INVENTORS

March 25, 2008

tell us how you really feel

It is getting very "springy" here in Oklahoma and folks are getting a bit goofy - so, I guess it should come as no surprise that we have been chuckling about this snippet from my RSS reader tonight...

If you were wondering what this is about - have a read over at Politico for the full angst, political intrique, a bank heist, and patent rhetoric.

Posted by Douglas Sorocco at 10:08 PM.
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INVENTORS

March 23, 2008

can the airlines taser you in your seat?

Maybe … Well, they probably don’t want to – but an inventor has developed a way to do so – all while you seat securely in your seat.

United States Patent 6,933,851
Hahne, et al. August 23, 2005

Air travel security method, system and device

A method of providing air travel security for passengers traveling via an aircraft comprises situating a remotely activatable electric shock device on each of the passengers in position to deliver a disabling electrical shock when activated; and arming the electric shock devices for subsequent selective activation by a selectively operable remote control disposed within the aircraft. The remotely activatable electric shock devices each have activation circuitry responsive to the activating signal transmitted from the selectively operable remote control means. The activated electric shock device is operable to deliver the disabling electrical shock to that passenger.

I just want to know who gets to us the “selectively operable remote control” – it may be a new revenue generator for the airlines.  And while the initial drawings show it being worn on the wrist, the inventors have not limited it to such a configuration – for those of you looking for a nice choker necklace, they haven’t left you out in the cold.

I would be willing to spend up to $100 in order to be able to shock the SOB who decides to slam his seat back into my knees over and over… or… or…

Hmm – perhaps turning each flight into a lord of the flies situation isn’t such a good idea afterall.

I did breathe a sigh of relief, however – it doesn’t appear that the patent has been assigned to any airline.  Whew…

[Via Sore Eyes, via Bruce Schneier, via Techdirt]

UPDATE:  Well, it seems that while the airlines themselves do not appear to be interested in the device – there is a company developing the technology into an actual product – Lamperd Less Lethal.  They have even put up a YouTube showing the benefits of the technology and how it can be used – complete with scary/serious voice over (warning, scenes of 9/11 shown):

And it appears that the Department of Homeland Security has “some interest” (entire PDF of letter (378 KB)):

In discussion with my colleagues and immediate superior, we find your ideas have merit and believe it would be of great help on the borders and indeed for anywhere else, for which the temporarily restraint of large numbers of individuals in open area environments by a small number of agents or Law Enforcement Officers (LEOs).  We see the potential uses to include prisoner transportation, detainee control and the military security forces might have some interest.  In addition, it is conceivable to envision a use to improve air security, on passenger planes.

So – you never know.  In the near future, you could be wearing a choker and being tasered by some unknown “keeper of the device”. 

 

Posted by Douglas Sorocco at 08:58 AM.
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INVENTORS

March 21, 2008

yet another Teenage inventor - false teeth for cats

So, it is turning out that today is interesting teenager inventor Friday at PHOSITA.  This time we are thankful to Rachel Gilbert for developing feline false teeth.

Seventeen year old British college student Rachel Gilbert has reached the final of a national competition, the Ideas Igloo Roadshow, with her design for feline false teeth.

They look a little ghoulish, but have a noble purpose: "When animals suffer broken or rotten teeth, they have had to be removed," Rachel told her local newspaper, The Sheffield Star. "The gum can become infected and they find it difficult to chew food. We aim to reduce animals' suffering and improve their quality of life." Local vets are already on board with the design, which was created after taking a mold from a cat with damaged teeth. This revolution in animal dentistry could also be extended to dogs and sheep.

Rachel and her team of eight now have two minutes to pitch their idea to a panel of American Inventor-style entrepreneurs for a chance to win £2000 (around $4000) to help launch their business.

Good luck Rachel!  Just watch out so that you don't become the "crazy cat lady" who lives at the end of everyone's block.

Via: Teenager designs false teeth for cats (no, really)

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INVENTORS

March 14, 2008

Viva Las Vegas! IP CLE in Sin City...

Nipper, as usual, beat me to the punch in announcing a reunion of sorts for the Rethink(IP) guys in Las Vegas next month.

Namely, all three of us will be speaking (along with a host of other great IP panelists) at Dunes’ “Patent Drafting & Prosecution” CLE that is happening on April 11th, 2008 in shiny Las Vegas, Nevada.

The title of my sesion is “Current Issues in U.S. and Foreign Patent Prosecution” – specifically, I will be addressing:

As the world continues to become flatter, patent professionals in the United States are receiving increasingly complex requests from clients as to the patent procedures found in many foreign jurisdictions.  As such, the U.S. patent professional must be able to quickly identify foreign patenting issues early and implement U.S. and foreign patenting activities in a coordinated manner.  In Current Issues in U.S. and Foreign Patent Prosecution, Mr. Sorocco will discuss newly implemented U.S. and foreign jurisdiction rules and regulations that may impact U.S. based practitioners and the clients they serve.  Representative topics include the current status of rule changes at the USPTO, the Hague Agreement on Industrial Designs, the London Protocol Agreement and the possibility of a European Community Patent.

I always appreciate the tips, tricks and insight that come from PHOSITA readers – so, feel free to send them my way.

 

Posted by Douglas Sorocco at 09:28 PM.
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INVENTORS

October 03, 2007

All New PatentFizz - The Good Stuff Always Rises to the Top

All around intellectual property and web wunderkind Matt Buchanan has taken his hugely popular PatentFizz site to the next level this past week – bold new colors, new layouts, and useful new content and tools.

According to Matt, on his summer vacation he has been anything but slothful:

You'll notice right away that the site has been completely redesigned. It's a bit easier on the eyes, you might say. The FizzDisplay pages present the abstract, claims, and bibliographic information in an attractive, easy to read format that loads quickly. The FizzDisplay is sweet, instant gratification.

The improvements are not just cosmetic, though. Nope....PatentFizz has an impressive slate of all new features designed to more effectively deliver patent-based information. I'll be detailing these features on Fizzure, the PatentFizz blog, over the coming weeks, so be sure to subscribe to the RSS feed.

