GWU Commencement 2013

The George Washington University had a fabulous commencement this year-- check out the video below!
http://commencement.gwu.edu/

Best Practices in IP Conference Spotlights Monetization of Patents

On May 29, 2013, The Best Practices in IP 2013: International Perspectives on Creating and Extracting Value Conference in Tel Aviv featured a special Keynote focused on monetization.  The first panel kicked off with the question "Why monetize patents?"  According to the panel, since 2000 the trend towards monetization has grown, particularly exemplified in the field of telecommunications and technology.  Jonathan Taub of the Acacia Research Group engaged the audience with an insightful discussion about how to monetize patents; whether to license them, or to sell them.  Companies are increasingly following alternative paths towards monetization, and this recent panel added interesting food for thought in the ongoing debate over patent trolls.

USPTO Celebrates Memorial Day

On May 23, The Acting Under Secretary of Commerce for IP and Acting USPTO Director Teresa Stanek Rea spoke at an Arlington National Cemetery Memorial Day Ceremony.  In her comments, Rea recalled how the original USPTO building, which stood in Washington, DC, had ties to our nation's military history.  She explained that this USPTO site once served as a hospital for Union soliders during the Civil War.  In addition, during WWII, most of the USPTO's offices were relocated to a tobacco farm in Richmond, VA, to make more room for the ongoing war efforts.  To view Rea's entire speech, please visit: http://www.uspto.gov/news/speeches/2013/rea_memorialday.jsp

Congress Continues to Focus on Patents

On the heels of the sweeping patent reforms instituted by the America Invents Act of 2011, there are several other pieces of legislation that would fill in some of the blanks omitted by the AIA.  In particular, these new proposals offer fixes for federal patent litigation rules.  This week, Senator Cornyn (R-TX) introduced the "Patent Abuse Reduction Act of 2013" (S. 1013),  which aims to reduce unnecessary and "abusive" patent litigation.  The bill would require plaintiffs to disclose their identities and the substance of their claim upon filing suit, heighten pleading requirements and limit discovery until after claim construction is completed.  In addition to the Patent Abuse Reduction Act, Congress is also considering the "Saving High-tech Innovators from Egregious Legal Disputes" (SHIELD) Act (H.R. 6245), introduced by Congressman de Fazio (D-OR), which would introduce a one-way fee shifting system that would require losing plaintiffs to cover the attorney fees incurred by successful defendants.  It will be interesting to analyze how these proposals move forward as Congress considers other key legislative packages throughout the year, and the battle to combat the growing patent troll problem wages on.

IP Analyst (Part-Time) West Hollywood, California

 

CuriousMinds.com is seeking an Intellectual Property Analyst who will work part-time (10-25 hours per/week)  with both the Engineering & Business Development teams (and then outside counsel)  on new patent application filings for mobile technologies.

Job Responsibilities:
• Draft invention descriptions and and work with outside counsel to complete provisional, non-provisional, continuation, continuation-in-part, and divisional patent applications with the USPTO.
• Translate innovative product specifications to invention descriptions, complete with necessary figures and diagrams.
• Work with the product and engineering team on specifications and design of new products.
• Assist in the ongoing prosecution of patent applications often in conjunction with outside counsel.
• Evaluate company innovations and product development for patentability and financial worth.

Job Requirements:
• Bachelor’s degree or higher
• Excellent verbal, written, presentation, and project management skills
• Strong ability to prioritize and multi-task in a fast paced environment
• Proficient in PowerPoint, Word, and Vizio (or similar program)
• Attributes: Self-motivated, positive, problem solver, team player, accountable, reliable, consistent, strong work ethic, focused, and organized
• Engineering background a big plus
• Registered Patent Agent a big plus Contact:
Apply by emailing us at: jobs@curiousminds.com.
Additional Info:
Employer Type: Small Corporation
Job Location: West Hollywood, Calif.