Posts in Legislation
A Third Option: Limited IP Waiver Could Solve Our Pandemic Vaccine Problems
In the early days of the vaccination efforts, Americans were anxiously online trying to register for a COVID-19 vaccination appointment. Reports of success at 1:30 am and 2:30 am …
Emerging Anti-IP Policies the Focus of Heritage Foundation Event
At today’s Heritage Foundation event in Washington, D.C., titled Restoring American Leadership in Patent Law and Innovation Policy, former U.S. Patent and Trademark Office …
Implications of Russia’s New Rules on Geographical Indications for Champagne and Cognac Producers
On July 2, 2021, amendments to the Federal Russian Law No. 468-FZ dated December 27, 2019 “On Viticulture and Winemaking in the Russian Federation” came into force. The amendments introduced two …
International Academics Push for TRIPS COVID IP Waiver Hold-Outs to Drop Opposition
One-hundred-twenty-four professors and academics from around the world have penned an open letter supporting India and South Africa’s proposed waiver of certain provisions of the Agreement …
Green Light for Unitary Patent and Unified Patent Court
The long-awaited EU Unitary Patent and Unified Patent Court (UPC) looks likely to be launched in 2022, after Germany’s top court rejected two challenges to ratification on …
USPTO Delivers on Senators’ Request for Patent Eligibility Jurisprudence Study
In March of this year, a bipartisan group of senators asked Drew Hirshfeld, who is Performing the functions and duties of the Director of the U.S. …
Will Trump Class Actions Against Social Media Platforms Revive Section 230 Debate?
Former President Donald J. Trump announced today that he is suing Facebook, Twitter and Google/YouTube in separate class action suits, claiming, among other allegations, that the …
Celebrating U.S. Trademark Law: Happy 75 to the Lanham Act
As the United States today celebrates the 245th anniversary of its independence, the intellectual property (IP) community will tomorrow be celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Lanham …
A Recent Senate IP Subcommittee Hearing Demonstrates the Danger of Patent Fallacies
During the Senate Judiciary’s Subcommittee on Intellectual Property hearing, titled Protecting Real Innovations by Improving Patent Quality, held on June 22, Jorge Contreras, Presidential Scholar and Professor …
‘Decoupling’ with China is Not the Answer
We’ve all seen him when driving by the strip mall. Trying to focus on the traffic, our eyes are diverted by “Tube Man,” a 10-foot tall …
Senate IP Subcommittee Mulls Ways to Improve Patent Quality (Again)
The Senate Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Intellectual Property on Tuesday heard from four witnesses on the topic of “Protecting Real Innovations by Improving Patent Quality.” The …
Reintroduced International Cybercrime Prevention Act Would Create New Cybercrime Violations, Increase Forfeiture and Injunctive Relief
On June 17, a bipartisan coalition of U.S. Senators, including Thom Tillis (R-NC), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) reintroduced the International Cybercrime …
EU Offers Alternative to COVID-19 IP Waiver That Supports Innovation and Addresses Supply Chain Problems
On June 4, the European Commission submitted to the World Trade Organization (WTO) its proposal for improving access to COVID-19 vaccines and treatments in countries suffering from vaccine …
Biden is Missing an Opportunity at the USPTO
Intellectual property (IP) made modern vaccines possible. It took billions of dollars in private and public investments in research and development to be able to create, in …
Reflections on Unintended Consequences of Proposed Patent Law Amendments
Senators Leahy and Tillis have proposed another patent law amendment for the Endless Frontiers Act (SA 2060). No defense or damages limitation has ever turned on the niceties …