We failed to mention last month that PatentFizz was featured as part of the Economist magazine’s article on patent commenting, examination and intelligence sites.

Check it out and if you have some “scoop” on a particular patent and be sure to share it with the world!

Posted by Douglas Sorocco at 09:28 PM.
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INVENTORS

September 26, 2007

New Blog to Check Out: Financial Aspects of Intellectual Property

One of my new favorite blogs is the Financial Aspects of Intellectual Property blog by the folks at the Innovation Asset Group.

According to their “about” page:

Innovation Asset is a leading provider of software for intellectual property (IP) and contracts management. Founded in 2002, we set out to design fresh solutions to the challenges today’s companies face in managing their intangible assets. We’ve quickly gained a national reputation for our flagship product, Decipher™.

So far, their blog has really been a fun and informative read – dealing with meta trends in intellectual property acquisition and valuation.  As a sample to whet your appetite:

We are seeing an evolution – perhaps revolution. Not just in terms of the recognition of IP as the fundamentally core asset for businesses today; but also in terms of the way in which that IP is managed (I think “where” remains the same).

Initially, IP is managed out of the legal department. In a non-strategic mindset, IP management equates to docketing in some of these companies.

As companies embrace the strategic importance of IP and understand the need to move beyond simply docketing, there is an evolution of the role of the legal department. Much the way IT departments in corporate America evolved from a cost center and service provider to a strategic enabler of the business in the past couple of decades, legal departments are making a similar evolution today.

If you picture a pyramid similar to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, and similar to the one described in “Edison in the Boardroom,” the bottom of the pyramid represents the least sophisticated IP companies, and the top of the pyramid the most sophisticated.

Well worth a read for anyone interested in intellectual property and what I would consider a “must read” for those within corporate intellectual property departments who must identify, protect and communicate the importance of intellectual property assets.

Sorry for the disruption in the middle of all the “Rules Mess” – we now return you to your regularly scheduled programming.

Posted by Douglas Sorocco at 07:41 PM.
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INVENTORS

September 16, 2007

Dunes CLE - Vegas Legal Fun!

Dunes CLE has all the fun - all the while providing an informative and timely panel of experts on intellectual property matters.  It can't get much better than a little gaming, some sun, a beverage of your choice after a day of in-depth legal information.

Dunes' Fall, 2007 seminar is rapidly approaching on October 12th at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas.  The theme of the conference is "Current Issues in Patent Law 2007" and features a double helping of J. Matthew Buchanan updating everyone on Patent Law and Policy Updates from within the legislative, executive and judicial realm.

Other topics include:

• Inequitable Conduct After McKesson: Has The "Plague" Returned? - Thomas M. Hardman
  
• USPTO Claims and Continuation Practice Files Rules: Where Are We Now? - Mark Sandbaken
  
• Statutory Subject Matter in 2007 and Beyond - Robert Ryan Morishita
  
• The Supreme Court's Decision in KSR v. Teleflex - Eric L. Maschoff

PHOSITA has been an avid fan of Dunes' from the beginning - and, as they say, what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas!

Posted by Douglas Sorocco at 04:05 PM.
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INVENTORS

September 13, 2007

women inventors make it patentable

I really hate to admit where I found this information... I would love to be able to say while reading Forbes, but it was a bit less highbrow than that. No matter the source, the subject matter is truly fascinating: synergy occurs when inventive teams include women.

"If you want to create a really useful invention, make sure you have both women and men on your development team," states writer Claire Cain Miller for Forbes. According to a survey by the National Center for Women and Information Technology, mixed-gender teams' technology patents received up to 42% more citations that their single-gender counterparts.

"Our data show that diversity of thought matters to innovation," says NCWIT Chief Executive Lucinda Sanders, who holds six telecom software patents. "We can say involving women is important because women are half the population and have good ideas, but our study shows the impact for companies."

As pointed out by Jezebel, American women have been registering inventions for centuries: The first to receive a patent was Mary Dixon Kies, for a straw-weaving technique. In 1942, Hedy Lamarr (U.S. Pat No. 2,292,387) patented a "secret communications system."

Today, women hold more patents in computer software than in any other category, but, unfortunately, fewer women are getting computer science degrees (a pattern that starts in elementary school, according to an NCWIT researcher).

I am extremely impressed with the information and resources over at the NCWIT website -- well worth a look by anyone interested in getting more women interested in careers in information technology.

Posted by Douglas Sorocco at 06:56 PM.
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INVENTORS

August 24, 2007

Labor unions join patent reform fight

This news report surprised me as I had never given much thought to the impact patent reform might have on the types of interests represented by Labor Unions.  But it makes sense.

The U.S. patent system provides a barrier to entry for “knock offs” of successful technologies and, as stated below, a large percentage of patents are issued for inventions covering improvements to manufactured goods.  Items that are highly susceptible to production offshore and imported into the U.S. 

According to the AFL-CIO:

But the AFL-CIO letter alluded to recent efforts of the U.S. government and the U.S. tech industry to prod China to strengthen its intellectual property protections. These two changes "may have a negative impact on innovation and research," the AFL-CIO letter said.

"At a time when the Chinese government is constantly being challenged to live up to its intellectual property obligations, we do not want to take actions that may weaken ours." The United Steelworkers letter said nearly 70 percent of patents filed in the U.S. come from manufacturing firms. "These bills would allow an endless loop of legal challenges after patents are awarded that will make it more difficult for U.S. patent holders to prevail against frivolous challenges," the letter said.

Patent reform is truly making some odd bedfellows these days.

Via Labor unions join patent reform fight - addict3d.org.

Posted by Douglas Sorocco at 07:29 PM.
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INVENTORS

July 31, 2007

Go Big or Go Home

BlawgWorld is back, bigger than ever, and featuring posts from both PHOSITA and Promote the Progress.  This eBook provides a collection of 77 of the most influential blawgs so it is an honor to be included again this year.  The guys over at TechnoLawyer have also provided a Problem/Solution Guide in combo with BlawgWorld 2007.  Time to catch up on your blawg reading and get answers to all of your law firm problems.

