Patent Baristas

[This is the third in a series of postings regarding the various proposals in the Patent Act of 2005.] Duty of Candor in Front of the USPTO The Code of Federal Regulations mandates that a patent is affected with a public interest and that this interest is best served when the USPTO is aware of […]

[This is the second in a series of postings regarding the various proposals in the Patent Act of 2005.] Assignee Filing Currently, a patent application can only be filed in the United States in the name of the inventors. The Patent Act of 2005 would amend the law to allow the assignee of the invention […]

The lines have been drawn in the sand regarding the Patent Reform Act of 2005 (HR 2795). Most recently, testimony was given (Legislative Hearing on “The Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute to H.R. 2795, the ‘Patent Act of 2005’ ” (September 15, 2005) before the Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet, and Intellectual Property […]

The U.S. House of Representatives approved $3.78 billion prepare for a possible avian flu epidemic, including stockpiling potential vaccines, training emergency officials and increasing international surveillance. At the last minute, an unrelated provision (called the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act) to protect vaccine, drug and medical device makers against lawsuits in a public health […]

The World Trade Organization (WTO) members approved measures to make it easier for developing countries to get cheaper generic versions of medicines for communicable diseases like AIDS. Changes to the WTO’s intellectual property agreement would make permanent a waiver currently in place to allow poor countries without their own pharmaceutical manufacturing capacities to import cheaper […]

Forbes recently ran an article showing that companies that generate revenue from products protected by copyrights or patents are vital to the U.S. economy. In a report, NBC Universal Chief Executive Bob Wright released the results of the study he commissioned, which shows that digital piracy, if not reined in, could cause the U.S. economy […]

The European Patent Office (EPO) issued a report that several groups in the European Parliament have expressed about the grant of European patent EP 1257168 B1. In motions communicated to the EPO, Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) have stated that, in their view, the grant of this patent, which is entitled “Method of cryopreserving […]

A Senate committee approved the Biodefense and Pandemic Vaccine and Drug Development Act, sponsored by Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C. The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee approved the bill by a voice vote and now the bill goes before the full Senate. Key components of the Biodefense and Pandemic Vaccine and Drug Development Act […]