Patent News | "After Patent Delay, HTC EVO 4G LTE Arrives on Sprint June 2"


By : Chloe Albanesius
Source : http://www.pcmag.com
Category : Patent News

Sprint revealed today that it will begin selling the HTC EVO 4G LTE on June 2 for $199.99.
The device will be available at Sprint stores and via the carrier's website.
The HTC EVO 4G LTE was originally scheduled to hit stores on May 18, but a patent battle with Apple resulted in the smartphone - as well as the HTC One X - being stalled at the border by U.S. Customs.
The International Trade Commission found that HTC smartphones infringed on Apple-held patents, and banned the import of devices with Apple-owned technology after April 19. HTC developed a workaround, but Customs had to verify that the technology had been removed.
Last week, Sprint said that it would start shipping to those who pre-ordered the smartphone by May 24. Yesterday, the carrier said it expected the rest of the devices to be released within days.
"We are excited to see our customers enjoying this latest generation of the award-winning EVO family," Sprint said in a statement.
The HTC One X is also expected to be making its way to U.S. store shelves, but is still listed as "out of stock" on the AT&T website. A spokesman referred PCMag to HTC.
For more, see Why the One X Holdup Hurts HTC. Also check out PCMag's full review of the HTC One X, as well as our HTC EVO 4G LTE review and the slideshow below.

Source : http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2405157,00.asp

Patent News | "RIM’s patents and network could entice buyers"


By : Peter Svensson and Rob Gillies
Source : http://www.guelphmercury.com
Category : Patent News

WATERLOO — Research In Motion is in steep decline. The company, once the crown jewel of the Canadian technology industry, is now worth one per cent of Apple’s market capitalization.

One way for the BlackBerry maker to stop the downward tailspin: It could sell itself to a competitor or financial firm. But who would step up to buy RIM — and why?

Late Tuesday, the company said it expects to post an operating loss for the current quarter, a sign that BlackBerry sales are falling even faster than analysts expected. On Wednesday, the company’s stock hit its lowest level since 2003, the year RIM went from making two-way email pagers to smartphones.

The stock has fallen 93 per cent since their peak in 2008. Since then, the BlackBerry’s dominance as the smartphone for on-the-go business people has been eviscerated by Apple Inc.’s iPhone, and more recently, by phones running Google Inc.’s Android software. Research firm IDC says BlackBerrys now account for 6.4 per cent of the global smartphone market, a third of what they had two years ago.

In that time, the company’s financial performance has suffered. RIM reported a 25 per cent revenue decline in the latest fiscal quarter, to $4.2 billion from $5.6 billion. For the full fiscal year that ended on March 3, it earned $1.2 billion, or $2.22 per share, on revenue of $18.4 billion. That’s down from net income of $3.4 billion, or $6.34 a share, on revenue of $19.9 billion in fiscal 2011.

RIM issued the dire warning about its business Tuesday, adding that it will lay off a “significant” number of employees.

Still, the company is defiant. Chief executive, Thorsten Heins, says he can turn things around with the help of fresh smartphone software. Heins joined RIM four years ago and was most recently its chief operating officer. He replaced co-CEOs Balsillie and Mike Lazaridis in January after the company lost tens of billions in market value.

“My charter from the board of directors is very clear: long-term value creation with RIM,” Heins said in an interview at the company’s headquarters in Waterloo earlier this month.

Analysts give the company only a slight chance of coming out of the crisis and back into the high-stakes smartphone game. To hedge its bets, the company has hired bankers to look at its options. It’s not actively looking to sell itself, Heins said, but it wants to be prepared.

“We are prudent because we know the situation is somewhat challenging,” Heins said. “So we are just looking at everything that could be an option. That doesn’t mean we are pulling on those options. But we need to understand ... what is our field of action that we could take in case we need to?”

Last year marked a turning point in the way analysts assess RIM’s value. Instead of treating it like a company with a future, they started looking at it as a collection of parts that could be split up and sold separately to the highest bidder.

Michael Walkley at Canaccord Genuity believes most of the company’s value lies in the monthly fees it gets from phone companies in exchange for running the systems that deliver email and web pages to BlackBerrys.

RIM has 78 million users connected to this system, but Walkley estimates that only 20 million are corporate and government users who are likely to stick around because of the communications security RIM provides. The rest are consumers who will jump to competing phones, he believes. That business is worth about $2.75 billion to a competitor, Walkley wrote in a research report Wednesday.

The other major component of RIM’s value is its patent portfolio. The company had an early scare in U.S. patent courts in 2006, when it was forced to pay $612.5 million to a small company founded by an inventor who had patents on wireless email delivery. Since then, it’s filed for thousands of patents to use as a defence against future suits.

Patents on wireless technologies exploded in value last year, as Apple and Microsoft Corp. started suing makers of Android phones, and they countersued. A consortium that included Apple and RIM bought the patents of a defunct Canadian maker of telecommunications gear, Nortel, for $4.5 billion last year. That compares with the $1.13 billion Nortel’s once-prominent wireless networks business fetched in 2009.

As a counter-move, Google bolstered its own patent portfolio by buying Motorola Mobility Holdings Inc., a U.S. phone maker with only slightly better prospects than RIM, for $12.5 billion.

Where does that leave RIM? Christopher Marlett, the CEO of MDB Capital, said RIM’s patents are worth more than $1 billion, and could be worth as much as $4 billion if a bidding war develops between Apple, Google, Microsoft Corp. and perhaps Samsung Electronics Co.

“It’s a question of how aggressive they get,” Marlett said. His firm is an investment bank that focuses on intellectual property, including patents.

Walkley puts the value of RIM’s portfolio at $2.5 billion, excluding the patents RIM bought from Nortel and shares with Apple, Microsoft and other buyers.

RIM has $2.1 billion in cash, but Walkley discounts this completely, since the phone business will likely start using up cash soon, and downsizing will require severance payments. That means the email network and the patents comprise RIM’s entire value at $5.25 billion, by his estimate.

That’s very close to RIM’s current market capitalization, at $5.4 billion, though a buyer could be expected to pay a premium.

The cash cushion also means that RIM is in no imminent danger of going bankrupt. But as the shares decline, RIM is likely to face increasing pressure from shareholders to unlock the company’s value through a sale, and to abandon the comeback plan.

A possible middle ground would be to sell the patent portfolio while keeping the rest of the company. Two months ago, AOL, once a pioneering internet service provider, sold and licensed its patents — which are more modest than RIM’s for $1 billion — to Microsoft.

Microsoft is one company that’s been suggested as a potential RIM buyer. The software juggernaut is trying to get back into smartphone software, but its Windows Phones haven’t been popular so far. Buying RIM could give it a chance to establish itself as a provider of trusted wireless email services, though moving subscribers from BlackBerry to Windows could be challenging.


Source : http://www.guelphmercury.com/news/business/article/735335--rim-s-patents-and-network-could-entice-buyers

Patent News " Technicolor Dissects IPhones in Hunt for Patent Payoff: Tech "

By ; Marie Mawad
sources ; http://www.sfgate.com
Category ; Patent News


May 29 (Bloomberg) -- When Apple Inc.'s next iPhone hits store shelves, Technicolor SA's engineers will rush to get the handset -- not to make calls or play games, but to rip it apart.

Technicolor, an unprofitable French company that invented the process for color movies used in "The Wizard of Oz" and countless other classics, plans to cash in on its 40,000 video, audio and optics patents to turn its fortunes around. The company has a team of 220 people dissecting every new smartphone and tablet from industry goliaths such as Apple, Samsung Electronics Co. and HTC Corp. for patent infringements.

"We usually send manufacturers a big file, with photos of the guts of their products, pointing to where they've been using our technology without paying for it," said Beatrix de Russe, a lawyer and executive vice president of intellectual property at Technicolor. "Once those images have sunk in, we can start negotiating."

Patents have become a technology industry battleground as mobile-phone, tablet and computer makers try to lure consumers with constant improvements to their video and sound. Technicolor, which made the first color movie 90 years ago, holds key patents in digital audio and video.

"Smartphones have become the focal point for lawsuits and licensing talks," said Yves Gassot, who heads consulting firm Idate Digiworld. "It's because the market is so huge and is growing so quickly. At the same time, the smartphone is where you'll find all the cutting-edge technology jammed into one place."


Motorola Deal


Google Inc., creator of the market-leading Android mobile- phone technology, this month completed the $12.5 billion takeover of Motorola Mobility Holdings Inc.'s mobile-phone business and its 17,000 patents. Equipment vendor Ericsson AB expects to increase revenue from its 27,000 patents, while rival Alcatel-Lucent SA says it plans to generate several hundred million euros this year alone from its 29,000 rights.

Prompted by surging demand for patents that regulate functions such as sliding gestures on touchscreens or the rendering of graphics for games and applications, lawsuits over smartphone and tablet technology have been filed worldwide. Samsung and Apple have sued each other in the past year on four continents over patent-infringement claims related to mobile technology and design.


Waking Up


Though Technicolor signed its first licensing deal in the 1950's, de Russe said, 'it feels like the rest of the world has just woken up to why patents are interesting.''

Technicolor has agreements with "all major manufacturers" and has also started talks with multiple vendors over new devices, she said, declining to give details on who the licensees are and who infringed patents in the past.

