The Patent Prospector
News, information, commentary and "sassy entertainment" relating to the life cycle of patents. Patent Prospector is an "open forum" weblog in that submissions are welcome within the blog's categories.
Author: The primary author is former economist Gary Odom, aka the "Patent Hawk." Another regular author is Jordan Kuhn, a former USPTO examiner.
Blawg Related Categories: Intellectual Property Law • Patent Law • Consultant
Recent Posts from The Patent Prospector
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Gift from the Dead
5,761,645 claims a "system for enabling delivery of insurance gift payments" to beneficiaries. Owner Equitable Life & Casualty Insurance has sued rival American National Insurance over it, as part of an ongoing enforcement campaign. Other…
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Cut to Commercial
In years past, big-screen TV buyers gravitated to plasma displays, as LCDs were prohibitively expense for 50+ inch screens. But as LCD screen technology has advanced, plasma sales have receded. In 2008, four million plasma…
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Researching
On patent reform, the Senate shoots first and ask questions later. Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy hustled his cockamamie patent bill out of committee in April on a 15-4 vote. Now judiciary committee member Jeff Sessions…
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Fully Fueled
The hyperactive Obama administration wants efficient cars, hoping to implement fleet fuel economy imperatives that politically ran out of gas forty years ago. The hope for fuel-efficiency lies with hybrids, which cruise on electric power…
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B+
Monday, an East Texas jury awarded $1.67 billion for infringing a single patent: 7,070,775, which Centocor and New York University jointly own. '775 claims an "antibody or antigen-binding fragment." The patent applies to an arthritis…
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Requisite Clarity
In Bilski, the rogue CAFC ruled on the wrong grounds, and in the process warped the law, by setting in stone what were intended as guidelines. To afford case-by-case consideration, a court writes itself wiggle…
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Jackson
A contribution to the media obsession surrounding the death of the King of Pop: In 1993, Michael Jackson was granted patent 5,255,452 for a "Method and means for creating anti-gravity illusion." Specially designed shoes engaged with hitch…
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Rich-Media Invalidity
Another junk patent is on the prowl. How Neil Balthaser was allowed 7,000,180, claiming methods for creating and editing rich-media, is beyond rational explanation. There is a ton of prior art invalidating the patent. Balthaser…
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Convenience of Coincidence
Decisions made at the UPSTO have ironically spawned an anti-patent culture at the very institute created to protect innovation. These decisions have consequences. Conveniently though, the US economy has tanked, providing the PTO with a thick…
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Double Zap
Samsung and Sharp have been warring over TV patents at the ITC. Earlier this month, Samsung was found infringing Sharp patents. All the ITC does, or can do, is issue an exclusion order. Now the…