likes’ about personal property are what a goalpost moving looks like.What? Huh?Show me a law – a general law that deals with ANY personal property that has what you want the law CHANGED to be as implicit in your statement.I have no idea what you are talking about. Can anyone translate that?
countering your posts cannot be labeled as ‘insults’ unless you think that anyone knocking you off your soapboxRight, just like countering your posts cannot be labeled as ‘insults’ unless you think that someone who tries to prevent you from beating your wife is an insult.Fun game. You’ll start the next round as usual?A little hint, Trollboy: you’re venturing into “crazy person” territory, again. You’ve been doing that quite a bit for the last week or so. Try to dial it back. Try really really hard.
The house passed a bill that funds the USPTO, military, and all other constitutionally mandated activities plus the trash that makes up the other 90% of our federal government budget. Harry Reid killed it. If you cared about funding the USPTO instead of some leftists pipe dream (that they are now trying to get rid of in the UK and elsewhere after it failed miserably), then you’d be asking why the Democrats are instituting a shutdown.
It didn’t fail in the UK. By comparison with the dysfunctional US it works superbly. Everyone there has free healthcare.
The fact that you say it’s “free” means that you have NO IDEA how much it costs. #Fail
On the contrary, the payroll tax is 6% for employees and 8.5% for employers. That’s exactly what it costs, and it’s free at point of service, except for vision and dental, which are only subsidised. You aren’t a realist, merely a right winger.
So in US terms, for a patent associate, that would be about 20k/yr or 1600/mo. Which is just a fair bit more than their mortgages, LOL. But it’s free right?
Obviously, you are including the employer part. I am talking about National Insurance tax, which covers free healthcare and also retirement pensions. Isn’t social security about the same amount? And the latter covers pensions plus only Medicare Part A. If you extended Medicare parts A and B to everyone of all ages you essentially would have something like the UK system. If you didn’t spend more on defence than the next 26 countries I’m sure you could easily afford it.
Removing the upper cap on Social Security tax would of course help, that and at least a 50% cut in defence spending, which would still leave US defence spending per capita exceeding that of any other country.
Alun, there’s very little linkage nowadays between National Insurance and the National Health Service. The NHS is paid for out of general taxation. And National Insurance is just another tax. While having paid enough National Insurance contributions can affect your entitlement to the state pension and (to a lesser extent) unemployment benefits, it doesn’t affect your entitlement to NHS services.
in US terms, for a patent associate, that would be about 20k/yr or 1600/mo. Which is just a fair bit more than their mortgages$1600/month? That’s a pretty nice mortage. You must live in Tennessee or some other poor state that is heavily subsidized by the Feds.In any event, it’s not clear what your point is. People who earn more money pay more taxes. The taxes are used to offset the cost of free health care for all. So what?
Nobody in the UK is trying to get rid of the National Health Service. All the political parties are committed to it, and to increasing its funding. It does have problems, certainly, but the debate is about how to reform it to overcome those problems.
@Alun, Though your point is valid, the health care service in the UK is not free. It’s paid for by the people of the UK for the people of the UK and implemented by the government. That said, it’s much better that the U.S. system which appears to be a corporate grab bag rather than a health care system. Obamacare is a step in the right direction but not nearly enough.As for Realist’s comments, the House passed a bill which was disingenuous on it’s face and it knew would not pass the Senate. If the Senate passed a bill to reduce the federal income tax by 10% but inserted a rider requiring all gun owners to pass a monthly mental health screen to maintain ownership, reduced the cartridge capacity allowable to 9 rounds, and prevented ownership of any weapon which fires more than 1 round at a time and more than 1 round per second, would THAT be considered a valid attempt at tax reform? Not funding a validly passed bill, based on the notion of a backdoor repeal, should never have been part of the discussion. Republicans OWN this shutdown and the people of the U.S. (and the world) know it.
leftists pipe dreamBecause only “leftists” want Americans to have access to more affordable health care.they are now trying to get rid of in the UK and elsewhere after it failed miserablyWhat? The UK is trying to “get rid of” more affordable health care for their citizens? Because “it failed”? What?the Democrats are instituting a shutdownThat’s pretty funny. Is that the script your superiors told you to recite? Here’s some friendly advice: try to watch a bit less FOX News for a change.