Patent licensing is the most profitable business of the company. The licensing division had a 76 percent operating profit margin last year, helped by 1,200 contracts with television, computer and handset makers. The company's overall operating profit margin, based on continuing operations, stood at 14 percent. Licensing sales totaled 451 million euros, about 13 percent of total revenue.

Technicolor, which has been shifting business from outdated film processes to digital techniques and software for movie- making, helped with special effects for the Harry Potter film series. The Paris-based company has refinanced its debt, sold assets in declining movie-equipment units, closed factories and cut jobs during the past two years. For 2011, it posted a net loss of 323 million euros on sales of 3.5 billion euros, its fifth consecutive annual loss.


'Dry Out'


Third Point LLC and Apollo Management Holdings, which together own 13.4 percent of Technicolor according to data compiled by Bloomberg, have been pushing for a sale of the company's patent portfolio, Le Figaro newspaper reported April 19. Third Point and Apollo representatives declined to comment.

"If we start selling our patents, revenues will dry out," de Russe said. "It's a very short-term vision."

In February, the company unveiled a three-year plan with a focus on expanding licensing programs to more devices and entering China, India and Brazil.

The market has started to react positively to Technicolor's revamp. While Technicolor shares are down 68 percent in Paris trading from a year ago, they have risen 31 percent since January.


JPMorgan Offer


The stock yesterday surged 8.9 percent after investor Vector Capital Corp. offered to boost its holding from 0.6 percent to as much as 30 percent through a capital increase, competing with a similar May 3 offer from JPMorgan Chase & Co. Shareholders are scheduled to choose one of the two deals on the June 20 annual general meeting.

JPMorgan has said it supports management's patent strategy, which it calls "investing for growth." Vector Capital said it would be a "committed partner in helping Technicolor execute its strategy."

Technicolor added 0.1 percent to 1.53 euros in Paris today, giving the company a market value of 341 million euros.

While the patent licensing business is lucrative, it often takes time before a company can cash in. Patent negotiations often last between one and four years, de Russe said.

The company is currently fighting in U.S. courts with Taiwanese manufacturers over patents used in LCD computer monitors, after it filed a complaint with the International Trade Commission. The process was started after several years of failed discussions.

"We've got a reputation for charging reasonable licensing fees and preferring friendly negotiations," de Russe said. "That doesn't mean we don't drag people to court from time to time."


Sources ; http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2012/05/29/bloomberg_articlesM4FO0Y0D9L3901-M4SMI.DT
L

Patent News " Neste Oil committed to protecting its innovations and patents "

By ; Hanna Maula
sources ; http://www.reuters.com
Category ; Patent News


Neste Oil Corporation
Press Release
30 May 2012 at 8.00 a.m. (EET)

Neste Oil committed to protecting its innovations and patents

Neste Oil Corporation has filed a patent infringement action against Dynamic Fuels, LLC, Syntroleum Corporation, and Tyson Foods, Inc in the US District Court for the District of Delaware. Neste Oil believes that one of its patents is being infringed by Dynamic Fuels, Syntroleum and Tyson Foods in the production of renewable diesel at Dynamic Fuels' plant in Geismar, Louisiana.

The action asserts infringement of Neste Oil's US Patent, which protects aspects of Neste Oil's renewable diesel technology, and was issued on 29 May 2012 and expires in 2025.

"Neste Oil is the world's leading producer of premium-quality renewable diesel," says Matti Hautakangas, Neste Oil's General Counsel. "Based on our proprietary technology, Neste Oil's NExBTL renewable diesel is the world's best and cleanest diesel fuel today. We have protected this technology, which is very important for the Group's business, with a number of patents and are committed to vigorously defending our intellectual property in this and other areas worldwide."

Neste Oil has invested some EUR 1.5 billion in renewable diesel production at its sites in Singapore, the Netherlands, and Finland over the last few years and currently has approx. 2 million t/a of NExBTL renewable diesel capacity.

Sources : http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/05/30/idUS40729+30-May-2012+HUG20120530

Patent News " Amarin drug gets 1st patent "

By : Lee Howard
Sources ; http://www.theday.com
Category ; Patent News


Groton - Amarin Corp. plc, the Irish drug company with research-and-development headquarters on Thames Street, said Tuesday that it has received the first patent for its lead heart drug, currently known as AMR101.

AMR101, which will be marketed under a different name if the U.S. Food and Drug Administation gives its stamp of approval later this year, has been shown to control the buildup of fat in the blood, a key factor in heart disease. It is expected to be an improvement over a blockbuster GlaxoSmithKline drug known as Lovaza that also controls fat buildup.

Amarin Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Joseph Zakrzewski called AMR101's patent approval "an important step forward" for the company.

The patent, known by its number 8,188,146 and titled "Highly Purified Ethyl EPA and Other EPA Derivatives," settles once and for all the question over whether Amarin's promising heart drug would pass muster with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. The company's stock, which surged near the $20 level after a series of encouraging data was released during 2010-2011, had been battered by late last year, falling to about a third of its high.

By Tuesday, however, the stock had regained much of its luster as investors came to expect patent approval, and Amarin's stock initially fell on news of the U.S. approval. But an announcement later in the day that Teva Pharmaceuticals and Par Pharma had lost their bid to sell a generic form of Lovaza sent Amarin's shares into a steep incline, with the price settling $12.27 a share, up more than 6 percent.

The patent for AMR101, which is a highly purified Omega-3 fish oil, protects Amarin's intellectual property through 2030. It also could remove any doubts as to the company's suitability as a buyout candidate or partner, though Amarin officials have not yet tipped their hand on which option they would prefer.

Amarin promised, however, that it would continue seeking other avenues of patent protection and said that it currently has more than 25 applications pending in the United States to block potential rivals from cashing in on copycat versions of AMR101.

sources ; http://www.theday.com/article/20120530/BIZ02/305309954/1044


Patent News " Stop-painting.com Introduces Superior Mark Clear, a Clear Heavy Duty Vinyl Floor Tape, Used to Reinforce and Protect Floor Markings Like Bar Coded Pallet Location Labels"

By : Press Release
Sources : http://www.digitaljournal.com
Category ; Patent News


Wake Forest, NC (PRWEB) May 30, 2012

Stop-painting.com introduces a more durable and cost effective way to visually organize industrial floors. The Superior Mark Clear is a heavy duty industrial vinyl floor tape with beveled edges and recessed adhesive. Applying Superior Mark Clear as an overlay on top of labels or floor striping tape make the floor markings last longer.

This is the first clear floor marking tape to feature Superior Mark's patent pending design. It is available in pre-cut strips or by the roll. "We have had some wonderful positive feedback from the safety manager of a big box retailer's regional distribution center," says Superior Mark creator Cliff Lowe. "They used Superior Mark Clear to add a layer of protection for bar coded pallet locator labels."

This is the only floor location label protectors that feature beveled edges and recessed adhesive system. Superior Mark's beveled edges can withstand more force. Whenever a forklift pushing a pallet passes on top of these floor label protectors, the pallet will ride up and over the beveled edge, rather than dislodging the floor label protector.

Sources ; http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/730523

Patent News "HTC phones given customs all clear "

By :  Nick Farrell
Sources : http://news.techeye.net
Category ; Patent News


HTC has announced that its latest smartphones have passed a US customs review and are no longer covered by an ITC injunction.
Earlier this month HTC feared that US sales of two new smartphones, the HTC One X and HTC EVO 4G LTE, would be delayed due to a requirement for customs inspections after the Taiwanese company lost a patent dispute with Apple.
The company said at the time its new phones contained a workaround to avoid the technology covered in the patent case, but that inspections were still required.
HTC has been given a good kicking from Apple's iPhones and Samsung's Galaxy range.
Earlier this year, HTC Chief Executive Peter Chou said he did not think that the company would get back to the days when more than half its revenue came from the United States.
Still today was good news as the company can now launch the new models to fight against Apple and Samsung. The gadgets have faster graphic chips and more advanced music and photography functions.
The announcement also shows how limited Apple's legal war on Android is. By the time that Jobs' Mob can get an ITC injunction, the phone which is the target is out of date and new models can avoid the troubled patents

Sources : http://news.techeye.net/mobile/htc-phones-given-customs-all-clear

Patent News | "Technicolor revenue grows from patents"


By : Marie Mawad
Source : http://www.sfgate.com
Category : Patent News

When Apple's next iPhone hits store shelves, Technicolor's engineers will rush to get the handset - not to make calls or play games, but to rip it apart.

Technicolor, an unprofitable French company that invented the process for color movies used in "The Wizard of Oz" and countless other classics, plans to cash in on its 40,000 video, audio and optics patents to turn its fortunes around. The company has a team of 220 people dissecting every new smart phone and tablet from industry goliaths such as Apple, Samsung Electronics and HTC for patent infringements.

"We usually send manufacturers a big file, with photos of the guts of their products, pointing to where they've been using our technology without paying for it," said Beatrix de Russe, a lawyer and executive vice president of intellectual property at Technicolor. "Once those images have sunk in, we can start negotiating."

Patents have become a technology industry battleground as mobile-phone, tablet and computer makers try to lure consumers with constant improvements to their video and sound. Technicolor, which made the first color movie 90 years ago, holds key patents in digital audio and video.

