Predatory Patent Litigation

by | Sep 12, 2013 | News from around the Web

From Antitrust & Competition Policy Blog: Predatory Patent Litigation “Posted by D. Daniel Sokol Erik N. Hovenkamp, Northwestern University Department of Economics explores Predatory Patent Litigation. ABSTRACT: Despite their extensive experience in patent litigation, the most litigious patent assertion entities (PAEs) fair relatively poorly in court. These firms...

UK Take on Software Patent Eligibility: Claim Must include Feature that is both Technological and Innovative

by | Sep 11, 2013 | News from around the Web

From Patent Law Blog (Patently-O): UK Take on Software Patent Eligibility: Claim Must include Feature that is both Technological and Innovative “By Dennis Crouch Lantana Ltd. v. UK Comptroller General of Patents, [2013] EWHC 2673 (Pat) Earlier this month, High Court Judge Colin Birss released a new opinion on the European view of software patentability as seen through the eyes...

Software Patents: Are they really “Soft”—ware?

by | Sep 11, 2013 | News from around the Web

From IPWatchdog.com | Patents & Patent Law: Software Patents: Are they really “Soft”—ware? “Notwithstanding Google’s Jekyll and Hyde approach to patents, Figure 14 together with the associated textual discussion is extremely interesting because it shows rather conclusively that “software” isn’t really all that “soft.” Even many so-called math experts and mathematicians refuse to acknowledge what is really happening on the basic level within a computer when “soft”—ware is being used, instead preferring to pretend that it has to do with basic math rather than manipulation of logic gates and switches. We can complain and lament their lack of understanding if it makes us feel better, but in the meantime we need to realize that their ignorance with respect to what is really occurring is having an enormously negative impact on the future of software...

New generic Top Level Domains – who registers them and why?

by | Sep 7, 2013 | News from around the Web

From The IPKat: New generic Top Level Domains – who registers them and why? “ The IPKat was delighted to receive this post from Emeritus Kat Mark Schweizer.  Thank you very much Mark for this contribution, and the one to come tomorrow! The new generic Top Level Domains (gTLDS), unpopular with many brand owners, are set to come. The ICANN has received 1,930 applications for new gTLDs (netting the ICANN 1,745 x USD 185,000 = USD 357 million in the process, btw). 1,745 of those passed the initial evaluation, and 19 registry agreements have been signed as of end of August, among them for .clothing, .holdings, .singles, .游戏 (games) and. 企业 (enterprise). According to the official ICANN “best case” timeline, the sunrise period for the first new gTLD may open as early as 26 October 2013, with name activation beginning on 13 November and open registration from 26 November (there is a tendency for these timelines to be extended). The list below gives the most prolific applicants, i.e., those who applied for the most new generic TLDs. • Donuts co-founded by Paul Stahura: 307 gTLDs; • Google, Inc.: 103 gTLDs • Top Level Domains Holding: 92 gTLDs; • Amazon, Inc.: 76 new gTLDs; • Famous Four Media: 61 gTLDs; • Uniregistry: 54 gTLDs; • Radix Registry: 31 gTLDs. • United TLD Holdco led by Richard Rosenblatt: 26 gTLDs. It is interesting to see that leading information technology companies have very different strategies regarding the new gTLDs. While Google and Amazon applied for a host of generic Top Level Domains – among them .home, .book, .how, .baby, .kid, .here, .lol,...

DOJ Wins Monitor, New E-Books Deals In Apple Injunction

by | Sep 7, 2013 | News from around the Web

From Law360: Competition: DOJ Wins Monitor, New E-Books Deals In Apple Injunction “A federal judge ordered Apple Inc. on Thursday to renegotiate its distribution agreements with five publishers it allegedly conspired with to fix e-book prices and to abide by an external compliance monitor but refused to put limits on the iPad maker’s dealings in other types of...

Déjà vu? Microsoft announces Skype’s integration in Windows

by | Sep 3, 2013 | News from around the Web

From Chillin’Competition: Déjà vu? Microsoft announces Skype’s integration in Windows ”  On 15 August Microsoft announced on a blog post that Skype will come installed by default in Windows 8.1, and that it will be prominently displayed in its “Start” Menu (see Skype-right from (the) “Start”) The news appears to have surprised many, who have publicly wondered whether Microsoft is actively looking for antitrust trouble...