 

 

Posted by Laura C. Wood at 04:49 PM.
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INVENTORS

June 05, 2007

American Inventor is Back for another season!

Ladies and gentlemen! Boys and girls! Children of all ages!  Set your Tivos and DVRs!  A new season of American Inventor starts Wednesday at 9/8c on ABC.

American Inventor, from Simon Cowell and co-creator Peter Jones, returns for its exciting, innovative second season in search of America's best new invention. The show -- the embodiment of the ultimate American dream -- will uncover the hottest new product and make one struggling inventor's dream come true. With one million dollars at stake, American Inventor will celebrate the best in homespun American ingenuity.

National casting calls were held in six major cities across the country -- Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, New York, Houston and Tampa. Thousands of inventors, tinkerers and entrepreneurs of all ages applied, and viewers will witness these inventors presenting their most prized inventions, featuring everything from the wacky to the heart warming.

For more information about the show click here. 

This season could get interesting with a mix of entrepreneurial judges like George Foreman, grill spokesman and former heavyweight champ; Peter Jones, a British entrepreneur; Pat Croce, a man credited with resurrecting the Philadelphia 76ers; and Sara Blakely, founder of Spanx, Inc., a company that manufactures footless pantyhose and slimming undergarments.

Out of sheer curiosity, does anyone have an update on the winning invention from last season, the Anecia Survival Capsule (Car Seat)?  On last year’s season finale Evenflo announced that it would help Janusz Liberkowski develop the Anecia Survival Capsule.  However, as of July 2006, InventorSpot.com reported that the capsule was still in development phase.    

Posted by Emily Campbell at 02:38 PM.
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INVENTORS

March 20, 2007

Celebrity Inventors

Along with Laura’s article about the next season of American Inventor (posted on March 16, 2007), read the following article, I Coulda Been an Inventor by Mindy Laster. Who knew that Marlon Brando, Eddie Van Halen, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Michael Jackson were all patent-toting inventors?

Here’s some food for thought. What if the producers of American Inventor and the producers of Dancing with the Stars combined their creative juices to create a show called Inventing with the Stars? Imagine the possibilities.  We may be on to something here.

Posted by Emily E. Campbell at 02:33 PM.
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INVENTORS

March 16, 2007

Take time to smell the shamrocks...and invent

ABC is bringing back “American Inventor” for its Second Season and try outs are underway.   American Inventor is the nationwide search for “the ultimate in homespun ingenuity” that will make “one struggling inventor’s dream come true.”  The grand prize this time is one million dollars…a prize giving you reason enough to see if your next great idea will make the cut. 

Speaking of inventions, about a month ago I had the pleasure of being a judge for the Oklahoma Student Invention Exposition and was very impressed by the innovative thought and hard work by all of the students.  Of course, some inventions were more thought out than others, but the surprising thing was that inventions from the third grade students were comparable with inventions from high school students.  I wonder how old Ben Franklin was when he had his first “great thought.”

Finally, in honor of St. Patrick’s day and this “inventive” post, I give you the Beer Throwing Fridge.  Enjoy.

 

Posted by Laura C. Wood at 03:25 PM.
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INVENTORS

February 15, 2007

New FedCirc.us Search Tool Released

The master plan for the FedCirc.us site includes several web features designed to deliver patent caselaw information in a more effective manner.  The first - the GimmeTen! feature - has quickly become the most popular page on the site...and for good reason.  Not familiar with it?  Simply bookmark http://10.fedcirc.us and visit regularly.  That page always provides concise summaries of the ten most recently posted case reviews.  We're confident you'll quickly be hooked.

Today we announce the second feature in our bag of tricks - the travelling FedCirc.us search engine.  By following the steps below, you'll be able to search the FedCirc.us site from anywhere on the web.

The best part is the simplicity -- 5 easy steps (4 for most people).  Five minutes tops.

1.  Make sure you're using either Internet Explorer 7 or Firefox 2.0 as your browser.  If you're not, download the latest IE here or Firefox here (both are free).  For the record, FedCirc.us is optimized for Firefox.

2.  Start your browser.

3.  Visit FedCirc.us.

4.  Pull down the drop-down search box in the upper right hand corner and select "Add FedCirc.us" (in Firefox) or select "FedCirc.us" with the gold star next to it (in IE, see image at right).

5.  Surf the web.  Whenever you want to search the site, simply enter a search string in the box in the right hand corner, pull down the list, select FedCirc.us, and hit return.  You can do this from any page on the web...and you'll immediately be transported to a listing of search results from the site.

I've quickly gotten used to searching by party name or full case name as I'm reading on the web.  This little trick has changed my surfing habits for the better...it's a wonderfully efficient way to find information quickly.  We hope you find it useful as well.

As always, if you have any comments or suggestions, please let us know.  You can e-mail Matt directly at jmb @ rtipllc.com.

Enjoy!

Posted by Douglas Sorocco at 05:24 PM.
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INVENTORS

February 12, 2007

Nope... There is no 'Official' Policy

Of course the PTO has no ‘official policy’ relating to the dis-allowance of patent applications.  It is merely coincidence that the number of allowances have plummeted …. while the “backlog” continues to grow…

Anyone have a FOIA form handy? 

Discussion:  Matt Buchanan on “Rethinking Backlog”

Posted by Douglas Sorocco at 08:30 PM.
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INVENTORS

February 11, 2007

Patent Rights Do Not Hinder Research

A report on a survey conducted by the American Association for the Advancement of Science details how international intellectual property rights are affecting scientists' ability to conduct research.  AAAS_IP_Survey_Report.pdf (477 KB)

According to the report, patents do not hinder research: 32% of the 2,117 U.S. respondents had acquired rights to use a patented technology, method, or material and of this group, only 32% reported having had difficulty accessing the technology. 

See also AAAS’ slides from its 2006 IP Workshop.