"Smart phones have become the focal point for lawsuits and licensing talks," said Yves Gassot, who heads consulting firm Idate Digiworld. "It's because the market is so huge and is growing so quickly. At the same time, the smart phone is where you'll find all the cutting-edge technology jammed into one place."

Google, creator of the Android mobile-phone technology, this month completed the $12.5 billion takeover of Motorola Mobility Holdings' mobile-phone business and its 17,000 patents. Equipment vendor Ericsson expects to increase revenue from its 27,000 patents, while rival Alcatel-Lucent says it plans to generate several hundred million euros this year alone from its 29,000 rights.

Prompted by surging demand for patents that regulate functions such as sliding gestures on touch-screens or the rendering of graphics for games and applications, lawsuits over smart-phone and tablet technology have been filed worldwide. Samsung and Apple have sued each other in the past year on four continents over patent-infringement claims related to mobile technology and design.

Though Technicolor signed its first licensing deal in the 1950s, de Russe said, "it feels like the rest of the world has just woken up to why patents are interesting."

Technicolor has agreements with "all major manufacturers" and has also started talks with multiple vendors over new devices, she said, declining to give details on who the licensees are and who infringed patents in the past.

Patent licensing is the most profitable business of the company. The licensing division had a 76 percent operating profit margin last year, helped by 1,200 contracts with television, computer and handset makers. The company's overall operating profit margin, based on continuing operations, stood at 14 percent. Licensing sales totaled about $562 million, about 13 percent of total revenue.

Technicolor, which has been shifting business from outdated film processes to digital techniques and software for movie-making, helped with special effects for the Harry Potter film series. The Paris company has refinanced its debt, sold assets in declining movie-equipment units, closed factories and cut jobs during the past two years. For 2011, it posted a net loss of about $403 million on sales of about $4.3 billion, its fifth consecutive annual loss.

Third Point and Apollo Management Holdings, which together own 13.4 percent of Technicolor, according to data compiled by Bloomberg, have been pushing for a sale of the company's patent portfolio, Le Figaro newspaper reported April 19. Third Point and Apollo representatives declined to comment.

"If we start selling our patents, revenues will dry out," de Russe said. "It's a very short-term vision."

Source : http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/29/BUDP1OOVTA.DTL

Patent News | "Android clears court review of patent claims"


By :  Dan Levine
Source : http://www.csmonitor.com
Category : Patent News

Google Inc's Android mobile platform has not infringed Oracle Corp's patents, a California jury decided, putting an indefinite hold on Oracle's quest for damages in a fight between the two Silicon Valley giants over smartphone technology. In a case that examined whether computer language that connects programs and operating systems can be copyrighted, Oracle claimed Google's Android tramples on its intellectual property rights to the Java programming language.

Google argued it did not violate Oracle's patents and that Oracle cannot copyright certain parts of Java, an "open-source" or publicly available software language.

RELATED: 20 essential Android tips and tricks

In addition to finding for Google on patents, the jury foreman told reporters that the final vote on a key copyright issue earlier in the case had heavily favored Google.

David Sunshine, a New York-based intellectual property lawyer who advises hedge funds, said the outcome of the Google trial was humbling for Oracle, which had it won, could have gained handsome payouts given the growing market for Android devices.

"It's a huge blow," Sunshine said.

For Oracle and its aggressive CEO Larry Ellison, the trial against Google over Java was the first of several scheduled this year against large competitors. Another trial is set to begin next week between Oracle and Hewlett-Packard Co over the Itanium microprocessor.

The verdict was delivered on Wednesday in a San Francisco federal court.

Oracle spokeswoman Deborah Hellinger said the company would continue to defend and uphold Java's unique functionality.

"Oracle presented overwhelming evidence at trial that Google knew it would fragment and damage Java," she said.

Attorneys for Oracle looked grim after the verdict, while Google lawyers smiled and shook hands. Google general counsel Kent Walker said the company felt it was important to send a message by taking the case to trial.

"We didn't want to back down when we felt the facts were on our side," Walker said in an interview with Reuters.

Although the jury found earlier that Oracle had proven copyright infringement for parts of Java, it could not unanimously agree on whether Google could fairly use that material.

Without a finding against Google on the fair use question, Oracle cannot recover damages on the bulk of its copyright claims. And U.S. District Judge William Alsup has not yet decided on several legal issues that could determine how a potential retrial on copyright would unfold, if at all.

Source : http://www.csmonitor.com/Innovation/Latest-News-Wires/2012/0529/Android-clears-court-review-of-patent-claims

Patent News | "Microsoft Wins Patent Battle Against Motorola in Germany"


By : Paul Thurrott
Source : http://www.windowsitpro.com
Category : Patent News

A regional court in Munich, Germany ruled that Motorola Mobility’s Android handsets infringe on Microsoft patents and ordered that sales of the devices be halted in that country. This action will commence after Microsoft has posted a $31 million bond.

“We're pleased the court agreed that Motorola has infringed Microsoft's intellectual property, and we hope Motorola will be willing to join other Android device makers by taking a license to our patents,” a Microsoft statement noted.

Motorola Mobility is the only major Android vendor that has not signed a patent licensing agreement with the software giant, and the only one involved in thus far unsuccessful legal battles aimed at preventing that licensing. Microsoft claims that Android infringes on many of its mobile-related patents, and over 70 percent of all Android devices sold in the US are now covered by Microsoft patent licensing agreements.

The Munich I Regional Court ruled that the firm’s devices do infringe on a Microsoft patent related to “communicating multi-part messages between cellular devices using a standardized interface.” To overcome the legal blocking of infringing device sales, Motorola would need to rewrite Android’s message layer, according to FOSS Patents. And since Microsoft’s patented technology is not standard-essential, Motorola Mobility isn’t entitled to friendlier FRAND (fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory) licensing.

This is the second injunction Microsoft has won against Motorola’s infringing devices in recent days. 10 days earlier, the US United States International Trade Commission ordered an import ban against Motorola Android handsets that infringe on a different Microsoft patent related to “generating meeting requests and group scheduling from a mobile device.” That injunction will be implemented after a 60 day review, the ITC said, and Motorola will most likely need to simply remove the offending feature in order to comply.

Motorola Mobility, now owned by Android maker and online advertising giant Google, said that it was exploring all options with regards to its loss in Germany, including an appeal. The most obvious option, of course, would be to simply license the Microsoft patents that Android is clearly infringing. But with Google as its new corporate overseer, that type of common sense is perhaps less likely, and would send a somewhat clear message to the rest of the industry about the shaky state of the intellectual property that the company borrowed while racing to make and improve Android.

Source : http://www.windowsitpro.com/article/paul-thurrotts-wininfo/httptinyurlcomd6gurk6-143225

Patent News | "Apple patents advanced stylus"


By : TEHRAN TIMES
Source : http://www.tehrantimes.com
Category : Patent News

Apple has applied for patents on an advanced stylus that will sense movement and provide feedback to the user when it passes specific points on screen.

The patents, which were announced by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, were filed a few months after the original iPad launch in 2010 and show that Apple is considering potentially adding an iPen to it's current range of accessories.

An Apple stylus would be a change of direction for the company, whose former CEO, the late Steve Jobs, condemned the accessory in 2007, saying: “Who wants a stylus? You have to get them and put them away, you lose them, yuck! Nobody wants a stylus.”

The California-based tech giant’s patents suggest that the stylus would be able to sense the amount of pressure the user is applying, as well as the angle the user is holding the stylus at, and as a result could change what their touch screen devices show.

For example, an artist using the device could apply more pressure to the stylus to cause a device, such as an iPad, to show a thicker line.

Similarly the stylus would also be able to provide the user with feedback, such as a vibration, “when the device is over, near or passes the boundary of a window or application.”

According to Apple’s patent this could be used to “emulate the sensation of moving a pen across a smooth surface while a lower frequency signal may emulate the feel of moving a pen across a rougher surface.”

The same patent also shows that Apple would incorporate a speaker into the device that would play different noises to the user, based on their actions.

According to Apple this could be used to “simulate the sound of moving a pen or a paintbrush across a piece of paper or a canvas, with the speaker emitting different sounds for emulating a pen or a paintbrush.”

Interestingly the patent also references that the stylus would be able to work in mid-air, without actually coming into contact with a touch-screen device, through the use of inbuilt accelerometers and gyroscopes.

Source : http://www.tehrantimes.com/component/content/article/98312

Patent News | "Apple licenses SimpleAir patents"


By : CBR Staff Writer
Source : http://mobility.cbronline.com
Category : Patent News

Apple reached a confidential license agreement and avoided infringement suit

SimpleAir said Apple has agreed to license the company's patents related to delivery of content on mobile computing devices by entering into a confidential license agreement dated May 16.

The deal settles the 2009 patent infringement litigation with Apple, though the financial details were not revealed.

SimpleAir filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Apple on September 23, 2009, in the US federal district court for the Eastern District of Texas.

The case was set to go to trial on April 23, 2012, in Marshall, Texas before the Honorable Michael H. Schneider.

SimpleAir stated it reached a preliminary settlement with Apple at the courthouse last month, shortly before the trial was set to commence.

