IPWatchdog

This week in Washington IP news, several committee hearings in the House of Representatives will focus on major tech issues. The House Oversight Committee on Thursday explores the energy impacts of cryptocurrency mining, while on Wednesday afternoon the House Europe Subcommittee will discuss ways to improve resiliency in transatlantic supply chains for critical technologies. Elsewhere, the Center for Strategic & International Studies will welcome former USPTO Director Andrei Iancu for a discussion regarding whether America’s tech policy is forcing the nation into another Sputnik moment in the race against China to build a strong domestic semiconductor industry.

This week in Other Barks & Bites: Nominees Kathi Vidal and Judge Leonard Stark clear the Senate Judiciary Committee; PTAB Precedential Opinion Panel says Fedwire confirmation constitutes payment for purpose of inter partes review (IPR) filing date; IFI CLAIMS reports show that IBM leads U.S. patent grants and Samsung leads global patent ownership; the Fifth Circuit affirms a bankruptcy court’s approval of the sale of a cargo vessel incorporating patented technology; the Supreme Court denies certiorari to Warsaw Orthopedic’s appeal of a ruling that it breached an agreement to pay patent royalties; Alan Davidson is confirmed as head of the NTIA to direct $48.2 billion broadband infrastructure investment; a coalition of 28 property rights groups oppose the recent draft policy statement on negotiation FRAND licensing terms for SEPs; and more.

This week in Washington IP news, following a cancellation last week, the Senate Judiciary Committee will vote this week on a series of nominations from the Biden Administrations to fill vacancies at both the Federal Circuit and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. In the House of Representatives, the Oversight Committee explores possible updates to the Federal Information Security Management Act in light of a spate of cyber attacks on federal agencies, while the Agriculture Committee focuses on the impact of electric vehicle investments in U.S. agriculture and rural communities. Elsewhere, the Federalist Society hosts an event with two former USPTO Directors on the potential impacts of the proposed TRIPS waiver for COVID-19 vaccines, and the Information Technology & Innovation Foundation explores the potential of a national strategic-industry policy in helping the U.S. meet the challenges of its competitive economic rival China.

This week in Other Barks & Bites: China unveils its goals for improving IP rights during the country’s 14th Five-Year Plan, even as the country’s copyright administration announces a ban on most exclusive music licensing deals; the Federal Circuit affirms the validity of Novartis patent claims over Chief Judge Moore’s dissent over the majority’s treatment of the written description requirement; the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) rules that Google audio players infringe upon Sonos patents and enters a limited exclusion order against their importation; Senator Tillis announces his intention to vote in favor of confirming Kathi Vidal as USPTO Director; hedge funds shed tech stocks at the highest rate in more than 10 years; Allele settles its patent infringement suit against Pfizer and BioNTech over their development of a COVID-19 vaccine; and French data protection regulators announce fines against American tech firms over their use of tracking cookies, including a record fine against Google.