 

Posted by Douglas Sorocco at 03:35 PM.
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INVENTORS

January 31, 2007

The Resolution(tm) -- a new Fedcirc.us Product

FedCirc.us (Matt/Steve/and I) announced earlier today the availability of a free preview issue of The Resolution, the inaugural issue of our quarterly magazine, The FedCirc.us Reader.  Download the .pdf here.

According to Matt:

The Resolution will give you a sneak-peak at the features of the magazine.  It's jam-packed with all sorts of patent-caselaw goodness, including a 'Trend Spotting' article, a featured case review, prosecution- and litigation-focused digests, chronological and alphabetical listings of cases from last quarter (including summaries), and a fun "Quotables" section that includes some of our favorite quotes from cases issued during last quarter.

For this issue, we've even included a brief note about the story behind the FedCirc.us name and domain.

We think you'll agree that the magazine is an exciting and effective new tool for staying current on patent caselaw developments.

Of course, the free preview issue includes subscription details for the magazine.  The site will be ready to accept subscription payments starting tomorrow.

Please download our first copy and let us know what you think.

Posted by Douglas Sorocco at 10:20 AM.
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INVENTORS

January 02, 2007

A Little Something New - Fedcirc.us

Happy New Year!  – and – Happy Birthday PHOSITA! 

Wow – it is amazing to think we just stepped into 2007.  When we started PHOSITA three long years ago, we had no idea how this little project would turn out or even how long it would stay in existence.  Thanks to all of our readers for the great tips, the snarky criticisms and the amazing friendships that have occurred.  We are looking forward to our fourth year and we have a couple of new things up our sleeves to trot out down the road.

Speaking of friendships and new things, Matt, Steve and I are happy to announce the launch of FedCirc.us – the patent caselaw portal!  Built largely upon Matt’s stellar leadership and insightful writing, we have been tiddying up the tents and getting the main ring ready for y’all to come and explore.  A few folks have been testing the lines and unfurling the flags for us, but today…. well, today – WE GO LIVE!

Yes – it lives.  FedCirc.us is alive.  Visit it at http://www.fedcirc.us (and just because we have a wierd sense of humor, http://www.fedcircus.com will work, too).

Currently, FedCirc.us is a website that allows patent professionals and other patent stakeholders to access, digest and manage patent caselaw information.  The site is built on a foundation of timely, accurate, and considered reviews of patent decisions from the Supreme Court of the United States and the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

Check out some of these great features:

• GimmeTen!(tm) - Get concise summaries of the last ten case reviews written...all on one page.  Bookmark it at http://10.fedcirc.us.
• Read the Latest Review - Hit this button in the left menu to immediately get the full monty on the last case review written.
• Case Data - Check out the Case Data box that appears in every case review.  There's a bunch of goodness in that box, including citation information and a link to download a .pdf of the opinion.
• Case Flags - Red flags.  Big red flags.  Believe us, you'll known 'em when you see 'em.
• Tags - Navigate the site by keywords.  Conduct legal research with your head in the tag cloud.
• Practice Alerts - We issue specific practice alerts when we detect something important.  Sign up to receive these alerts, free!
• Feature article - We're working to put together a team of authors that will publish timely and insightful analyses of the latest developments.  We'll provide more details on this soon.
• E-mail and RSS subscriptions - A lot of the FedCirc.us content is available without even visiting the website.  Go ahead and subscribe.

We're extremely excited about this project, mostly because the website is just the beginning.  FedCirc.us is merely the leading edge of the most ambitious and significant RTIP LLC (otherwise known as the Rethink(IP) guys…) project yet.  We've got a slate of informational products and services - all built around the FedCirc.us foundation of case reviews - that we'll be announcing over the next several months.

So come on by and stay awhile – we just might buy you some Circus Peanuts!

Posted by Douglas Sorocco at 06:49 PM.
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INVENTORS

November 04, 2006

Inventor article : snarky or inspiring?

An uplifting inventor article? 

Well, the Northwest Indiana News has an interesting way to lead into a story:

Herbert Bigelow has an invention. So what. He also has a patent pending. Big deal.

And I thought PHOSITA could get a bit snarky from time to time.

Posted by Douglas Sorocco at 08:05 PM.
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INVENTORS

November 02, 2006

Flickr Interestingness Rankings Patents Released

Over at the SEO by the SEA blog, William Slawski has posted on newly published patent applications filed by Yahoo convering an implementation of the concept of “interestingness search.” 

There is a pretty good exchange in the comments between William and Thomas Hawk – a celebrated photographer on the Internet and someone who is directly involved with the Zooomr web photo service. 

Zoomr is a direct competitor with Flickr, which is now owned by Yahoo.  Presumably Zoomr may have some issues if the patents are ever issued.  As a word of caution to Thomas (and all other bloggers out there) – I would be very careful in what you say about your technology and when/how/who it was developed.   All of your comments could be used as admissions down the line.

Anyway…

While the discussion between Thomas and William follows the typical “software patent discussion framework”(TM) of outrage, more outrage, denial, and chest thumping about how “Person X, Y, Z” came up with the idea 1, 2, 4 or 100 years ago… I was pleased to notice that William and Thomas actually took some time to thoughtfully discuss what Yahoo was trying to do with its patent applications and how they fit in with the overall search and photo-sharing market out there.

My only quarrel with their discussion: like all that fall within the “software patent discussion framework”(TM) — they failed to look at the actual claims of the patent and instead debated the description that the inventor drafted.  Once again – it is the claims that control the scope of the patent, not the description directly. 

All discussion of patents or patent applications should start first and foremost with the claims… it is the claims that control.

As a taste of what to expect over at SEO by the SEA:

Flickr Interestingness Rankings Patents Released

posted @ 2:17 am in [ Social Search ] by William Slawski

I’ve posted some pictures to Flickr, but I’ve never really paid much attention to the “interestingness” rankings the site uses.

Interestingness and clustering were first used in August of last year, as announced by Stewart Butterfield on the Yahoo Search Blog and the Flickr blog.

