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Maximizing Your Patent Prosecution Dollars: A Few Simple Considerations
According to the statistics released by the USPTO (available online at www.uspto.gov/web/offices/ac/ido/oeip/taf/reports.htm), approximately 326,508 utility patent applications were filed in 2001 in the United States and 166,045 utility patents were granted. The cost associated with the preparation and prosecution of patent applications last year was a multi-billion dollar business. In this era of cost controls, it is rare to find a patent prosecution department that is not subject to budgetary constraints. In-house patent counsel, as the gatekeepers for prosecution, need to select and work with outside patent counsel to maximize the return on their patent prosecution investment. Often, this is accomplished by in-house counsel searching for the lowest-cost provider to prepare and file a patent application. The logic behind using such providers is to maximize the number of patent filings for the money spent. However, this approach may provide neither the best return on investment nor the best results.
A company's objective in filing patent applications is to secure patents that provide the broadest available protection. The reasons to obtain patents are multifold and may include protection of the company's products and services by excluding others from a particular market space, setting up a licensing program, meeting cross-licensing obligations for number of patents obtained, or creating a defensive tool in the event the company is sued for patent infringement. Regardless of the reason, the focus should be on obtaining the most coverage possible through well-drafted patent applications for your limited budget.
The Article 8 Opt In
The Article 8 opt-in election adds an additional layer of complexity to the already labyrinthine rules governing perfection of security interests under the UCC. A lender that is unaware of the nuances created by the opt in (may find its security interest vulnerable to being primed by another party that has taken steps to perfect in a superior manner under the circumstances.
Beach Boys Songs Written Decades Ago Triggered Current Quarrel With Lawyers
There's current litigation in the ongoing Beach Boys litigation saga. A lawsuit filed in 2019 against Nevada residents Mike Love and his wife Jacquelyne in the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada that alleges inaccurate payment by the Loves under the retainer agreement and seeks $84.5 million in damages.
Major Differences In UK, U.S. Copyright Laws
This article highlights how copyright law in the United Kingdom differs from U.S. copyright law, and points out differences that may be crucial to entertainment and media businesses familiar with U.S law that are interested in operating in the United Kingdom or under UK law. The article also briefly addresses contrasts in UK and U.S. trademark law.
Strategy vs. Tactics: Two Sides of a Difficult Coin
With each successive large-scale cyber attack, it is slowly becoming clear that ransomware attacks are targeting the critical infrastructure of the most powerful country on the planet. Understanding the strategy, and tactics of our opponents, as well as the strategy and the tactics we implement as a response are vital to victory.
Transfer Tax Implications on Real Property Leases
The real property transfer tax does not apply to all leases, and understanding the tax rules of the applicable jurisdiction can allow parties to plan ahead to avoid unnecessary tax liability.