SimpleAir also had sued ten other companies including Research In Motion, Walt Disney Co. and Facebook, though court filings reveal that settlement agreements were also reached with all of them.

SimpleAir said it is an inventor-owned technology licensing company with interests and intellectual property in the wireless content delivery, mobile application, and push notification market spaces, which means the company has

Source : http://mobility.cbronline.com/news/apple-licenses-simpleair-patents-280512

Patent News | "Apple applies for patents on advanced stylus: Report"


By : TODAY 
Source : http://www.todayonline.com
Category : Patent News

CALIFORNIA - Apple has applied for patents on an advanced stylus that will sense movement and provide feedback when it passes specific points on screen.

The patents, which were announced yesterday by the United States Patent & Trademark Office, were filed a few months after the original iPad launch in 2010 and show that Apple is considering potentially adding an iPen to its current range of accessories.

An Apple stylus would be a change of direction for the company, whose former CEO, the late Steve Jobs, condemned the accessory in 2007.

The California-based tech giant's patents suggest that the stylus would be able to sense the amount of pressure the user is applying, as well as the angle the user is holding the stylus at, and change what their touch screen devices show. For example, an artist could apply more pressure to the stylus to draw a thicker line.

Similarly the stylus would also be able to provide the user with feedback, such as a vibration, "when the device is over, near or passes the boundary of a window or application." According to Apple's patent this could be used to "emulate the sensation of moving a pen across a smooth surface while a lower frequency signal may emulate the feel of moving a pen across a rougher surface."

Interestingly the patent also references that the stylus would be able to work in mid-air, without actually coming into contact with a touch-screen device, with the use of inbuilt accelerometers and gyroscopes. THE DAILY TELEGRAPH

Source : http://www.todayonline.com/Technology/EDC120528-0000075/Apple-applies-for-patents-on-advanced-stylus--Report

Patent News | "Google Obtains Patent on Input Method for Glass Project"


By : Online News Heard Now
Source : http://www.onlinenewsheardnow.com
Category : Patent News

Google has obtained a patent on an input method that allows for its augmented reality glasses to be more responsive. From the patent description, users can have access to the HUD interface on the glasses through a ring or bracelet.
The concept of augmented reality glasses, under codename Project Glass which is still being developed, was displayed to the public for the first time by Google last month. With the aid of a HUD, the support is provided with all kinds of information. The futuristic glasses would include using voice commands in order to control it, but now according to a patent that Google allocated it may also want to use other input methods.
The patent describes an “input device” on the finger or hand that is worn, for example, in the form of a bracelet, a ring or even an artificial nail. An infrared marker is attached on this object is. By a certain gesture with the hand or finger an infrared camera in the glasses can emit a signal and software built in the glasses will recognize it.
It seems that Google considers it as an alternative input method for voice commands. However, possible launch date of the augmented reality glasses is still unknown. With this project we can see that Google is expanding its business to the realm of augmented reality as well.

Source : http://www.onlinenewsheardnow.com/google-obtains-patent-on-input-method-for-glass-project/1171/

Patent News | "New Apple patents reveal 3D Safari web browsing"


By : Ashleigh Allsopp 
Source : http://news.idg.no
Category : Patent News

In a few years time, you could be browsing the web and more in 3D, according to Apple's new Safari patent applications spotted by Patently Apple on Thursday.

The new patent applications detail a 3D version of Safari, which will allow users to stack bookmarks, emails, documents and applications in a 3D manner.

The patent application describes that the invention relates to: "The presentation and management of Desktop GUIs and opening windows on the desktop GUIs."

The new technology could enable users to group multiple open windows together, which are then presented in a browsable stack. These stacks could be represented in 3D desktop environment. "Open windows displayed within a 2D desktop environment can be organised into one or more 3D browsable stacks in a 3D browsable stack, where each stack includes open windows associated with a common value for a grouping property," reads the patent's abstract.

"A graphical representation indicating the respective value of the grouping property associated with each 3D browsable stack can be displayed in proximity to the 3D browsable stack," the abstract continues. "As the user browses through the open windows in the browsable stack, one window is displayed in a frontal view at a time while the other windows are displayed in a side view. When the user selects an open window from the stack, the 3D desktop can be restored to the 2D desktop, showing the selected window as the current active window of the 2D desktop."

When Apple talks about the grouping of stacks, it means each 3D stack will represent a different type of application, such as emails, web browser windows or word processing documents.

The browsing items could be represented in a tilted 3D space, according to another of Apple's new patents. "In tilted viewing mode, groups of several consecutive levels of hierarchy can be represented in respective browsable parades shown in different depths into a viewable region of the tilted 3D space," reads Apples' patent abstract. "With the combination of browsing laterally across the parades presented in the viewable region of the tilted 3D space and browsing up and down the hierarchy along the depth dimension of the 3D space, the user can navigate the entirety of the hierarchy in the tilted 3D space."

Apple patent applications for a new stylus that uses haptic or optical technology were also spotted by Patently Apple on Thursday.

Source : http://news.idg.no/cw/art.cfm?id=69070F50-C742-4013-6AFA9E0A0AEA1AC8

patent News | "German court rules Motorola infringes on Microsoft patent involving text messaging"

By :  Janet I. Tu
Source : http://seattletimes.nwsource.com
Category : patent News

A German court today ruled that Motorola infringes on a Microsoft patent involving long text messages on its Android devices.

The Munich Regional Court ruled that Motorola infringes on a Microsoft patent allowing people to send and receive SMS messages with many characters.

The court also ruled, in a separate case, that Motorola did not infringe on another Microsoft patent involving allowing people to switch between languages on their Android phone without having to install a different version of the same application for each language.

Microsoft and Motorola, which is now owned by Google after clearing its last regulatory hurdle this week, have been battling over patents in courts around the world. The cases the Munich court ruled on today are separate from battles the two companies are fighting over industry-standard patents.

Microsoft issued a statement on today's ruling, saying the company is pleased that "the court agreed today that Motorola has infringed Microsoft's intellectual property, and we hope Motorola will be willing to join other Android device makers by taking a license to our patents."

Motorola issued a statement as well, saying "we expect a written decision from the court on June 1st and upon review, will explore all options including appeal." It also said it was pleased that the German court ruled that Motorola did not infringe on the other patent.


Patent News | "Apple faces iTunes patent fight with GE company, report says"


By : FOX NEWS
Source : http://www.foxnews.com
Category : Patent News

A General Electric-owned company is setting the stage for a courtroom battle with another American corporate icon over allegations that Apple's iTunes platform violated its patent rights, the Financial Times reported Thursday.
SightSound Technologies, which is 50 percent owned by GE, is seeking unspecified damages from Apple for alleged infringement of three patents it obtained to transmit video and audio over the internet, according to the FT.
The Pittsburgh-based company obtained the specific patents between 1993 and 1999.
SightSound, which is no longer active in online media downloads, was the first company to sell music over the web in 1995 and four years later became the first company to sell a move online, the newspaper noted.
Documents viewed by the FT reveal that the GE-backed company communicated with senior Apple executives several times when the patents were first secured and continued to correspond with the Cupertino, Calif.-based management leading up to the launch of iTunes in 2003.
SightSound reportedly contacted Apple when it secured its patents because it wanted to include the group's operating system in its download service, according to people familiar with the situation. But a deal was never struck, the FT said.
Apple has filed a counterclaim against SightSound denying the infringement allegations, the newspaper added.
GE, which bought its stake in SightSound in 2003, declined comment to the FT. Apple and SightSound also declined to comment.


Source : http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2012/05/24/apple-faces-itunes-patent-fight-with-ge-company-report-says/

Patent News | "Ludwig's CEO Interviewed About Newly Patented Technology"


By : PR Newswire
Source : http://www.marketwatch.com
Category : Patent News

POMPANO BEACH, Fla., May 23, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Ludwig Enterprises, Inc. LUDG +40.00%  an emerging and revolutionary digital radio network today announced that Patrick Greenish is the featured CEO on an upcoming interview on Stock Legends Radio.

The interview will be published today at 2:30 pm EDT and can be heard by clicking the following link www.stocklegends.com/todays-alert/ . The interview will discuss the issuance of Ludwig's newly issued patent that converts unused digital TV spectrum into a high quality subscriber-specific radio service with multiple audio channels. This patent makes Ludwig very unique and opens opportunities for consumers to receive 50 new radio channels on a mobile handheld device.

Stock Legends is located at http://www.stocklegends.com .

ABOUT LUDWIG:

Ludwig Enterprises, Inc., is a publicly traded company that has developed a patented new mobile digital radio receiver The One(TM) radio. Ludwig Enterprises, Inc. is a revolutionary broadcasting company that will offer programming catering to the rapidly growing $1.5 Trillion multi-cultural market. During the past decade this market increased one new potential user ever 31 seconds.

Ludwig's secondary focus is the "Post 65" baby boomer market. In 2010 there were an estimated 40 million seniors; this number is expected to balloon to 72 million by the year 2030. Ludwig's programming content will serve this multi- Trillion Dollar under-served market.