Blog posts about Flickr’s interestingness, and a February Flickr forum post on changes to the interestingness rankings, show a lot of interest in the “secret sauce” on how photos are determined to be interesting. A couple of patent applications were published by Yahoo this week that delve into interestingness rankings, clustering of pictures, and metadata associated with Flickr images.

Posted by Douglas Sorocco at 12:32 PM.
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INVENTORS

November 01, 2006

A Patent Application or a Soapbox?

Wow... wow.... all I can say is ... wow.

U.S. Patent Application No. 2004/0161257 has this little nugget in it as claim number 9.

I applaud whoever drafted the application for their sense of spunk, but you really have to wonder.... what were they thinking?

Personally, if there was an oath/declaration signed by the inventor (also -- PDF version) and filed in the application stating that the inventor had read and understood the application to accurately reflect their invention - I would be worried that claim 9 could cause some problems down the line.

Once again... wow... all I can say is ... wow.

Posted by Douglas Sorocco at 02:11 PM.
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INVENTORS

October 30, 2006

Research Help: How many patent attorneys sit on corporate board of directors?

Help! 

I know the erudite readers of PHOSITA may have valuable information I need:

I am working on article regarding the makeup of corporate board of directors and I am trying to get a sense of how many patent attorneys are directors.

If you know of anyone or have a suspicion, please send it my way.

Thanks and hopefully this will be picked up around the IP corner of the blog-o-sphere... hint, hint, hint, hint, hint, hint...

Image via Flickr.

 

Posted by Douglas Sorocco at 10:50 AM.
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INVENTORS

October 29, 2006

Slow patent process continuing to hurt nanotech enterprises.

Via the Chicago Tribune, a quick update on the progress of efforts at the USPTO to increase the speed of processing patents on nanotechnology.  The conclusion in a nutshell: not much has happened.

Alan Gotcher, president and chief executive of Altair Nanotechnologies Inc. based in Reno, Nev., whose firm is working with nanomaterials to improve battery performance, said he's been filing for nanotech patents since the late 1980s and the lag in processing them has become a problem recently.

'The impact is one of perception,' Gotcher said. 'When you don't get a response from a patent application filing, you don't know what else is going on.'

Posted by Douglas Sorocco at 08:55 PM.
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INVENTORS

October 28, 2006

Who invented sliced bread?

Well - it looks like a fun and games weekend here at PHOSITA, so via Frugal for Life... who invented sliced bread: 

History is full of great inventions. But, with all due respect to the wheel, none are as celebrated as sliced bread. Because so many enthusiastic consumers enjoy comparing products to the breakfast staple, we thought it high time to give its creator, Otto Frederick Rohwedder, his due.

Mr. Rohwedder was born in the great state of Iowa and is generally credited with inventing the first automatic bread slicer in 1928. Before this, people had to slice their own bread, or, in a pinch, rip off a hunk. According to Food Reference, Rohwedder's invention was initially poo-pooed by bakers who felt sliced bread would go stale too quickly. Eventually, Rohwedder constructed a slicer that also wrapped the bread, effectively solving the problem.

In 1930, Wonder Bread began selling pre-sliced bread. Other large bakeries quickly hopped on the bandwagon. The trend also helped to boost the popularity of another invention still in use today -- the toaster. We wouldn't call it the greatest thing since sliced bread, but it's certainly up there.

Source: Ask Yahoo.com

Image via Flickr tagged with a Creative Commons License

Posted by Douglas Sorocco at 09:19 PM.
Permalink: Who invented sliced bread?
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INVENTORS

October 27, 2006

Friday Fun : How Duct Tape is Made

... or as millions of kids say, "How Duck Tape is Made."

Once you are done looking at the video, you might want to have a look at the patents and history.

 

 

Posted by Douglas Sorocco at 10:07 PM.
Permalink: Friday Fun : How Duct Tape is Made
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INVENTORS

August 03, 2006

For the superhero in all of us...

I’m wondering where Wonder Woman’s “Lasso of Truth” was last night when I needed it.  Luckily for me, there are several inventive minds out there catering to superhero powers and weapons giving all of us “normal humans” some superhuman traits.  Just ask Dr. Ulf Leonhardt, the physicist from St. Andrews University, who thinks the Invisible Woman may be more of a reality than fiction.   And although the jet-pack has probably visited almost every football stadium at halftime, keeping up with Superman just got a lot easier.  Even if the inventions don’t look as sophisticated in real life or in a patent (like the human shield), it’s nice to know inventors are making the effort.   I guess all that I’m missing now is my arch-enemy.

Posted by Laura Wood at 12:46 PM.
Permalink: For the superhero in all of us...

INVENTORS

July 31, 2006

July 31st is a day worth celebrating...

On July 31, 1790, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) awarded Samuel Hopkins the first U.S. patent for a new apparatus and method of making potash.  Over 200 years later, inventors are still knocking on the door of the USPTO asking for their piece of the American dream.  Such inventors and inventions are being highlighted in MSNBC’s Tech Tour Across America.  So far the Tech Tour has made “stops” at five different locations.  Some of the videos are better than others because the video highlights not only the invention but the inventors themselves.   As everybody knows, every inventor has a story….some are just more interesting than others.  

Posted by Laura Wood at 05:44 PM.
Permalink: July 31st is a day worth celebrating...

INVENTORS

July 26, 2006

ripe and ready

A University of Arizona professor may have just eliminated a significant number of phone calls home to Mom asking for grocery advice.  Mark Riley has invented a sticker that will tell consumers whether the piece of fruit they are holding is considered ripe.  The sticker detects the level of ethylene gas the fruit is producing and shifts the sticker color from white to blue.  The riper the fruit, the darker the blue.  It is an interesting theory and makes for an inexpensive product that should be in your local grocery store in about two years.  Not really sure if it would work for tomatoes since they are ripened using ethylene but most other fruits are probably up for grabs.  It may be that the days of squeezing melons are over…….or is it squeezing peaches?  I’m calling Mom.

Posted by Laura Wood at 05:56 PM.
Permalink: ripe and ready

INVENTORS

July 07, 2006

how to review a patent application - google video - treasure trove of information

Google Video is like the big brother to YouTube – Google provides the information while YouTube provides the laughs (and outright childish gross out).

