GM sued over use of Einstein in ad – May 27, 2010
Albert Einstein willed his likeness and intellectual property rights to the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. The university, eager to protect its rights to Einstein’s image, is unhappy with an advertisement by GM for the GMC Terrain
The offending ad includes a large picture of an underwear model with Einstein’s likeness and a tattoo that reads: “e = mc2”. The four-page advertisement ran in People magazine last fall with a picture of the popular new SUV and headlines that said: “Ideas are sexy too… That’s why we gave it more ideas per square inch.”
For more information visit:
http://www.freep.com/article/20100527/BUSINESS01/5270411/1322/GM-sued-over-use-of-Einstein-in-ad
Indonesia, India Offers Better Prospects Than China, MS Says – May 26, 2010
Microsoft sees better opportunities in Indonesia and India than it does in China due to “very, very low” protection for intellectual property in China, Microsoft’s chief executive Steve Ballmer said. The low level of protection for intellectual property in China — where software piracy remains rampant despite nearly two decades of lobbying by foreign software companies — means the country is losing some of its attractiveness relative to other markets.
For more information visit:
http://www.pcworld.com/article/197181/indonesia_india_offers_better_prospects_than_china_ms_says.html
U.S. Patent Office loosens rules for green tech – May 24, 2010
The patent office announced Friday that it has changed the application process to attract more green technologies into an accelerated patent-review program. The Green Technology Pilot program was created in December, to encourage development of businesses with products that reduce use of fossil fuels and protect the environment. If accepted, those patent petitions will get priority screening under the one-year trial program. Inventions are eligible for the program if they include discoveries related to renewable energy, more efficient use of energy resources, or reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
For more information visit:
http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-20005735-54.html
USPTO Launches Page on Facebook – May 20, 2010
The Department of Commerce’s United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) today launched its official page on Facebook. Intended to engage the public and the intellectual property community directly and provide real-time information, the USPTO’s page on Facebook will offer a series of regular updates from the Agency on a range of issues, and gives Facebook users the chance to comment on, discuss, and offer feedback to the USPTO about announcements and initiatives. The page can be found at www.facebook.com/uspto.gov. In addition to communicating directly with the USPTO, Facebook users can expect to see an array of content and information, including press releases, posts from Director Kappos’ “Director’s Forum” blog, event information, photos and video.
For more information visit:
http://inventblog.com/uspto/uspto-is-now-on-facebook.html
Pirate Bay on MPAA, RIAA most ‘notorious’ list – May 19, 2010
The International Anti-Piracy Caucus, a group of lawmakers that works closely with the Motion Picture Association of America, the Recording Industry Association of America and a lobbying group for the software industry, named six Web sites that have made themselves infamous for being “overwhelmingly used for the global exchange of illegal movies, music and other copyrighted works.” The six were China’s Baidu, Canada’s IsoHunt, Ukraine’s Mp3fiesta, Germany’s RapidShare, Luxembourg’s RMX4U.com, and Sweden’s The Pirate Bay.
For more information visit:
http://news.cnet.com/8301-31001_3-20005382-261.html?tag=mncol;title
Microsoft To Pay VirnetX $200M In Patent Case – May 17, 2010
Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) agreed to pay VirnetX Holding Corp. (VHC) $200 million to settle a patent-infringement dispute, weeks before a scheduled injunction hearing. Under the settlement, the software giant will license VirnetX’s patents that secure communications on next-generation mobile-phone networks.
VirnetX had alleged in a February 2007 suit that Microsoft infringed two of its U.S. patents by including VPN technology in Microsoft’s Windows and Office communications server products. In March, a jury recommended that Microsoft pay $105.8 million for infringing VirnetX’s VPN technology. VirnetX filed a new motion against Microsoft on March 17, alleging infringement of the patents in Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 products. On June 2, the two companies were due back in front of the judge for an injunction hearing.
For more information visit:
http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20100517-711030.html?mod=WSJ_latestheadlines
