U.S. Patent and Trademark Office - News, Features, and Slideshows

News

• EFF targets podcasting patent for invalidation

  A 1996 podcasting patent is in the crosshairs of two digital rights groups, which are hoping the public will help them get the patent invalidated.

• Senator introduces legislation targeting patent trolls

  A U.S. senator has introduced legislation allowing the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to review and invalidate controversial patents challenged by technology startups in an effort to discourage so-called patent trolls.

• U.S. patent office retracts rejection of Apple's iPad Mini trademark

  The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) last week reversed itself, withdrawing a rejection of Apple's trademark application for "iPad Mini," according to a document published by the agency.

• U.S. patent office rebuffs Apple's iPad Mini trademark request

  The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has provisionally denied Apple's trademark application for "iPad Mini" because the term is "merely descriptive" of the tablet's size.

• Microsoft makes good on promise, publishes list of 41K patents

  Microsoft today launched a searchable list of its complete patent portfolio as part of its defense of the patent system, particularly software patents.

• Microsoft collects 13 design patents for Surface, keyboard covers

  The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office yesterday awarded Microsoft 13 design patents for its Surface line of tablets, including their innovative Touch keyboards-slash-covers, according to published documents.

• Google Glass may someday fire up your coffee maker

  Google filed a patent application for technology that will enable Google Glass to control everyday devices such as coffee makers, home alarm systems and garage doors.

• Appeals court considers software patents

  U.S. companies shouldn't be able to get patents on abstract ideas when they combine those ideas with a computer process, a lawyer argued in an appeals court Friday.

• Google’s patent count spikes 170%, beats Apple’s 2012 tally

  Google kicked its inventors into high gear in 2012, earning 1,151 U.S. patents and more than doubling its 2011 patent count.

• USPTO, DOJ: Injunctions on FRAND patents can be anticompetitive

  Companies that license their patents under fair, reasonable and nondiscriminatory (FRAND) terms, but then seek import or sales injunctions against competitors, may often be

• US House approves patent reform bill

  The U.S. House of Representatives has voted to approve a bill that would overhaul the U.S. patent system and allow for a new review of patents after they are approved by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

• Patent-challenging site expands its focus

  Crowdsourced, patent-busting website Article One Partners has expanded its focus beyond serving as a resource during patent lawsuits, with its community of researchers now also focused on invalidating patents that aren't tied up in court.

• US government sides against Microsoft in Supreme Court patent case

  The U.S. government itself has come out against <a href="http://www.networkworld.com/subnets/microsoft/">Microsoft</a> in a Supreme Court case that may decide the way patents are protected.

• Senate passes patent bill, but kills limits on damages

  The U.S. Senate has passed an overhaul of the U.S. patent system, but has removed some controversial provisions limiting damage awards in infringement lawsuits.

• US Senate begins debate on patent reform

  The U.S. Senate is debating an overhaul of the nation's patent system this week, but several technology groups have opposed the bill, saying it would hurt innovation and overload the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.