Google Video actually includes a couple of seminars on patents, patent law and inventor resources.  A terrific example is Patent Attorney Katherine White’s video seminar outlining the process by which a patent application should be reviewed. According to the “liner notes,” Ms. White is a member of Enterprise Partners Venture Capital and the video provides advice for inventors on securing successful patents.  Ms White’s talk was sponsored by the Von Liebig Center for Entrepreneurism and Technology Advancement at UCSD's Jacobs School of Engineering.  A PDF is also available and is a nice booklet to give to people on how to read a patent application.

Enjoy the video – and, if you happen to run across any others, shoot them my way and I will post them for all to enjoy.

 

Posted by Douglas Sorocco at 08:21 AM.
Permalink: how to review a patent application - google video - treasure trove of information

INVENTORS

June 18, 2006

Rethink(IP) Aloud - New Podcast Available at Rethink(IP)

There is a new podcast available over at Rethink(IP):

We are proud to announce that our newest podcast is available for your down loading and listening pleasure – Rethink(IP) Aloud #6. 

The audio is approximately 47 minutes long and the file is a 41.1MB file.  If you want to grab the RSS feed and subscribe to the Rethink(IP) Aloud podcast – you can get it via FeedBurner at Rethink(IP) Aloud Podcast.

This podcast is the audio portion of Matt’s lecture on U.S. patent reform in 2006 and covers the efforts happening in the 109th Congress and at the Supreme Court and USPTO.  We posted the video of the presentation over at Phosita last week and received many requests for an audio only version.  Matt’s PowerPoint slides to go along with the Patent Reform lecture are also available.

The intro and ending music is “Patricia” by Billy May and his Orchestra off the Ultra-Lounge Vol. 11 album.

Happy father’s day!

 

Posted by Douglas Sorocco at 02:11 PM.
Permalink: Rethink(IP) Aloud - New Podcast Available at Rethink(IP)

INVENTORS

June 12, 2006

patent reform lecture - j. matthew buchanan

A couple of weeks ago, the IP Section of the Oklahoma Bar Association conducted its annual CLE seminar at Tanglewood Resort on Lake Texoma.  My partner, Nick Rouse, was in charge of the weekend and did a phenomenal job.

The lecturers were top notch and although I am a bit biased, I would have to say that Matt Buchanan was one of the two best speakers over the course of the weekend.  Matt blogs about patent reform issues and patent legislation over at Promote the Progress.

Matt spoke on the recent patent reform efforts underway in the United States and the impact any such reform may have on practitioners and patentees. 

Considering the timeliness and importance of Matt’s talk, I recorded the lecture and DCR is presenting it here for your review and comment. 

The video stream can be viewed below (or you can grab it at Google Video as a stream, as a download or as a video iPod download).  The PowerPoint slides are available for download as a PDF file (2.2MB).

Posted by Douglas Sorocco at 01:42 PM.
Permalink: patent reform lecture - j. matthew buchanan

INVENTORS

May 29, 2006

Recently on Rethink(IP)'s RSS Mojo Blog

• Listings of recently filed IP Lawsuits
  
  
• Trademark Lawsuit Filing Update (through May 27, 2006)
• Patent Lawsuit Filing Update (through May 27, 2006)
• Copyright Lawsuit Filing Update (through May 27, 2006)
• Trademark Lawsuit Filing Update (through May 21, 2006)
• Patent Lawsuit Filing Update (through May 21, 2006)
• Copyright Lawsuit Filing Update (through May 21, 2006)
  
  
• USPTO Notices:
  
  
• Patent Prosecution Highway Pilot Program between the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the Japan Patent Office (signed 22May2006)
• Notice of Collection of Practitioners’ E-mail Addresses
• Commerce Deputy Under Secretary to Address Midwest Businesses On U.S. Government Efforts to Combat Counterfeiting and Piracy in China
• USPTO Exam Guide for Geographical Indications Used on Wines and Spirits
• Request for Comments on Patents Search Templates (16May2006)
• Commerce Deputy Secretary to Speak at USPTO's Community Day
• U.S. GOVERNMENT BRINGS ANTI-COUNTERFEITING AND PIRACY PROGRAM TO OHIO

Posted by Douglas Sorocco at 10:58 AM.
Permalink: Recently on Rethink(IP)'s RSS Mojo Blog

INVENTORS

May 18, 2006

speaking engagements - bookending the summer

I have been winding down the Spring speaking engagement schedule and have been looking forward to some R&R over the summer – but a couple of opportunities have come up that were just too interesting to turn down.

First, I will be speaking at ALM’s Small Firm Business Forum in Los Angeles on June 7th.   This looks to be a great seminar and I am especially looking forward to speaking with both Tom Mighell from the Inter Alia blog and William Kellermann of CT Summation on the topic of “The Cyber-Ethical Lawyer: How Not to Commit Malpractice With Your PC.” 

We will be covering a lot of items in our session, but here is a sneak peak of the highlights:

• Technology and a Lawyer's Ethical Obligations
• E-Mail Communications and the Duty of Confidentiality
• Ethics and the Online World -- Blogging, Web Sites, and Advertising
• Keeping Client Data Safe

Second, I am also honored to be invited to speak at Dunes CLE’s Current Issues in Patent Law on August 25th in Las Vegas.  In fact, both Matt and I will be speaking at this conference – so come on out, get some CLE and hang out with at least 2/3 of the Rethink(IP) gang. 

At Dunes I will be speaking on the role of strategic patenting and proactive patent management strategies in light of the Supreme Court’s sudden interest in patent cases.  I work with a lot of companies on strategic patenting initiatives and I am looking forward to discussing how best to implement them in light of the recent decisions.

So it is gonna be a busy beginning and end to the summer. 

My calendar is also starting to fill up for the Fall, so if you are looking for a speaker – let me know.

Posted by Douglas Sorocco at 11:25 AM.
Permalink: speaking engagements - bookending the summer

INVENTORS

May 08, 2006

When Machines Invent

Fascinating.  Some of our basic assumptions about inventors, inventions and discoveries are soon to be challenged.