SAFE HARBORForward-looking statements made in this release are made pursuant to the "safe harbor" provision of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements made by Ludwig Enterprises, Inc. are not a guarantee of future performance. This news release includes forward-looking statements, including with respect to the future level of business for the parties. These statements are necessarily subject to risk and uncertainty. Actual results could differ materially from those projected in these forward-looking statements as a result of certain risk factors that could cause results to differ materially from estimated results. Management cautions that all statements as to future results of operations are necessarily subject to risks, uncertainties and events that may be beyond the control of Ludwig Enterprises, Inc. and no assurance can be given that such results will be achieved. Potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the ability to procure, properly price, retain and successfully complete projects, and changes in products and competition.

The United States patent and trademark office may not grant a patent on a filed application or may grant only a portion of the claims made. Even if a patent is issued, having a patent does not guarantee the success of a product or the company which owns the patent.

Source : http://www.marketwatch.com/story/ludwigs-ceo-interviewed-about-newly-patented-technology-2012-05-23

Patent News | "Report: No Deal After Samsung, Apple Patent Talks"


By :  Chloe Albanesius
Source :  http://www.pcmag.com
Category : Patent News

Not surprisingly, settlement talks between Apple and Samsung over their patent dispute have reportedly not resulted in any agreement.
Instead, both sides are back in court arguing over proposed sanctions.
According to a report from The Korea Times, Apple's Tim Cook and Samsung's Choi Gee-Sung failed to agree on a settlement that would have ended the companies' year-long patent fight.
According to court documents, the executives and their legal teams met in a San Francisco courtroom for nine hours on Monday and seven hours on Tuesday. Samsung and Apple have not yet filed documents about what was discussed.
A Samsung spokesman said the company is "unable to provide any details of the meeting." Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Highlighting the lack of an agreement is a Wednesday filing from Samsung that accuses Apple of concealing evidence. Specifically, "Apple withheld 283 relevant deposition transcripts (totaling more than 34,000 pages of testimony) throughout the discovery period, and indeed for six weeks thereafter, preventing Samsung from using these materials during discovery, in expert reports, and in dispositive briefing."
A Dec. 2011 decision required Apple to hand over those documents by Jan. 15, but by March 2012, it had produced just 15 documents, according to Samsung. Apple produced all 283 documents in question by April 12, but Samsung said today that that's too little, too late. Samsung asked the court to ban Apple's experts from using or relying on the information contained within the documents, and to award damages.
In March, Apple accused Samsung of doing the same thing - failing to produce source code for nine functionalities found in its devices.
Patent blogger Florian Mueller speculated today that Samsung was looking for a delay to the case. "Samsung may hope that it will take a while to sort out between the court in California and the ITC as well as other district courts which documents Apple ultimately has to make available to Samsung," he wrote in a Wednesday post. "The California court can solve the whole problem by providing the clarification Apple requests. In that case, there won't be a delay, and probably no sanctions."

Source : http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2404795,00.asp

Patent News | "Kodak loses patent case against Apple, RIM"


By : TEAM ADAM
Source : http://www.todayonline.com
Category : Patent News

NEW YORK - Eastman Kodak lost a ruling in a two-year legal fight against Apple and Research In Motion (RIM) over a patent for digital image-preview technology, a decision that may hurt the value of assets Kodak is selling.

RIM and Apple did not violate Kodak's rights because the patent is invalid, United States International Trade Commission Judge Thomas Pender said in a notice posted on the agency's website. Kodak said it will appeal the findings with the six-member commission in Washington, which has the power to block imports of products that infringe US patents.

Kodak, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in January, contends Apple already owes it more than US$1 billion (S$1.27 billion) in damages for infringement of this and other digital capture patents, according to a bankruptcy court filing this month. Kodak has said a victory in the case may force RIM and Apple to pay for licensing and bolster the value of patent portfolios the company is seeking to sell.

"It adds another risk factor, or concern, for anybody who's looking at the value of the IP portfolio, because Kodak is still looking to sell it," said analyst Shannon Cross, who follows Apple and Kodak at Cross Research.

The company's two digital patent portfolios may be its most valuable assets, reported Bloomberg. The patent in today's ruling is part of a portfolio of more than 1,100 related to digital capture that Kodak is selling. The other collection covers imaging systems and services.

The judge's recommendation "represents a preliminary step in a process that we are confident will conclude in Kodak's favour", Kodak's chief intellectual property officer Timothy Lynch said in a statement. "Kodak has invested billions of dollars to develop its pioneering digital imaging technology, and we intend to protect these valuable assets."

Together, the technology is valued at between US$2.21 billion to US$2.57 billion, based on an estimate by a patent advisory firm cited in a debtor's motion it filed before a US bankruptcy court in January.

The disputed patent, which Kodak claims is used in all modern cameras, covers a feature that previews low-resolution versions of a moving image while recording still images at a high resolution. Higher resolution requires more processing power and storage space. Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics have already paid US$964 million in settlements to Kodak for using the technology.

Judge Pender said that the aspect of the patent that was in the case covered an obvious variation of earlier inventions. He did say that, were it valid, BlackBerry devices and the Apple iPhone 3G would infringe it, while the iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4 do not.

A different judge at the agency found the patent valid and infringed by Samsung, "whose products are similar to those offered by Apple and RIM," Mr Lynch said. The US Patent and Trademark Office also took a second look at the patent and upheld it in December 2010, Kodak said.

The case looked only at older versions of BlackBerry phones, said Mr Tom Sanchez, vice president of licensing and standards, in charge of all aspects of patents at RIM. The company hasn't seen the judge's full determination. While pleased with the finding that there was no violation, RIM will ask the commission to review his finding of infringement, he said. AGENCIES


Source : http://www.todayonline.com/TechandDigital/Digital/EDC120522-0000140/Kodak-loses-patent-case-against-Apple,-RIM

Patent News | "Apple VS Samsung patent war to be negotiated"


By : nicholshuyan
Source : http://www.thecitywire.com
Category : Patent News

According to reports last night, Samsung (micro blogging), vice president Choi Gee-sung, and Apple CEO Tim Cook, will meet in San Francisco in the United States Court, make consultations to resolve patent disputes.

In April last year, Apple filed a lawsuit against Samsung, which sued Samsung smart phones and tablet computers to copy the look and feel of Apple products, the two companies relationship broke down quickly. Soon, Samsung fired back, suing Apple for violating their wireless Internet access patent and requesting the judges from a number of countries to prohibit local sales of the iPhone / iPad. This ongoing dispute even troubles all the world court. So far, the patent battle between these two technology giants has spread worldwide.

Samsung Electronics said recently that the two CEO and Legal Affairs would appear on 21 to 22 May at the San Francisco Court of Justice. Choi Gee-sung and Cook, at local time 9:30 on May 21, made first consultation about the patent litigation, the next day at the same time met again to continue their consultations. Well-known IT observers, Dumbo, thinks that the president-level talks, is likely to mean that this is the last contest between the two companies.

CEO of Fei Xiang Internet: this major thing, if it is a relatively low level of leadership, hard for him to make the final decision, the negotiations between the presidents means to want this problem solved.

Although Apple and Samsung are keeping silence about the consultation, according to foreign media reports, the northern California Court of Justice responsible for two patent litigation recently informed that the CEO of both companies met and specified the date. Consultation location is the court in San Francisco, instead of the north court of San Jose, because it is appropriate for the judges who have been involved in the case during the proceedings not to arbitrate.

The meeting of Samsung Electronics and Apple will discuss the fee of giving each other patent. Samsung Electronics advocate that Apple has infringed the patent of the third generation mobile communication, while Apple advocates Samsung Electronics was against the iPhone and iPad design patent. If conciliation fails, the Apple and Samsung patent war has caught the attention of the world will be started in San Francisco, California, in July. Industry insiders estimate that in the evening, the two companies may be entered into the exchange of patent contracts to compromise.

Well-known IT commentator Hongbo: Apple master some of the smart phone patent, but Samsung it also has its own patent and may authorize Apple to use their own patents in exchange for the use of its Apple patent.

Samsung's two strengths is finished products and spare parts, which has created a layer of strange colors, because Apple is still one of the largest customer of Samsung chips and liquid crystal display.

Bo: Apple may win, or Apple's position is more pro-active approach, many things are pioneered by Apple, which will become a very important weapon to it to protect themselves against competitors.

Yunting, well-known intellectual property lawyer, said that Samsung has made some bow action, in fact, Samsung has also done a lot of compromise, a large number of design modifications on  Galaxy SIII , deliberately avoiding products to have the same appearance with Apple , this is actually a Samsung do a concession.

Xiang Ligang:  Apple and Samsung these two strong competitors, the dispute probably will not so easily end. I think the intellectual property rights of this problem is never the end, it may have other unknown litigation.

At the same time, the current proceedings countries excluding China, therefore, the Chinese electronics manufacturers would be difficult to benefit from it, but consumers may look forward to a cheaper product in the future. For example, the same product, if a high intellectual property fees, it is likely part of the cost passed on to consumers, but if not, this is much better.


