Apple takes ownership of four of the Kodak digital-imaging patents
In December IP Value Wire reported on the Kodak auction of 1,100 digital-imaging-related patents for $527M to a consortium represented by Intellectual Ventures Fund 83 LLC, which included Apple. Now Apple has taken direct ownership (as the assignee) of four of those patents: 8,432,479, which deals with range measurement using a zoom camera; 8,432,472, a camera for displaying digital images; 8,432,456, a digital camera for sharing digital images; and 8,432,461, a wireless camera with automatic wake-up and transfer capability and transfer status display. In each case, Apple is listed as the assignee of the patent in question.
Big change in tech transfer approach at the University of Utah
The University of Utah is reportedly eliminating The VP Technology Venture Development position that was dedicated to commercializing the school’s ideas and research. Jack Brittain will return from sabbatical as a professor. Now, technology commercialization faculty and staff will report to Thomas Parks, VP Research. Read more »
Google insulated from users’ copyright violations by the Digital Millennium Copyright Act
A U.S. District Judge rejected Viacom’s infringement claims over Google’s allowing the posting of clips from “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart,” “South Park,” and other programs, agreeing with Google that they and YouTube were protected from such copyright infringement claims by the “safe harbor” provisions of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, a law that limited the liability of online service providers for copyright infringement actions on behalf of their users.
Brandz list of most valuable global brands for 2012 released
The value of the BrandZ™ Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brands rose 7% to $2.6 trillion in 2012, compared to a disturbing flat performance one year ago. Of the 13 categories analyzed, only technology and oil and gas showed negative growth, though technology companies occupy the top three spots in the 100, and 4 of the top 7. Read more »
Angelina Jolie’s brave decision sparks new debate on Myriad’s gene patents
The U.S. Supreme Court has begun deliberations in a case (The Association for Molecular Pathology vs. Myriad Genetics, Inc.) that has been cussed and discussed for years. Should Myriad Genetics or anyone else be permitted to own the exclusive rights to test whether an individual has genes that carry a higher than 50% probability of developing breast cancer? They invented the test. They patented the test. They profit from the test. Read more »
Valuation of IP in patent pools under scrutiny
There is a rising tide against patent pools. How fast it is rising is anyone’s guess, but the common thread to the criticism has to do with the value of the patents in a patent pool. Read more »
Rovio announces it will begin publishing games developed by third parties
Rovio Entertainment Ltd., the creator of the “Angry Birds” game franchise and all that has come with it, announced it will begin to license its brand to games developed by third-parties. Read more »
Blogger tries humor to implore the courts come to grips with software patents
Ria Farrell Schalnat, a guest blogger on Patent Baristas, has published an illuminating imaginary letter from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit judges to the U.S. Supreme Court that pleads for a granting of certiorari when Alice Corporation appeals their recent setback in CLS Bank International v. Alice Corporation Pty. Ltd. Per Curiam, stating “we just can’t figure out how to apply Bilski v. Kappos when it comes to computer system claims (and some of us are also unhappy when it comes to the method claims)”… and predicting a stranglehold on innovation if the USSC fails to act … “Besides, if you don’t grant cert, ‘with today’s judicial deadlock, the only assurance is that any successful innovation is likely to be challenged in opportunistic litigation, whose result will depend on the random selection of the panel.’”
Analysts working on software valuations are having the same difficulty understanding and quantifying the risks to continued benefit streams.
Michael Jordan’s infringement lawsuit tarnished the reputation of defendant, so new suit says
Qiaodan Sports Company Limited designs, manufactures and sells sportswear and sports accessories. Micheal Jordan sued Qiaodan early in 2012 for using his Chinese name and jersey number (23) without permission. Read more »
U.S. Supreme Court decides for Monsanto and its patent on weed-killer resistant soybean seeds
In a unanimous ruling on May 13, 2013, in BOWMAN v. MONSANTO CO. ET AL., the Supreme Court supported the patent protection afforded Monsanto’s weed-killer-resistant soybeans by saying the principle of patent exhaustion doesn’t permit a farmer to reproduce patented seeds through planting and harvesting without the patent holder’s permission. Read more »
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