Understanding how hardware and firmware/software work together to perform desired functions or tasks is an important enabler to unlocking the value of intellectual properties in the systems (including embedded systems) area. Many patents require both hardware and certain algorithmic features which are often implemented in firmware. Based on an understanding of various embedded systems and […]
Patents
Technical Expert Insights on Strategic Patenting
Whether you are building your portfolio with new patents, looking to enter new markets or looking to monetize, it is critical to have a well thought out strategy. Starting with some basic questions; what’s in our portfolio now? Where do we want IP protection in the future? Where are the markets going? Asking these questions, […]
Patents as Debt Collateral: Perfecting Security Interests
There will be many lessons to learn and conclusions to be made over the Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) fallout, but what we know is that SVB rapidly grew during the pandemic. In 2021 SVB’s deposits grew from $62 billion to $124 billion, in part due to the fact that SVB offered higher rates on deposits […]
Platform Technologies to Support Commercialization Among Diverse Communities
Lisa Cook, Professor of Economics & International Relations at Michigan State University, commented on a recent study conducted at Harvard University regarding the demographic data of inventors in America. Cook stated that, “throughout history, women and underrepresented minorities have not been able to participate fully in each stage of the innovation process.” Following the study, […]
Factors Influencing the Legal Quality of Patents
As I mentioned in a previous blog post, different aspects of patent quality are affected by different actors in the patent system. Improving patent quality requires careful examination of the various policy levers available to different actors. For instance, the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is bound by the statutes set forth by Congress. […]
Exploring the Policy Levers that Impact Patent Quality
During my tenure at the US Patent and Trademark Office, the agency engaged in its Enhanced Patent Quality Initiative. To effectively improve patent quality, it was important to understand the various policy “levers” that might influence quality (and of course to understand what we mean by quality, as I discussed here). What levers are available […]
Recent Rulings Suggest Damages Experts Have Discretion in Considering License Agreements Post-Dating a Hypothetical Negotiation
On January 5, 2023, in the matter of Willis Electric Co., Ltd. v. Polygroup Limited, et al., Judge Wilhelmina M. Wright of the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota denied a motion to exclude expert testimony that relied on a license agreement post-dating the hypothetical negotiation.1 In this matter, Plaintiff Willis Electric […]
The Roles of Competition and Geopolitics in Cybersecurity and Cyber-Crime
Recently, the Ocean Tomo Cybersecurity Report was front and center in an interview on the Peggy Smedley Show. During the podcast interview, we were able to dissect a variety of important topics related to industry trends, dynamic threats, capital markets, and intellectual property (IP) in the cybersecurity industry. More specifically, our discussion covered: Paradigm shifts […]