Source : http://www.thecitywire.com/node/22103

Patent News | "Kodak Image-Previewing Patent Invalid, ITC Finds "


By :  Chloe Albanesius
Source : http://www.pcmag.com
Category : Patent News

The International Trade Commission has found that an image-previewing patent that Kodak is trying to assert against Apple and Research in Motion is invalid.
According to Kodak, the Administrative Law Judge's (ALJ) initial determination found that the iPhone 3G and BlackBerry devices infringe on Kodak's patent, but that patent is invalid.
Kodak said it plans to appeal to the full commission.
"In a previous ITC investigation, a different ALJ found this same Kodak patent to be valid and infringed by Samsung, whose products are similar to those offered by Apple and RIM," Timothy Lynch, Kodak vice president and chief intellectual property officer, said in a statement. "Kodak has invested billions of dollars to develop its pioneering digital imaging technology, and we intend to protect these valuable assets."
The case dates back to January 2010, when Eastman Kodak sued Apple and RIM for infringing upon its image-previewing patent via the camera apps in their smartphones.
In January 2011, the chief judge for the ITC ruled that neither Apple nor RIM infringed Kodak's 2001 patent. Kodak challenged the finding and the full six-member commission said it would review the ruling.
In a statement, RIM said it was aware of the ITC's decision.
Judge Thomas Pender's decision is subject to review by the entire commission; their decision is expected on Sept. 21. If the full ITC makes no modifications, Judge Pender's decision stands.
RIM said today that it is also battling Kodak in a Texas district court over the same patent. On May 9, the judge in that case suggested a non-jury trial to resolve the patent dispute, but Kodak objected and opted for a jury trial.
Apple hit back at Kodak, asking the ITC in 2010 to investigate whether Kodak violated patents relating to digital still and video cameras. Last year, the ITC ruled in Kodak's favor, however, and by March 2012, a New York bankruptcy judge denied Apple's bid to file a complaint with the ITC to jumpstart its pending patent suit.
Kodak filed for bankruptcy protection earlier this year.

Source : http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2404749,00.asp

Patent News | " Venus Remedies gets patent in South Africa for antibiotic"


By : Business Standard
Source : http://business-standard.com
Category : Patent News

Venus Remedies today said it has received patent approval in South Africa for an antibiotic combination to be used for treating bacterial infections.

The company has received its first patent approval from Companies and Intellectual Property Registration Office (CIPRO), South Africa for its antibiotic combination of carbapenem and aminoglycoside, Venus Remedies said in a statement. Commenting on the development Venus Remedies Vice President - VMRC Mufti Suhail Sayeed said: "We have made amazing progress to treat serious fatal mixed multi-bacterial infectious diseases through our novel antibiotic combination of carbapenem and aminoglycoside."

Having received this patent grant from CIPRO, South Africa, the company is hopeful of capturing a major share in the market, he added.

The company said that the global anti-infectives market growth for the period from 2009 to 2024 is estimated to be $99.13 billion.

The dose reduction to a therapeutically effective level with reduced side effects was the greatest accomplishment of this novel antibiotic combination as it is suitable to all age groups, Venus Remedies claimed.

Product is under development in accordance with the stringent international guidelines defined for developing a new drug and the company expects to launch the product in market by end of 2015, it added.

Shares of Venus Remedies were today trading at Rs 166.55 in the after noon trade on BSE, up 3.83% from its previous close.

Source : http://business-standard.com/india/news/venus-remedies-gets-patent-in-south-africa-for-antibiotic/165608/on

Patent News | "Patent ruling casts shadow over Kodak"


By : Richard Waters in San Francisco
Source : http://www.ft.com
category : Patent News

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Eastman Kodak has lost a preliminary ruling in a key patent infringement case against Apple and Research In Motion, casting a cloud over an upcoming patent auction that will help to determine whether it can emerge intact from bankruptcy.
The US International Trade Commission ruled on Monday that the defendants both infringed on one of Kodak’s patents, which governs the way images are previewed on a digital camera. However, it also concluded that the patent did not pass the test of being “non-obvious” and so should be declared invalid.
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The loss comes as Kodak, which filed for bankruptcy protection early this year, is gearing up for an auction of its digital imaging patents, which are considered among its most valuable assets.
The company has been talking informally to potential buyers in the hopes of attracting a “stalking horse” bidder who would put down an initial offer for the portfolio of rights, according to a person familiar with the situation. Nortel Networks used a similar tactic last year in the auction of its patents, eventually leading to a $4.5bn sale.
Having a patent at the centre of a high-profile lawsuit declared invalid just before the start of the auction would “throw a monkey wrench into the process”, said Jim Bromley, a partner at Cleary Gottlieb, who handled the Nortel bankruptcy.
Kodak’s decision to file a lawsuit against Apple was widely seen as a negotiating tactic, since Apple is considered one of the companies likely to bid for the Kodak rights and might be more likely to make an offer to resolve the legal dispute.
“It’s a risky tactic,” Mr Bromley said. While the ITC preliminary ruling only dealt with one patent, the fact that it lies at the centre of such an important case suggests that Kodak believes the patent is one of its most valuable, he said.
Kodak called Monday’s ruling a “recommendation [that] represents a preliminary step in a process that we are confident will conclude in Kodak’s favour”. It also said it would press its case with the full commission, which must decide whether to accept the preliminary finding.
Monday’s finding stands in contrast to an earlier judgment by the US Patent and Trademark Office, which has already ruled that the patent meets the test of being “non-obvious” that is required before a patent can be granted.


Source : http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/733252c8-a39a-11e1-988e-00144feabdc0.html#axzz1vaO54gPW

Patent News | "Apple, Samsung CEOs in U.S. court talks over patent row"


By : Dan Levine
Source : http://in.reuters.com
Category : Patent News

Apple's Tim Cook and Samsung's Choi Gee-sung have been instructed by a federal judge to appear for mediation in San Francisco to help resolve the bitter patent litigation between the two firms.

The U.S. case, the most closely watched in a global patent war between the two companies involving some 20 cases in 10 countries, is set for trial at the end of July in San Jose, California. Each company denies the other's allegations of patent infringement.

Patent expert Florian Mueller cautioned against any expectations that mediation, which is being increasingly used to try to resolve U.S. civil disputes, would lead to a significant breakthrough in the case.

"This dispute isn't ripe for settlement," he said. "Under the present circumstances, the two companies' delegations should spend a couple of fun days in Yosemite Park or Napa Valley, rather than meet in court only to pretend they're being constructive."

Apple, the maker of hit products such as the iPod, iPad and iPhone, has a complex relationship with Samsung, a conglomerate that makes computer chips, gadgets including its Galaxy range of smartphones, and televisions.

While Samsung's smartphones and tablets run on Google's (GOOG.O) Android operating system and compete with Apple's products, Samsung is also a key components supplier to Apple.

The U.S. company, which investors value at close to $600 billion, has accused Samsung of "slavishly" copying the iPhone and iPad through products that run on Android. Samsung, which has a stock market value of about $161 billion, has counter-sued with claims accusing Apple of infringing its patents.

A Samsung representative declined to comment, while Apple spokeswoman Kristin Huguet reiterated a prior statement that Apple needs to protect its intellectual property against "blatant copying".

Both companies have a lot at stake in the case. Their share prices hit record highs this year as they reported soaring profits, partly fueled by their dominant position in the smartphone sector.

Samsung sold 44.5 million smartphones in the first quarter of 2012, giving it a 30.6 percent share of the global high-end market. Apple's sales of 35.1 million iPhones gave it a 24.1 percent share.

"BIG GAP"

On Sunday in Seoul, the head of Samsung's mobile division said the South Korean company wanted to resolve differences with Apple.

"There is still a big gap in the patent war with Apple," JK Shin said, before departing for the United States for the mediation talks. "But we still have several negotiation options."

Court documents show the two companies have had at least one mediation session, although it is not clear if Cook and Choi were involved.

The latest mediation session scheduled for Monday and Tuesday will be overseen by U.S. Magistrate Judge Joseph Spero. He declined to comment.

Legal experts say the two firms are far from a settlement.

Samsung, for example, argues its technologies are worth 402,000 won, or 60 percent of the iPhone retail price of 671,000 won, on the basis that 3G is the only function differentiating the phone from Apple's digital music player iPod Touch.

Apple says Samsung's technology should be confined to modem chip prices, or 2.9 percent of iPhone prices at best.

In July 2010, just a month after Samsung introduced its first Galaxy product, Apple expressed its concerns to Samsung over its smartphone design and interface and demanded changes, according to Apple lawyers.

Samsung didn't reflect those issues and continued to release products that copied Apple's innovation, they said.

"Apple needs more time than it originally thought to reach a tipping point at which it has serious leverage over Samsung," said Mueller.

Cook became Apple CEO last year, taking over from the company's co-founder and inspiration, Steve Jobs, who had told his biographer he intended to go "thermonuclear" on Android. Jobs died in October after a long illness.

Cook has echoed Jobs' mantra that Apple's top priority is to make "great products" but he has also made his mark by revealing the U.S. company's production partners and initiating investigations into allegations of labor abuses in its supply chain.

Choi, 61, became Samsung's leader in 2010, after more than three decades with the company. He is seen as a mentor to Jay Lee, the only son and heir apparent of Samsung Chairman Lee Kun-hee. Choi, asked by reporters on Sunday about the court mediation, declined to comment.

An eventual Apple and Samsung settlement could have wider implications because the U.S. company is locked in disputes with major Android phone makers HTC Corp (2498.TW) of Taiwan and Motorola Mobility Holdings Inc (MMI.N) of the United States.

U.S. courts are increasingly demanding parties in civil disputes try mediation, although success if far from certain.

