Employee Free Choice Act Slowed, But Not Dead
Although passage of the federal Employee Free Choice Act ("EFCA") has taken a distant back seat to health care reform, the proposed changes to workplace unionization and collective bargaining rules have significant potential impacts for business owners.
Mapping the Technical Terrain
In the filing of a patent application, the patent agent or attorney is like the commanding officer conducting the battle. This "General" has specialized techniques for drafting and prosecuting patent applications and attempts to get the best patents issued for the client.
Federal Circuit Decision Provides Guidance for Joint Licensing of Pooled Patents
Recently, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit issued an opinion in a long-running patent misuse litigation of potential significance for any patent owner participating in a patent pool or considering participation in a patent pool.
Features
The Peer Review Pilot Program at the USPTO
The USPTO established the Peer Review Pilot Program (the "Pilot") to test whether "the organized collection and submission of documents together with comments by the public will produce better examination results by presenting prior art known by the public to the Examiner early in the prosecution." The USPTO is expected to publish a comprehensive report outlining the results and next steps.
The U.S. District Court in NJ Enhances Its Stature As a Venue for Patent Litigation
New comprehensive and self-executing rules in New Jersey have encouraged thought that litigants keep an eye on the state to see whether these procedures shorten the delays associated with litigation of patent cases, thereby making New Jersey the next favored jurisdiction or IP "rocket docket."
OPEB, COLI and Post-Retiree Needs
At the same time steps are being instituted to curtail COLI, there is an ever-increasing need to fund for employee medical care and post-retirement medical expenses. The use of COLI and the new Health Savings Accounts ("HSA") can provide a robust funding vehicle.
Recognizing Origination
According to the author: "While a good system and good decisions require that origination be recognized and rewarded, it has not been my experience that a change in compensation system will make rainmakers out of service partners."
Net News
Ninth Circuit Finds for PI Firm over Theft of Web Site Content<br>Third Circuit Upholds 10-Year Internet Ban in Child Porn Case
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