Advancements in technology as described in a patent application is done partly through patent drawings, one piece of fruit at a time. Sony Interactive Entertainment, Inc. is seeking a patent on using a camera to read position and motion to turn everyday objects into...
An important part of applying for a patent is finding if the device or process is already in existence or had been previously described. A Texas jury decided that Intel Corporation owes VLSI Technology, Inc. a little over $2 billion for patent infringement. While...
While an application needs grounding in reality, the ideas behind them can be unproven. As some high-profile patents from the government show, just because an innovation is currently fiction doesn’t disqualify potential applications. The U.S. Navy has a slew of...
You don’t have to reinvent the wheel for every patent. Improvement could be more than enough to keep the flow of applications going. And Apple is looking to do just that with a new patent that addresses the frailty of their charging cable. Their idea for cords with...
A special patent is not a distinction of worth. Rather, it’s a signal that certain circumstances may exist for the investors, allowing the patent to gain examination before others that are pending. It takes the average patent application a little over 15 months before...
You could enjoy a large amount of value with patents, though litigation may be a frequent stop along the way. Gaining the upper hand in patent disputes could be all the leverage you need, especially as the number of cases continues to rise. Patent litigation can hold...
International Game Technology PLC makes slot machines — more than any other company on the globe. And progress protected by patents can make sure they stay ahead of competitors. The company produces games with household names like Wheel of Fortune, and they’ll soon be...
Lost revenue from licensing isn’t the only price a company may have to face. While it could be the most obvious, other costs are likely to join the fray. Ericsson, the Swedish telecommunications company, has filed suit against Samsung over royalty payments and patent...
Establishing a trademark can be an important part of the business plan. But with changes coming to the fee structure for applications, there could be a few more line items to put into place. The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is implementing new...
Driving innovation is at the core of what patents represent, and those that do the driving earn their credit. Being listed as an inventor on a patent isn’t taken lightly, especially when there are strict rules for who qualifies. Inventors named on patents can enjoy...