Section 101 of the Patent Act, establishes the foundation for what constitutes patentable subject matter in the United States. The seemingly straightforward language – “Whoever invents or discovers any new and useful process, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement thereof, may obtain a patent therefor” – has generated decades …
Tag: patents
Through the Forest Maze: Understanding Priority & Patent Term
Patent law can be complex and overwhelming, even for experienced practitioners. In re Donald K. Forest issued by the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit highlights one of these challenging areas: the interplay between patent priority and patent term. What Is Priority? Think of patent priority as your place in line at the USPTO. …
Patent Practitioner Ethics Rule Changes in USPTO
Ethics rules are changing for patent practitioners registered to practice before the USPTO
On-Demand Car Services and Patents: A Review
INTRODUCTION The growth of on-demand car sharing and ridesharing companies has become a phenomenon as a popular form of transportation in high-density urban areas.[1] This is especially true in San Francisco. Each company offers slight variants of the car sharing or ridesharing concepts. In car sharing, a car owner makes is car available for …
Alice in Wonderland: Software Patents in Light of Alice Corp. v. CLS Bank Int’l
By Brent T. Yonehara INTRODUCTION Alice Corporation v. CLS Bank International was recently decided by the U.S. Supreme Court in the closing days of its 2013-2014 term.[1] In Alice, the Supreme Court found that patent claims that do not “transform” from patent-ineligible subject matter to a patent-eligible invention were abstract ideas outside the scope of …
#TwittersPatents: Analysis of @Twitter’s Patent Strategy
By Brent T. Yonehara INTRODUCTION There has been a lot of commentary on Twitter, Inc.’s lack of patent portfolio.[1] It has only increased in light of Twitter’s recent disclosure that growth potential has begun to wane with unique users remaining stagnant at around 255 million users.[2] Furthermore, its chief operating officer resigned resulting from poor …
VOTING MACHINES, SECURITY, AND THE ROLE OF SOFTWARE PRACTITIONERS
By Brent T. Yonehara Undoubtedly, the right of suffrage is a fundamental matter in a free and democratic society. Especially since the right to exercise the franchise in a free and unimpaired manner is preservative of other basic civil and political rights, any alleged infringement of the rights of citizens to vote must be carefully …