Last year, Oracle's Larry Ellison and Google's Larry Page undertook mediation in an intellectual property fight over Android, but no settlement was reached and a trial in the case is entering its sixth week.

"I can't imagine that the heads of a major enterprise of that kind would take any more seriously a decision of that magnitude, simply because they are in the room together," said Vaughn Walker, a former northern California federal judge who now works as a mediator.

(Additional reporting by Kim Miyoung in SEOUL; Editing by Amy Stevens, Vicki Allen, Maureen Bavdek and Dale Hudson)

Source : http://in.reuters.com/article/2012/05/21/apple-samsung-ipod-iphone-google-idINDEE84K06C20120521

Patent News | "Imports of HTC smartphones slowly resume"

By :  Steven Musil
Source : http://news.cnet.com
Category : Patent News

After a patent dispute with Apple held up imports of some of its smartphones, HTC says its phones are beginning to trickle through U.S. Customs.
It's unknown whether the One X or Evo 4G LTE -- the first two phones put in limbo by Customs officials last week over unresolved patent infringement issues with Apple -- are among those being released. Each model must be inspected by Customs and will be released once the agency completes its inspection and approves its release, HTC said today in a statement.
"Some models have gone through inspection and been released to our carriers customers," HTC said. "We don't have the status of each specific device model at this time, but we are working closely with Customs." HTC was dealt a setback in December when the International Trade Commission, a federal agency with the power to enforce bans on products shipping to the U.S., ruled that HTC infringed on Apple's patent for data detection. The process allows a mobile device to recognize items like e-mail addresses, phone numbers, and addresses in text and automatically move them to a calendar, dialer, or mapping application.
The quasi-judicial body said in its ruling that it would impose an import ban on some of HTC's products if the feature wasn't removed by April 19, 2012. Immediately after that ruling, HTC announced it would soon remove the feature from "all of our phones."

Source : http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-57437944-37/imports-of-htc-smartphones-slowly-resume/

Patent News | "Three hundred of Steve Jobs' patents, four stories down"


By :  Philip Elmer-DeWitt
Source : http://tech.fortune.cnn.com
Category : Patent News

FORTUNE -- First you have to find which of the Smithsonian's 19 museums houses the Steve Jobs' exhibit that opened last week -- not an easy task for someone unfamiliar with the monumental geography of Washington D.C.
Then, once you locate the Ripley Center -- a tiny circular building, just to the right of the Institute's big red castle -- and subject your backpack to the usual weapons search, you still have to ask (because there is no sign) where you can find The Patents and Trademarks of Steve Jobs: Art and Technology that Changed the World.
Then it's a subterranean voyage four stories below ground into a space that is deceptively, suspiciously large. A space deep enough to hide a vice president or two. Finally, next to the MathAlive experience where all the middle-school-age kids seem to be headed, there it is: A blow-up of Steve Jobs' face on the cover of Walter Isaacson's biography. And behind it, row after row of framed documents representing every patent ever signed by Apple's late co-founder.
Some are simple icons -- the iPhone's map icon, the air ballon for Messages. Some are objects so familiar they have become icons in their own right. The original Mac. That silly, circular mouse. The flying-saucer shaped AirPort base station. The Apple Store's glass stairway.
The first patent, filed on Nov. 3, 1980 and illustrated with the case of the Apple II, is described simply as "Personal Computer." The last patent, filed on Oct. 4, 2011, the day before Jobs died, is for "User Interface for Providing Consolidation and Access." After a search of several minutes I was able to locate design patent 504,889, unhelpfully named "Electronic Device."
It's on the strength of that patent, according to FOSS Patents' Florian Mueller, that Apple (AAPL) on Friday asked the U.S. government to ban Samsung's Galaxy Tab 10.1.
I snapped a photo and sent it to Mueller.

Source : http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2012/05/20/three-hundred-of-steve-jobs-patents-four-stories-down/

Patent News | ''NewProductHelp.com Tabbed as Official Marketing Representative for Forrest Food Storage Invention ''


By : Email
Sources ; http://www.pr.com
Category : Patent News 





Miami, FL, May 18, 2012 --(PR.com)-- Darryle F., Florida resident and inventor, has contracted South Florida invention assistance leader NewProductHelp.com to represent her Forrest Food Storage invention to potential licensees over the next 2 years. A simple yet effective new product designed to make the storage of all types of food easier, the Forrest Food Storage features a unique design that grants its users the ability to keep food hot or cold and store multiple food items within it.

The Forrest Food Storage will work equally well in indoor and outdoor settings and will provide unprecedented convenience by allowing its users to store a wide variety of items. Its proprietary features will also allow for the easy draining of liquids such as salad dressing or water. With its collection of appealing qualities, the Forrest Food Storage should have no trouble finding success through outlets and catalogs selling household products.

The Forrest Food Storage is also the subject of U.S. Patent 5,372,274 with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

This original idea is now being made available for licensing to manufacturers interested in new product development, especially in the household products industry. Darryle F. is hoping to have the Forrest Food Storage in full production and available to the public within the very near future.

After including the inventor and preliminary, non-confidential information about her product idea at no charge for a 1 year term in their proprietary database of invention information, the National Directory of American Inventors, NewProductHelp.com’s professional staff of writers and graphic illustrators then created a New Product Portfolio and Online Product Presentation for Forrest Food Storage, helping to clarify how the invention works and looks. A General Field-of-Art search through the database of the United States Patent and Trademark Office was also completed by an independent, registered patent attorney in order to provide the inventor with perspective on some prior art within the general category of her idea.

Having had an opportunity to review and approve the New Product Portfolio and Online Product Presentation, Darryle F. made a decision to accept NewProductHelp.com's New Product Publicity and Marketing Program proposal. Consequently, NewProductHelp.com will represent Darryle F's Forrest Food Storage for 2 years through a collection of dynamic promotional materials such as press releases, product brochures, digital renditions, a password-protected website, and other visual mediums such as a New Product DVD and potentially, an interactive virtual reality presentation.

Sources ; http://www.pr.com/press-release/413606


Patent News | ''HTC confirms court's order to meet with Apple ''


By: James Lee
Sources ; http://focustaiwan.tw
Catogery ; Patent News 

Taipei, May 18 (CNA) Taiwanese smartphone maker HTC Corp. confirmed Friday that it has been ordered by a United States court to meet Apple Inc. in August for a possible settlement of patent infringement litigation filed by the Taiwanese company in September 2011.

HTC, a provider of smartphones and tablet computers running on Google Inc.'s Android operating system, stressed that it is only a procedure, part of the mediation process in the case that involves infringement on data-detection technology in mobile devices.

Apple Insider, a website dedicated to Apple-related news, recently reported that Apple and HTC have been ordered by the United States District Court of Delaware to meet for possible settlement talks on Aug. 28.

The report also noted that although there has been no indication which representatives from each company will participate, in separate court-ordered moderated talks with Samsung Electronics Co. of South Korea scheduled for early next week, it has been announced that both Apple and Samsung's chief executives will be taking part in the discussion.

The Taoyuan-based company, however, rebutted the conjecture, saying that it is not considering to send high-ranking representatives to attend the meeting with Apple.

In addition, HTC said that the case has nothing to do with the delayed shipments of two of its flagship smartphones to the U.S. due to an import ban on its products filed by the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC).

HTC products that are imported to the U.S. after April 19 will need to be checked by the U.S. Customs for any patent infringement, but the company is not sure how long it will take to complete the review, according to HTC.

In a USITC ruling in December last year, HTC was found to be in violation of an Apple Inc. patent involving data detection. The company was given until April 19 to come up with an alternative or face a ban on U.S. sales of its handsets with the function.

HTC said earlier that the patent in question relates to a minor part of the interface and that the company will remove it from all of their phones soon.

Sources ; http://focustaiwan.tw/ShowNews/WebNews_Detail.aspx?Type=aALL&ID=201205180017

Patent News | ''Yahoo facepalms in Facebook patent fraud claim''


By :  Zack Whittaker
Sources : http://www.zdnet.com
Category : Patent News 

Summary: Yahoo claimed Facebook had fraudulently filed some of its patents, but Facebook hit back by proving Yahoo hadn’t even checked the records to see if it was right.

Yahoo’s lawyers are eating humble pie after the company made accusations that Facebook filed patents fraudulently.

Facebook’s lawyers not only managed to prove that the patents in question are legitimate, but that Yahoo’s lawyers failed to check the records in the first place.

FOSS Patents‘ Florian Mueller summed up:

“Yahoo’s lawyers alleged deception when they simply failed to do their job. Facebook obtained the record and provided it to the court, and in the process found out that nobody had even accessed (!) the record before.”

Yahoo fired off a suit in Facebook’s direction claiming the social network infringed a patent that in effect makes Facebook work. Yahoo claims it owns the entire social network model, and Facebook — being a social network — apparently infringes those patents.

Sources ; http://www.zdnet.com/blog/btl/yahoo-facepalms-in-facebook-patent-fraud-claim/77230




Patent News | ''Patent search options for technology firms ''


By : Bangkok Post
Sources : http://www.bangkokpost.com
Category : Patent News








Protection of intellectual property (IP) in the form of trademarks, copyrights and patents is on the rise, as greater awareness of IP laws in Thailand has led to increasing numbers of business proprietors seeking to safeguard their valuable IP assets.


