Patently-O Bits & Bytes by Lawrence Higgins

Constitutional Challenge to False Marking Statute

•  Oral arguments in the case of United States, ex rel. FLFMC, LLC v. Wham-O, Inc., will take place on July 7^th. The Federal Circuit will be resolving the constitutional challenge to the false marking statute (35 U.S.C. § 292(b)). The merits panel agreed to allow the government and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to participate in oral arguments. The court expanded the oral argument time to 20 minutes per side. This case could set the precedent to eliminate false marking lawsuits. Regardless of how the Federal Circuit rules in this case, it is likely to be appealed to the Supreme Court. [FMLC-Reply-Brief] [Order-Re-Wham-O-Oral-Arg] [Cato-Brief] [Brief-of-Amicus-Curiae-Chamber-of-Commerce] [USA-Brief-in-Wham-O] [Wham-O-Brief]

Article One launches 3 Patent Studies Focused on 4 Patents on by Lodsys

•  In response to the lawsuit Lodsys filed against several Apple iPhone developers, [Link] Article One is offering a $5,000 reward per study for the best prior art reference that provides a path to invalidity. The patents at issue are 7,133,834, 5,999,908, [Link] 7,222,078, [Link] and 7,620,565. [Link]To date Lodsys has sued 27 companies for patent infringement, so there is no way of knowing exactly who is funding the study that Article One is overseeing. [Link]

Google Granted Patent for “Detecting and Rejecting Annoying Documents”

•  On June 28^th Google was granted patent # 7,971,137, for a system and method for evaluating documents for approval or rejection and/or rating. The method comprises comparing the document to one or more criteria determining whether the document contains an element that is substantially identical to one or more of a visual element, an audio element or a textual element that is determined to be displeasing.  

What Impact Will Patent Reform Have on the Patent Office?

•  The Patent Reform legislation will allow the PTO to keep fees they receive from applicants in an account that Congress can’t touch. The PTO will likely start hiring more patent examiners in order to try to decrease the backlog of patent applications, which currently stands at around 685,000. The satellite office in Detroit more likely than not will open sometime in the near future, possibly followed by more satellite offices. Track one of the Three-Track program, which allows applicants to pay extra money to receive a first office action within a certain amount of time will go into effect. Patent Examiners will likely receive more training and be able to resume working overtime.

Patent Jobs:

• Salix Pharmaceuticals is searching for an IP and Licensing Attorney with at least 3 years of experience in pharmaceutical patent prosecution. [Link]
• BASF is seeking a Patent Counsel with 8 or more years of experience in IP transaction work and at least 5 years of experience in patent prosecution. [Link]
• Sutherland LLP is looking for an Associate of Patent Agent with 1-4 years of experience in patent prosecution and a background in Electrical Engineering. [Link]

• Baker Botts is searching for a Patent Agent with 1-3 years of experience. [Link]

Upcoming Events:

• The National Association of Patent Practitioners (NAPP) will hold their 2011 Annual Meeting and Nuts & Bolts Short Course at the Venetian Palazzo Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada on July 16-19, 2011. [Link]
• The American Conference Institute (ACI) will hold a Hatch-Waxman Boot Camp July 18-19 in San Diego. ACI’s Hatch-Waxman Boot Camp has been designed to give counsel and advisors to brand name and generic drug critical insights into commercialization and the pre-approval process, and also provide an in-depth review of Hatch-Waxman and other IP basics relative to small molecules and biologics. [Link]
• World Research Group is holding the 8^th Annual Patents for Financial Services Summit on July 27-28^thin New York. Guest speakers include David Cunningham, Larry Bromberg, Matthew Krigbaum, and Moshe Malina. (Patently-O readers can use Promo Code ENN794 for a $200 discount) [Link]
• The 2^nd European Pharmaceutical Regulatory Law Forum will be held in Brussels, Belgium September 21-22^nd. The forum will focus on recent developments affecting the pharma industry in Europe and will discuss the impact of US developments on European companies. (Patently-O readers can register with code PO 10 for a 10% discount) [Link]

 

Contact Lawrence.Higgins@patentlyo.com with leads for future Bits and Bytes.