Under the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act, several new mechanisms allow third parties to challenge patent applications and patents. Among these is a new preissuance submission procedure by which members of the general public may submit prior art believed to be relevant to a pending patent application.
- December 21, 2012James W. Soong and Sabir Ibrahim
Highlights of the latest equipment leasing news from around the country.
December 21, 2012ALM Staff | Law Journal Newsletters |Fitch Ratings forecasts stability in its recently released report 2013 Outlook: U.S. Finance and Leasing Companies.
December 21, 2012ALM Staff | Law Journal Newsletters |The author of a new law that will bar companies from seeking their workers' social media passwords has introduced legislation to extend the protections specifically to public employees.
December 21, 2012Cheryl MillerAs 2013 begins, franchising is being transformed by major investments in franchise systems by private equity funds. FBLA asked leading franchise attorneys how they see private equity affecting the industry, and their responses reflect widespread optimism that these investors are bringing much more than (the widely appreciated) funding that can fuel franchise expansion.
December 21, 2012ALM Staff | Law Journal Newsletters |U.S. businesses and government agencies will finance more than $742 billion in equipment acquisitions in 2013, according to the U.S. Equipment Finance Market Study 2012-2013, recently released by the Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation.
December 20, 2012ALM Staff | Law Journal Newsletters |At this time of year, CFOs are scrutinizing the available forms of funding to determine the most efficient way to satisfy their space, equipment and technology needs, and keep their organizations performing at their competitive best financially and operationally.
December 20, 2012Marc CramThe last few years have been witness to a huge uptick in the number of Article 9 debtors attacking the procedural and substantive aspects of the recovery and sale of collateral. This trend has generated some new and significant case law, and serves as a reminder to secured creditors of the importance of having a good working knowledge of the law regarding the enforcement of Article 9 security interests
December 20, 2012Frank PeretoreWho's doing what; who's going where.
December 20, 2012ALM Staff | Law Journal Newsletters |Third-party litigation financing is a booming form of finance that seems like a natural fit for bankruptcy-related litigation initiated by Chapter 7 trustees, and official committees of unsecured creditors and debtors.
December 20, 2012Patrick M. Jones