In particular, patent protection has become hugely significant in technology-related businesses. It plays a major role in safeguarding newly invented technology. Since patents are protected on a country-by-country basis, it is essential to file a patent application in all countries in which protection is necessary.


To be patentable, an invention must be new (to the world), involve an inventive step (in view of what is already known) and be capable of industrial application. A patent search is a key tool in identifying whether the invention, for which you wish to seek patent protection, has already been made known to the public. The search may be classified into two main categories according to its purpose: (1) prior art search; and (2) non-infringement or freedom-to-operate search.


A prior art search is carried out to determine the patentability of an invention and the grounds for patent invalidation. Such searches are especially beneficial if you are a business owner seeking patent protection for your invention. The results derived from a prior art search provide information on relevant inventions that are known in any prior art documents, including patents, books, journal articles, publications, presentations and other forms of prior public use.


When you are applying for a patent, you can use such inventions as background art for your own invention. Furthermore, you can review similarities between your invention and known inventions, in order to accurately assess whether your invention is patentable (i.e., new and involving an inventive step). Otherwise, your invention may require further modification. It is also possible to use the disclosures on the known inventions to identify defects and undertake necessary improvements to enable your invention to obtain protection under patent law.


While many technology companies would like patent protection for their own invention, some merely wish to utilise their technology without infringing the patent rights of other businesses. If this applies to your business, you should conduct a patent search in the country where you intend to utilise your invention, and obtain a legal opinion on whether any valid patents exist that would encompass your invention. These opinions, referred to as either "non-infringement" or "freedom-to-operate" (FTO) opinions, can be classified into the second category.


The patent search for a non-infringement or FTO opinion is focused on the country where your invention is to be used or commercialised and includes only unexpired patents and patent applications that are under prosecution in that country.


The search duration is usually limited to the patent protection term, which means that it covers 20 years prior to the date the search is conducted. The search examines the language in claims of third-party patents and patent applications, to determine if the claims cover aspects of the invention in question or raise any risk of potential infringement.


Therefore, the keywords used in the search need to be carefully selected so that they encompass all the specific terms (and synonyms) to identify an existing invention in the claims. Once the search result is obtained, a non-infringement or FTO opinion can be prepared, depending on the purpose of the search.


While non-infringement and FTO opinions are very similar, there is one key distinction. On one hand, a non-infringement opinion focuses on a specific patent(s) that you, as the business owner, have become aware of and provides assurance that your invented technology will not infringe such patent(s). A non-infringement opinion is usually recommended when you plan to commercialise an invention that is similar to an existing patented one.


On the other hand, an FTO opinion has a broader scope and addresses the possibility of infringing any patents in force, regardless of whether these are known or unknown to the business owner. This opinion can offer you a degree of assurance that no relevant patents exist that will affect the commercialisation of your invention. This means you are "free to operate" without risk of infringing any third-party patents.


Sources ; http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/economics/293822/patent-search-options-for-technology-firms

Patent News | "Patent search options for technology firms"


By : Bangkok Post
Source : http://www.bangkokpost.com
Category : Patent News

Protection of intellectual property (IP) in the form of trademarks, copyrights and patents is on the rise, as greater awareness of IP laws in Thailand has led to increasing numbers of business proprietors seeking to safeguard their valuable IP assets.

In particular, patent protection has become hugely significant in technology-related businesses. It plays a major role in safeguarding newly invented technology. Since patents are protected on a country-by-country basis, it is essential to file a patent application in all countries in which protection is necessary.

To be patentable, an invention must be new (to the world), involve an inventive step (in view of what is already known) and be capable of industrial application. A patent search is a key tool in identifying whether the invention, for which you wish to seek patent protection, has already been made known to the public. The search may be classified into two main categories according to its purpose: (1) prior art search; and (2) non-infringement or freedom-to-operate search.

A prior art search is carried out to determine the patentability of an invention and the grounds for patent invalidation. Such searches are especially beneficial if you are a business owner seeking patent protection for your invention. The results derived from a prior art search provide information on relevant inventions that are known in any prior art documents, including patents, books, journal articles, publications, presentations and other forms of prior public use.

When you are applying for a patent, you can use such inventions as background art for your own invention. Furthermore, you can review similarities between your invention and known inventions, in order to accurately assess whether your invention is patentable (i.e., new and involving an inventive step). Otherwise, your invention may require further modification. It is also possible to use the disclosures on the known inventions to identify defects and undertake necessary improvements to enable your invention to obtain protection under patent law.

While many technology companies would like patent protection for their own invention, some merely wish to utilise their technology without infringing the patent rights of other businesses. If this applies to your business, you should conduct a patent search in the country where you intend to utilise your invention, and obtain a legal opinion on whether any valid patents exist that would encompass your invention. These opinions, referred to as either "non-infringement" or "freedom-to-operate" (FTO) opinions, can be classified into the second category.

The patent search for a non-infringement or FTO opinion is focused on the country where your invention is to be used or commercialised and includes only unexpired patents and patent applications that are under prosecution in that country.

The search duration is usually limited to the patent protection term, which means that it covers 20 years prior to the date the search is conducted. The search examines the language in claims of third-party patents and patent applications, to determine if the claims cover aspects of the invention in question or raise any risk of potential infringement.

Therefore, the keywords used in the search need to be carefully selected so that they encompass all the specific terms (and synonyms) to identify an existing invention in the claims. Once the search result is obtained, a non-infringement or FTO opinion can be prepared, depending on the purpose of the search.

While non-infringement and FTO opinions are very similar, there is one key distinction. On one hand, a non-infringement opinion focuses on a specific patent(s) that you, as the business owner, have become aware of and provides assurance that your invented technology will not infringe such patent(s). A non-infringement opinion is usually recommended when you plan to commercialise an invention that is similar to an existing patented one.

On the other hand, an FTO opinion has a broader scope and addresses the possibility of infringing any patents in force, regardless of whether these are known or unknown to the business owner. This opinion can offer you a degree of assurance that no relevant patents exist that will affect the commercialisation of your invention. This means you are "free to operate" without risk of infringing any third-party patents.

In Thailand, although a patent search can provide information on inventions that are publicly available, it cannot ensure that there are no other similar inventions, even if the search reveals zero hits. This is because the patent search does not reveal all the inventions filed with the Thai Patent Office; it only reveals those inventions that were allowed to proceed to publication in the official Patent Gazette.

Therefore, it is conceivable that some of the relevant inventions may not be uncovered by a patent search. Nevertheless, a search remains the most important and practical tool in assessing potential patentability and non-infringement of an invention. The scope and depth of the search must be properly determined and carried out in order to give effective and meaningful results that will help your business determine whether to patent.

Source : http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/economics/293822/patent-search-options-for-technology-firms

Patent News | "Apple Patent Application Lends Cre ence to Retina-Display Mac Rumors"


By :  Christina Bonnington
Source : http://www.wired.com
Category : Patent News

It looks like we’ll be getting MacBook Pros with Retina displays sooner than later — that’s the news from an industry expert regarding Apple’s supply chain, and it’s supported by an Apple patent filing describing resolution-agnostic user interface design.

The Apple patent application, simply titled “User-Interface Design,” lends additional support to reports that Apple’s next-generation MacBook Pros and iMacs could feature Retina displays. The filing is a continuation of a 2007 patent application that addresses the engineering challenges intrinsic to graphical elements that are first designed for low resolutions (75 to 100 pixels per inch), but later need to be reformatted for higher resolutions (150 PPI, for example).

The patent posits a method for representing a graphical user interface in a resolution-independent way by storing a set of both resolution-independent and dependent attributes in a single file. This would allow for the creation of “a visual representation of the object at any number of resolutions.” Something like this could potentially be useful in converting UI elements to a higher resolution both in iOS and OS X.

Obviously, the patent application doesn’t directly reference upcoming refreshes to Apple’s hardware line, but it shows the company has always been thinking about the engineering challenges it might face when producing gear with significant variations in display quality.

Another data point comes from NPD DisplaySearch analyst Richard Shim, who has looked at supply chain indicators, and has reported that higher-resolution MacBooks should be on the way.

Shim told Wired that NPD DisplaySearch is seeing activity in the production of two different types of panels: a 13.3-incher and a 15.4-incher, both coming from suppliers that normally make displays for Apple notebooks. The 13.3-inch panel has a 2560×1600 resolution, which amounts to 227 PPI. The 15.4-inch model comes with a 2880×1800 resolution and 220 PPI. That’s double the resolution of current MacBook Pros. Shim said the 15-inch model started production in Q2 this year, and the 13-incher looks like it will begin production in Q3.

When the iPad jumped to a Retina display in the third generation model, the resolution doubled from that of the 2011 iPad 2. “Consumers love Apple’s retina display, so it makes sense to extend it throughout Apple’s product line,” Forrester analyst Sarah Rotman Epps told Wired via email.

Portions of Mountain Lion source code have also hinted that Retina display would arrive in 2012 Mac products. Various insider sources have confirmed the Retina display upgrade to a number of different outlets. And ABC News reported that in addition to MacBook Pros, the iMac line would also be getting a high resolution refresh.

Source : http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2012/05/retina-display-macbook-reports/