Imagine if you could own your DNA. Sounds simple enough, doesn’t it? After all, we’re all born with our own genes and DNA – it’s our own individual blueprint – so why not get to own what is already naturally ours? Seems like one ought to be able to file for a patent for genes Read more about Patenting Human Genes: Slam the Brakes[…]
Intellectual property law forbids the patenting of abstract ideas. After all, imagine if someone had patented the immutable laws of physics – that person could have an infringement case against everyone under the sun. But, is a software-based invention inherently too abstract an idea to be patented? Software programmers who want to file patents hope Read more about Software Patenting: Another Setback[…]
Over the years, The McHattie Law Firm, LLC has received many requests from our clients to review their existing employment manuals and handbooks, paying particular attention to the intellectual property (“IP”) provisions. Invariably, not one of those manuals provided thorough, and in many cases even adequate, guidelines for employees on the company’s intellectual property “Dos Read more about Does your employee handbook adequately cover intellectual property issues? *ATTORNEY ADVERTISING*[…]
The amount of money companies are prepared to invest on protecting their intellectual property is a fairly good litmus test for the state of the economy. There is concern that the current depression in the economy is showing no sign of improving. In a recent article by the Economist Magazine, the number of patent applications Read more about The Times They Are A’Changing[…]
Did the America Invents Act of 2011 kill “false marking” claims for relief? Yes and no, but, mostly, yes. It is now primarily the Federal government’s responsibility to protect consumers from false claims of patent protection. Wish us the best of luck. 35 U.S.C. 292 provided: “Whoever, without the consent of the patentee, marks upon, Read more about Did the America Invents Act of 2011 Kill “False Marking” Claims for Relief?[…]
The United States has always been at the forefront of innovation. Perhaps born of necessity given our “wild frontier” history or perhaps just dumb luck, for better or worse, the United States has more often than not been the spearhead of change. From the industrial revolution, to the more recent technological revolution, to the information Read more about The America Invents Act Doesn’t Live Up To Its Name… And What It Fails To Address[…]