- Patent Reform: The Senate has now placed the Patent Reform Act (S.1145) on the senate Calendar. [Link]. “Minority views” have been filed but are not yet available.
- BPAI Composition: The CAFC has denied an en banc request in the Translogic case. That case challenged the legality of past BPAI appointment practices. [See Duffy]
- Harmonization & Work Sharing: The PTO & JPO have announced a new bit of work-sharing cooperation. Under the agreement, a filing in one patent office would be deemed a filing in the partner office as well. If successful, this proposal could eventually replace the PCT system. [LINK]
- UK Patenting Computer Programs: A UK Court has now ordered the UK PTO to stop rejecting patents simply because they claim computer programs. [IPKAT]
- Valuing Patents: Accountants don’t know how to place a value on patents. The solution appears to be an arbitrary standard. [LINK]