Over the past several decades, [John] Koza has internalized that lesson as deeply as any computer scientist alive and, arguably, made more of the insight than any coder in history. Now 62 and an adjunct professor at Stanford University, Koza is the inventor of genetic programming, a revolutionary approach to artificial intelligence (AI) capable of solving complex engineering problems with virtually no human guidance. Koza’s 1,000 networked computers don’t just follow a preordained routine. They create, growing new and unexpected designs out of the most basic code. They are computers that innovate, that find solutions not only equal to but better than the best work of expert humans. His “invention machine,” as he likes to call it, has even earned a U.S. patent for developing a system to make factories more efficient, one of the first intellectual-property protections ever granted to a nonhuman designer.

John Koza Has Built an Invention Machine - Popular Science.

Posted by Douglas Sorocco at 07:21 PM.
Permalink: When Machines Invent

INVENTORS

May 05, 2006

How Experts Differ from Novices

From the Business of Life blog – good advice for attorneys and our clients.

From How Experts Differ from Novices

1. Experts notice features and meaningful patterns of information that are not noticed by novices.

2. Experts have acquired a great deal of content knowledge that is organized in ways that reflect a deep understanding of their subject matter.

3. Experts' knowledge cannot be reduced to sets of isolated facts or propositions but, instead, reflects contexts of applicability: that is, the knowledge is "conditionalized" on a set of circumstances.

4. Experts are able to flexibly retrieve important aspects of their knowledge with little attentional effort.

5. Though experts know their disciplines thoroughly, this does not guarantee that they are able to teach others.

6. Experts have varying levels of flexibility in their approach to new situations.

 

Posted by Douglas Sorocco at 12:20 PM.
Permalink: How Experts Differ from Novices

INVENTORS

February 14, 2006

eff rascals going after clear channel

Those EFF rascals are at it again – this time seeking the reexamination of Clear Channels' patent No. 6,614,729 covering system and method of creating digital recordings of live performances.

According to the EFF press release:

Clear Channel claims that its patent creates a monopoly on all-in-one technologies that produce post-concert live recordings on digital media and has threatened to sue anyone who makes such recordings with a different system. This has forced bands like the Pixies into using Clear Channel's proprietary technology, and it hurts investment and innovation in new systems developed by other companies.

"Clear Channel shouldn't be able to intimidate artists with bogus intellectual property," said EFF Staff Attorney Jason Schultz. "We hope the Patent Office will take a hard look at Clear Channel's patent and agree that it should be revoked."

The request for reexamination filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office shows that a company named Telex had in fact developed similar technology more than a year before Clear Channel filed its patent request. EFF, in conjunction with Theodore C. McCullough of the Lemaire Patent Law Firm and with the help of students at the Glushko-Samuelson Intellectual Property Clinic at American University's Washington College of Law, wants the patent office to revoke the patent based on this and other extensive evidence.

"The patent system serves an important public purpose in our economy," said Schultz. "Keeping illegitimate patents out of that system helps up-and-coming artists and entrepreneurs succeed for all of us."

Schultz’s comments are well taken – incorrectly issued patents are a bane to our system of intellectual property.  A comprehensive and well reviewed reexamination is in both the patentee and the public’s best interest.

Posted by Douglas Sorocco at 08:46 PM.
Permalink: eff rascals going after clear channel

INVENTORS

January 29, 2006

maybe RIM vs ntp isn't what you thought

Maybe, just maybe, RIM versus NTP isn’t about the evil patent trolls after all…

Posted by Douglas Sorocco at 02:50 PM.
Permalink: maybe RIM vs ntp isn't what you thought

INVENTORS

January 28, 2006

rep. tom davis demands uspto quality improvements - what has RIM wrought?

Rep. Tom Davis (R-Va.) asked the director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Friday if the controversy over who controls the patents for Research in Motion (RIM) BlackBerry technology indicates that USPTO needs to reform how it examines patent applications, according to a press release (PDF Version).

“In today’s fast-moving world, America’s economy and our ability to compete in a global marketplace are dependent on an efficient and competent system to bring new technological developments to the consumer market,” Davis said in a press release. He is chairman of the House Government Reform Committee.

In a letter to USPTO Director Jon Dudas (PDF copy), Davis questioned whether the agency needs to refine the patent process. Davis added that he is ready to help improve the process.

“If adequate resources were utilized to determine the initial validity of the patents, this controversy could have been avoided,” he wrote in the letter. “Additionally, if RIM’s re-examination requests had been acted upon more expeditiously, the current uncertainty could have been resolved long before it threatened critical service to the government and consumers.”

“The current patent controversy involving BlackBerry service is but one signal that our economy and ability to compete in a global economy are dependent on an efficient and competent system,” Davis wrote. “A vital component of that system is a well-funded and efficient Patent and Trademark Office.”

The answer is pretty simple actually, Congressional appropriators have to stop raiding the excess fees (i.e. the “inventors tax”) raised by the USPTO and instead let them be used for improving service, quality and examination time.  Simple solution – hard to carry out.

Posted by Douglas Sorocco at 01:35 PM.
Permalink: rep. tom davis demands uspto quality improvements - what has RIM wrought?

INVENTORS

January 23, 2006

got a passion? bring it to the forefront

I have a number of searches which run automatically looking for keywords of interest to PHOSITA – patent, license, inventor – you get the idea.

So it is always interesting to see what comes up in the searches from time to time – it is a serendipitous kind of thing that can leave you laughing or scratching your head.  Well, this morning was one of those days when I could only smile while reading a story of an 84 year old entrepreneur with a passion for college wrestling.

From the Amateur Wrestling Blog (Via USATODAY.com):

The 84-year-old founder of a firm that will webcast college wrestling this weekend doesn’t even have a laptop computer. Bob Feldmeier’s main business is manufacturing equipment for the dairy industry.

“I’m computer illiterate, but I have a lot of engineers working for me that know how to do the laptops and all the computer work,” says Feldmeier, an amateur wrestling fan who sees the Internet as a way to get the sport to others like him.

