Stripped of controversial provisions, lame-duck patent reform heads to Obama's desk *

USA - January 3 2013
On January 1, 2013—immediately after passing the fiscal crisis bill—the House of Representatives agreed by voice vote (at 11:13 PM) to approve the…

Co-authors: Michael R. Samardzija, Ph.D., Jonathon K. Hance, Constance Gall Rhebergen.

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Lame-duck patent reform goes almost entirely unnoticed *

USA - December 5 2012
With most lawmakers focused on the so called "fiscal cliff" during the current lame duck session of Congress, Representative Lamar Smith (R-TX) has quietly once again proposed legislation to reform the United States patent system.

Co-authors: Michael R. Samardzija, Ph.D., Jonathon K. Hance, Constance Gall Rhebergen.

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New America Invents Act provisions set to become effective in September 2012 *

USA - August 22 2012
The switch to a modified first-inventor-to-file system will not take place until March 16, 2013, but notably several provisions of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act (AIA) will take effect in one month, on September 16, 2012.

Co-authors: Michael D. Pegues, R. Casey O'Neill, Jason A. Wietjes.

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Federal Circuit passes torch from juries to judges for willful infringement determinations *

USA - June 25 2012
Just in time for the London 2012 Summer Olympics, the Federal Circuit, in Bard Peripheral Vascular v. W.L. Gore & Assocs., passes the torch from juries to judges on willful infringement determinations in patent litigation.

Co-authors: Ryan McBeth, John H. Barr Jr., Alan Albright.

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'Round the turn they're a-comin'! The wild patent enforcement ride of Marine Polymer v. HemCon *

USA - April 3 2012
Problems arise when you suddenly realize that you have prepared for one type of race and you find yourself in the middle of a completely different type of competition.

Co-authors: Mike Sellers, LaTasha Mabry Snipes, Jeffrey B. Swartz.

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