It is not JUST the USPTO. This includes NIH, DOE, DOD, and so forth. For any outside vendors offering legal services to these agencies plans must be in place on how to deal with responses, as many cannot do overtime or people may be furloughed as non-essential personnel. Each agency is different, and therefore, outside vendor law firms should considering inquiring as quickly as possible to make contingency planning in advance of a shut down.
*Additional restrictions. Somehow, despite the AIA and independent funding, the GAO still has the PTO applying sequester.
House Republicans have added a measure aimed at limiting contraceptive coverage to the spending bill coming up for a vote Saturday night, a spokesman for Rep. Tim Huelskamp, R-Kansas, told CNN.The so-called “conscience clause†would allow employers and insurers to opt out of preventative care for women which they find objectionable on moral or religious grounds. That prominently includes birth control, which most insurers are required to provide for free under current Obamacare rules.Your Republican party, promoting progress right back to the stone age.
With Washington barreling toward a government shutdown, a deadlocked Congress entered the final weekend of the fiscal year with no clear ideas of how to avoid furloughs for more than 800,000 federal workers. Millions more could be left without paychecks.Needless suffering, all in response to a completely artificial (non) problem.Just mint the platinum coin, then the debt ceiling is moot and ordinary people aren’t left holding the bag for a bunch of spoiled millionaires.
Rep. Culberson (R-TX) on the big applause moment after GOP resolved to vote for CR: “I said, like 9/11, ‘lets roll!'”Asked about the analogy by a skeptical reporter, Culberson didn’t back down calling it “a good historical analogy.†Michele Bachmann gushed, “this is exactly what we asked for and we got it.Your Republican party.
Rightwing looney tunes manufacture a fake crisis and then threaten to destroy the country with it. Meet a political party willing to put hundreds of thousands of people out of work, in a recession, for no reason except to genuflect before the psychotic m0r0ns who fund them (and who could care less if the government is shut down because they’ve got enough for themselves and their families to live on comfortably for eons).Time to mint the platinum coin and put an end to this sad charade.http://www.businessinsider.com…And, yes, the usual media suspects are entirely to blame for propping up these pathetic diseased dinosaurs and pretending that the deficit is a problem. It’s not. Unemployment is the problem. Put people back to work, stay out of pointless wars, and watch that deficit disappear on its own, as it’s already doing.
Spending on what?
Is the sole purpose of the Republican Party to bamboozle Obama now? In the process, they’re making every last American dance for their dinner (and healthcare.) http://dregstudiosart.blogspot…
The fact that a major party could even propose anything like this is a display of astonishing contempt for democratic norms. Republicans ran on this plan and lost by 5 million votes. They also lost the Senate and received a million fewer votes in the House but held control owing to favorable district lines. Is there an example in American history of a losing party issuing threats to force the majority party to implement its rejected agenda?
You’ve gotta give them this much, they’ve got balls. Stupid balls. But still balls. It’s having people like that around that will always ensure that we’re free to ultimately make good decisions in a democracy lol.
Mr. Lefty, the gall is passing a piece of legislation that did not find the support of a single Republican. That legislation had to be radical to achieve that feat.Such gall, such arrogance. There is the source of the problem.Then we have the issue of Justice Roberts who believes Congress has the power to force us to buy something we do not want.
I thought he simply ruled that the mandate was a tax?
Except for when it’s not a tax. If it were truly a tax, the case should have been dismissed under the Tax Anti-Injunction Act. I’m still struggling with the logic on that one.
ustice Roberts who believes Congress has the power to force us to buy something we do not want.What is Justice Roberts “forcing you to buy,” Ned?