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Policy & Regulation
In Gleevec Feud, Novartis Targets Indian Patent Rules
Friday, August 18, 2006
In its ongoing battle to patent its cancer treatment Gleevec in India, Novartis AG has lashed out not only at the rejection of its patent application earlier this year, but at a key section of India’s recently enacted patent laws. |
In HIV/AIDS Fight, Tough Choices Loom For Thailand
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Weeks after protestors rallied against British drug maker GlaxoSmithKline’s efforts to patent an anti-retroviral in Thailand, the World Bank warned in a report Wednesday that the country must decide whether to shell out market prices for patented drugs as a rising number of Thais living with HIV/AIDS are forced to turn to so-called second-line drugs. |
Abbott Slashes HIV Drug Price For Developing Nations
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
Still struggling with how to protect its patent rights, drug maker Abbott Laboratories Inc. has said it will launch new initiatives aimed at expanding the availability of its new HIV medicine in the developing world. |
Reactions Mixed To Latest Senate Patent Reform Bill
Friday, August 04, 2006
Generic drug makers expressed concern Friday about a new patent bill that would allow patentees to commit inequitable conduct before the Patent and Trademark Office without penalty. |
Apple Responds to Scandinavian Antitrust Inquiry
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
Apple Computer Inc. has met a deadline imposed by a Scandinavian federal consumer agency to respond to claims that it is violating antitrust laws by not making songs purchased on its online music store compatible with other brands’ mp3 players. |
Trademark Riff Divides Canadian Gay Groups
Monday, July 31, 2006
A dispute over intellectual property is threatening to divide the gay community in Canada as provincial groups object to rights for the word “pride” being granted to the country’s biggest gay organization. |
"Rocket Docket" Bill Passes House Markup
Thursday, July 27, 2006
Legislation creating so-called “Rocket Dockets” to speed up patent cases and reduce reversal rates on appeal eased through a Congressional markup Thursday after concerns about possible forum shopping were addressed. |
Korea Pushes Drug-Pricing Law
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
With South Korea and the United States still tussling over trade agreements for pharmaceuticals, South Korea intends to forge ahead with drug-pricing legislation that could have a substantial material impact on U.S. drug sales in Korea. |
FTC Commissioner Slams Authorized Generics
Thursday, July 20, 2006
Patent litigation that ends in authorized generic agreements poses a significant threat to competition in the pharmaceutical industry, Federal Trade Commissioner Jon Leibowitz said Thursday at a hearing before the U.S. Senate Special Commission on Aging. |
E.U. Patent Law Waiting On French Approval
Friday, July 14, 2006
The European Commission has come closer to ratifying a patent rule to ease translation requirements, a move that will make the implementation of a new E.U.-wide patent system more likely. |
New Study Supports Biotech Fears Over USPTO Changes
Thursday, July 13, 2006
With the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on the brink of implementing proposed changes to continuing application procedures, a new study contends that the amendments will have an adverse effect on the biotechnology and pharmaceutical areas. |
Congress Wary Of Tax Business Method Patents
Monday, July 10, 2006
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office is preparing to launch its defense on Capitol Hill of the existence of business method patents for tax procedures, after various patented tax schemes drew Congressional ire. |
French "iTunes Law" Threatens IP Rights
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
The so-called “iTunes law” passed by French lawmakers Friday is drawing fire from critics who equate the legislation’s information-sharing requirements with theft, despite a recently added provision that would allow digital music providers to get around the requirements by forming agreements with copyright holders. |
Big Pharma Lashes Out At Generic Competition
Thursday, June 29, 2006
Brand-name drug manufacturers, facing potentially billions of dollars in losses when their patent protection on drugs expires, are attempting to protect their market shares by slashing prices to undercut the generic competition--a move that has some accusing the pharmaceutical companies of predatory pricing. |
Supreme Court Passes On Schering-Plough Appeal
Monday, June 26, 2006
In a move that could open the floodgates for controversial patent settlement deals between brand-name and generic drug companies, the nation’s highest court Monday turned down the U.S. Federal Trade Commission’s appeal in the closely watched Schering-Plough case. |
USPTO Test Program Would Accelerate Exam Process
Monday, June 26, 2006
An “accelerated examination” program for patent applicants who wish to complete the process in under a year will be offered for those willing to put in a little extra work, the United States Patent and Trademark Office announced Monday. |
