The process of filing an application for patent differs from one country to another. In this post we will take a look at some of the basic forms and also the details which are required to be provided at the time of filing a patent application in India. Depending upon the type of application to be filed, there might be a few changes in the Forms that need to be filed. Let us take a look at the most basic…
Patent, as we know is an exclusive right granted to the owner of an invention for a period of 20 years. Although 20 years sound like a long time, the term is actually calculated from the date of filing of the application or if an international application is claimed from the priority date of an application. Of the 20 year term, the period from the grant till the expiry of the patent is the real time a patentee enjoys the…
Christou v. Beatport
Christou owned night clubs, and Bradley was his employee. Bradley's primary role was to find good DJs and organize events at Christou's night clubs. By virtue of his role, Bradley had access to the MySpace account of Christou's night club group. While working with Christou, Bradley founded Beatport and later left his job.
Subsequently, Bradley started a competing night club after a few days. Aggrieved by his actions, Christou sued for trade secret misappropriation among other grounds.…
When an individual comes up with an idea followed by an invention drawn from that idea, it is wise on his part to monopolize his right over the invention. In such a scenario one has to seek protection for his invention with the respective authorities. This write up briefly summaries the essentials of patent filing.
Any invention or technology which has not been anticipated by publication in any document or used in the country or anywhere in the world before…
Zu Technologies, a non-practising entity, has recently filed patent infringement suits against KickStarter and seven makers of sex toys having haptic features. The patent in the suit relates to a device and method for interactive virtual control of sexual aids using digital computer networks. The patent is popularly referred to as Teledildonics Patent as it relates to electronic sex toys that can be controlled by computing devices. In addition to KickStarter, the suit was filed against omingle, Holland Haptics, Vibease,…
Earlier this year, the USPTO published a patent application, filed by the American automaker Ford, for a new car that would give users an option to remove certain car parts and reassemble them into a bicycle. The invention titled as “Collapsible Bicycle” could become an important innovation in the field of future mobility. The publication discloses a bicycle that can be stored in the body of a vehicle. With the new proposal, the automobile giant is trying to solve the…
Rejections under 35 U.S.C. 101
Rejections under this clause are based on the fact that claims do not fall within one of the four statutory categories of acceptable subject matter: process, machine, article of manufacture or composition of matter.
One of the ways to overcome this rejection is by claiming an invention by properly citing the subject matter.
In telecom patents, ‘signals’ cannot be claimed even though they are a part of the telecom industry.
For example : A method…
Conventional IC engines generally use diesel or petrol as a mode of fuel in the combustion chamber for generating power. A major problem with this is that the IC engine emits harmful gases into the atmosphere resulting in adverse effects on living things and environment. Another problem that the IC engines faces is the lack of fuel efficiency.
Caterpillar is a leader in manufacturing heavy duty vehicles and earth movers like bulldozers, articulated trucks, excavators, compactors, harvesters, etc. The firm…
Recently, the USPTO announced two new programs under the Enhanced Patent Quality Initiative (EPQI) that are designed to improve the quality of Patent Prosecution in the United States. This program will add more detail to the record of each U.S. patent application. According to the PTO Director Michelle K Lee “Patents of the highest quality can help to stimulate and promote efficient licensing, research and development, and future innovation without resorting to needless high-cost court proceedings. Through correctness and clarity,…
This post provides short briefs of two publicity rights cases, which provide insights about publicity rights on social media. A previous post on the subject covered a couple of other cases.
Ranveer Singh and Slippers
Just before the movie Kill Dil, a Bollywood film starring Ranveer Singh, Govinda and others was released, a company by the name 'Yo Custom Freak' uploaded a Facebook image of slippers. The phrase 'Kill Dil' was written on the slippers and Ranveer Singh's photograph was…