Now why in the earth did this story turn up in my aggregator, well because it included the word “patent” —

In 1952, Feldmeier, a former Princeton wrestler, founded Feldmeier Equipment Corp., a Syracuse, N.Y., firm with about 370 employees. He holds a patent on his “triple tube heat exchanger,” used in pasteurization.

As someone who enjoys working with inventors, I am a sucker for these kinds of stories.

Posted by Douglas Sorocco at 09:38 AM.
Permalink: got a passion? bring it to the forefront
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INVENTORS

January 19, 2006

good definition of an inventor

My good friend Steve Nipper passed on this quote and in the spirit of being a good sport, I think it is an apt definition of an inventor:

"When trouble arises and things look bad, there is always one individual who perceives a solution and is willing to take command.  Very often, that individual is crazy."

-- Dave Barry

Speaking of inventors, Rethink(IP) has had an ongoing series of articles the past week written by Dr. Bill Meade, a former director of intellectual property for HP.  Bill’s posts have walked through his observations as to the six life stages of inventors and are probably a more accurate definition of an inventor than Dave Barry’s quote.

In any event, they are well worth the read.

 

Posted by Douglas Sorocco at 11:52 AM.
Permalink: good definition of an inventor

INVENTORS

January 16, 2006

guy kawasaki on patents as defense tools

I am a bit behind the curve to welcome Guy Kawasaki to the blogging world, but you should stop by his new blog and sign up.  His first 30 days of blogging have been insightful and funny and the The Top Ten Lies of Entrepreneurs post doesn’t disappoint.

Of course, being PHOSITA, the point I like the best is #10:

“Patents make our product defensible.” The optimal number of times to use the P word in a presentation is one. Just once, say, “We have filed patents for what we are doing.” Done. The second time you say it, venture capitalists begin to suspect that you are depending too much on patents for defensibility. The third time you say it, you are holding a sign above your head that says, “I am clueless.” Sure, you should patent what you're doing--if for no other reason than to say it once in your presentation. But at the end of the patents are mostly good for impressing your parents. You won't have the time or money to sue anyone with a pocket deep enough to be worth suing.

As they say in Texas, a patent is nothing more than an opportunity to sue and a 50/50 chance to lose money — 40/60 if the judge ate a burrito for breakfast! 

Happy New Year and PHOSITA turned two years old over the weekend.  Thanks for the support!

Posted by Douglas Sorocco at 05:11 PM.
Permalink: guy kawasaki on patents as defense tools

INVENTORS

December 03, 2005

what happens when multiple people are involved in a project

BusinessPundit had this image up last week and like them, it made me laugh outloud (larger image here).

The only thing missing, is what happens when the project/product is cleared by the lawyers – I imagine the tree being plastered with warnings, disclaimers and covered in thick padding to ward off injuries.

And the patent attorney would, of course, insist on getting a patent on a new and improved method for swinging. (Don’t believe me, check this patent out!)

 

 

 

Posted by Douglas Sorocco at 09:25 AM.
Permalink: what happens when multiple people are involved in a project

INVENTORS

November 27, 2005

the wheel reinvented - best invention of 2005?

Time Magazine has a section available online entitled “Best Inventions 2005” – worth the read on a slow Sunday afternoon or Monday morning (if your monitor doesn’t face the door to your office…) to see what is coming in the future.

As Dig Tank put it… what’s next, a new and improved way to slice white bread?

Inventor: Michelin
Availability: Now for the IBOT; about 2020 for cars
To Learn More: michelinman.com

A wheel without an inflated tire may seem old-fashioned—think wooden buggy wheels—but the Tweel from Michelin is anything but retro. A shock-absorbing rubber tread band distributes pressure to dozens of flexible polyurethane spokes. The spokes in turn are supported by an aluminum center. Because the Tweel is airless, it is more rugged than a pneumatic tire and never goes flat. The Tweel has been tested on the IBOT robotic wheelchair and military vehicles. But you won’t see it on your Honda anytime soon. Michelin says it is still too noisy for automotive applications.

 

Posted by Douglas Sorocco at 08:50 AM.
Permalink: the wheel reinvented - best invention of 2005?

INVENTORS

November 14, 2005

fashionably late to the blawgthink ball

Well it seems that I am destined to be fashionably late to all things BlawgThink these days.

Day 1 – the newest member of DCR (more about that later) and I arrive late due to a very informative and interesting client breakfast.

Day 2 – all the RTIP guys arrive late because of a defective alarm clock : defective in the sense that it didn’t realize it was supposed to go off again even though one of us decided to turn it off when it went off at 5am.

Afterwards – everyone in the blog-o-sphere seems to have already posted their experiences and recollections.  See e.g. Almost Cool, Blogads Weblog, BK!, Knowledge Jolt, and Dave! of Preaching to the Perverted, among many many others.

It was another one of those events where you just gotta sit down and think about it for a couple of weeks.  I got a chance to decompress for all of 12 hours before I was off on a client trip – so I haven’t had much time to really get my ideas and impressions organized – they are spread across a number of folded and crumbled pieces of paper and I need to get them into some sort of order before posting about them here.

I promise I will – however, I have said it before and I will say it again – if it can’t be done in MindManager (using Gyronix’s Results Manager) it ain’t worth doing.

I will say this: there are some tremendous thinkers in the small corner of the blog-o-sphere where us lawyers hang out.  If I could find a way to corral all of these folks into one innovative and forward thinking organization, the world would never be the same from a client service point of view.  In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised to see more collaboration and innovation occurring sooner rather than later —  the legal services industry is about to be shaken up. 

And it goes without saying, Matt Homann and Dennis Kennedy are two of the most genuine and innovative folks out there – if you ever get the chance to spend some time with either of them, do not hesitate to take advantage of the opportunity. 

 

Posted by Douglas Sorocco at 11:41 PM.
Permalink: fashionably late to the blawgthink ball

INVENTORS

October 29, 2005

employee's guide to joining a start-up