Posts Tagged: "Obama"

Opinion: Regrettable White House Intervention on Patent Trolls

What’s regrettable is that the White House didn’t wait for such empirical data on patent litigation and instead rehashed the findings of discredited studies of PAE-related lawsuits and their purported economic consequences. Specifically, I mean the infamous $29 billion victims are said to have paid to patent trolls in 2011, a number that has echoed around the Internet and made it into congressional debate despite its dubious origins. The number was produced by a study that failed to adequately define just what a troll is – even universities and many manufacturers were included – and then harvested its data not from a reputable polling or academic institution but from a company that has a dog in the patent fight and profits from fueling fears about infringement lawsuits.

Will President Obama Come to Apple’s Rescue?

If the President disapproves of the ruling for policy reasons he has the authority to nullify the determination. The statute specifically explains that upon disapproval of the President an ITC determination “shall have no force or effect.” The problem that President Obama faces is very real and offers no easy way out. He will no doubt be pushed to used his authority under Section 1337(j) to disapprove of the ITC determination in order to assist Apple and AT&T, both important US companies. The trouble is that Apple is a non-practicing entity and could (and probably should) be properly characterized as a patent troll. So will President Obama use his authority under Section 1337 to help a patent troll?

White House Task Force on High-Tech Patent Issues

Today the White House announced major steps to improve incentives for future innovation in high tech patents, a key driver of economic growth and good paying American jobs. The White House issued five executive actions and seven legislative recommendations designed to protect innovators from frivolous litigation and ensure the highest-quality patents in our system. Additionally, the National Economic Council and the Council of Economic Advisers released a report, Patent Assertion and U.S. Innovation, detailing the challenges posed and necessity for bold legislative action.

Mr. President, Why not Host Your Ball at the Patent Office

Mr. President, why not host another inaugural ball either at the Old Patent Office Building or at the current Patent Office in Alexandria, Virginia? Or even better, why not host one event at the Old Patent Office Building just blocks from the White House and also host another event in the Madison Building at the current Patent Office in Alexandria? After all, President Madison (whom the building is named after) was one of the primary champions of including patents in the U.S. Constitution. What better way to show the American people commitment to innovation and the high-tech economy than celebrating this special day the way that President Lincoln did some 148 years ago?

4 More Days Until Election 2012

It is undeniable that the Director Kappos has revitalized the Patent Office, but does the fact that the Patent Office is now well run mean that President Obama has earned 4 more years?