French Lawmakers Draft Compromise iPod Law
Friday, June 23, 2006
In a significant compromise, French lawmakers voted on Thursday in favor of a copyright law that would force companies to make their music players compatible with similar products, but not force them to share copy-protection formats with rivals. |
House Subcommittee OKs $1.77B USPTO Funding Bill
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
As a growing backlog of patent filings at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office continues to draw ire, a Congressional subcommittee has given the green light to a bill that will provide billions of dollars in funding to the agency in fiscal year 2007. |
"Dog Ate My Homework" Bill Stirs Controversy
Monday, June 19, 2006
After a major drug company missed its patent extension deadline by one day, a bill has been proposed in the U.S. House of Representatives that would give the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office discretion with tardy filings. |
"Patent Troll" Debate A Waste Of Time, Congress Told
Thursday, June 15, 2006
The U.S. House of Representatives heard testimony from industry Thursday about the problem of so-called patent trolls, but the only thing agreed on was that defining the derogatory term is a waste of time. |
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French Tax Raises Money For Drugs—And IP Concerns
As international governments and drug companies struggle to find a balance between protection of intellectual property and the rights of poor nations to access crucial medications, a controversial new French initiative stands to fuel the growing debate by pressuring the pharmaceutical industry to lower its prices. |
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Latest Articles
London Fog Lets Go Of Trademark
Monday, August 21, 2006
Still selling off its assets, bankrupt rainwear maker London Fog Group Inc. has unloaded its famed trademark, with Iconix Brand Group Inc. snapping up the recognizable brand for $30.5 million in cash and $7 million in stock.
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No End In Sight In Plavix Battle
Monday, August 21, 2006
Attorneys spent a second day in court Monday arguing over whether Apotex’ generic version of the blockbuster blood thinner Plavix should be allowed on the market.
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Lengthy Patent Battle Wages On For Microsoft
Monday, August 21, 2006
Timeline Inc. announced Monday that it has terminated a limited license with Microsoft Corp. for use of its patents with the software giant’s SQL Servers, and has asked a federal court to add Microsoft to a patent infringement lawsuit.
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eBay Opinion Doesn’t Affect Preliminary Injunctions, Judge Rules
Monday, August 21, 2006
A federal judge has ruled that a landmark Supreme Court decision involving eBay only relates to permanent injunctions and not preliminary ones.
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Federal Circuit Overturns Jury Verdict Against ACell
Monday, August 21, 2006
The Federal Circuit has overturned a jury verdict that found biotechnology company ACell Inc. liable for patent infringement of a tissue-engineering method for healing wounds and scars, ruling against Cook Biotech Inc. and Purdue Research Foundation.
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Silicon Graphics To Retain Paul Hastings
Monday, August 21, 2006
Silicon Graphics Inc. has requested permission to hire Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP to act as its special intellectual property counsel.
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Courts Write History on Permanent Injunctions In Patent Actions
Monday, August 21, 2006
Although a few more pages have been filled on the subject, there are still more pages that need to be written before the full impact and proper manner of applying the logic set forth in eBay will be understood, say Anthony F. Lo Cicero and Charles R. Macedo of Amster, Rothstein & Ebenstein LLP.
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DexCom Scores Stay, Partial Dismissal In Abbott Suit
Friday, August 18, 2006
DexCom Inc. revealed Friday that it received a favorable ruling in a patent infringement dispute with rival Abbott Diabetes Care Inc. over technology related to glucose monitors used by diabetics.
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EchoStar Wins Block Of Damaging DVR Injunction
Friday, August 18, 2006
The U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Federal Circuit Friday blocked a temporary injunction that would have prevented Echostar Communication Corp. from selling some of its digitial video recorders and stopped the service of about 4 million DVRs within 30 days.
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Gloves Come Off In Plavix Battle
Friday, August 18, 2006
Canadian generic drug maker Apotex has accused Bristol-Myers of engaging in illegal secret side deals that led to a Department of Justice investigation into a Plavix settlement agreement.
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