Ernie recently posted on Switching to Mac makes you feel good, and it’s good for you and I thought that I might give an update on my partial switch to a Mac laptop (I still use Windows XP computers at work and home and think that XP is a pretty decent OS (in comparison to [...]
Monthly Archives: December 2004
Another way to rank websites
PubSub (a "matching service that instantly notifies you when new content is created that matches your subscription") has a new feature called "LinkRank" which ranks websites (including weblogs) by "measuring the strength, persistence, and vitality of links appearing in weblogs." [Via BoingBoing.net]
Lipitor, fees, U2, make-up, Hooters and humor
Time for my latest “IP Memes”: “IP Memes: Lipitor No More” and Other Hot IP Issues”
LIPITOR NO MORE?
In September, IP Memes discussed a request filed by the Public Patent Foundation (PUBPAT) for reexamination of Pfizer’s patent (USPN 5,969,156) covering Lipitor, Pfizer’s extremely profitable cholesterol lowering drug. After examining the reexamination request, the US Patent and [...]
Questions from readers…published patent applications vs. patents
This morning I received a question via email.
I was wondering: what is the difference between a Published Patent Application and Patent. What longevity does a Published Application has before considered expired?
Good questions.
A pending patent application is typically kept secret. However, currently (unless you request otherwise) all patent applications are “published” 18 months (or earlier [...]
New USPTO Fee Schedule Effective TODAY
President Bush TODAY signed into law the latest increase in USPTO fees. Thus, make sure any fees you paid today are the correct amount!!! The USTPO draft fee sheet is HERE.
PTP and PO have additional details.
Resolving to improve client relations and keep clients happy
Matt at the [non]billable hour blog is giving us all a peek at his resolutions for the next year. It is an excellent read. Out of all of the blogs I read, Matt’s the [non]billable hour blog has had the greatest impact on my practice…how I think, how I treat people, how I bill, [...]
Invent-Tech (Invention-Technologies) and Idaho inventors
A northern Idaho newspaper (Coeur d’Alene Press) with a pair of articles on Invent-Tech by staff writer Rick Thomas.
The first ("Paying for a Promise") is about a number of Idaho inventors who decided to use Invent-Tech (Invention Technologies) invention development/promotion services. The article seems to indicate that while the inventors are not unhappy with [...]
If you can’t beat them…part II
I recently reported on the pending auction for Commerce One’s patent portfolio. The Associated Press is reporting that a "secretive company called JGR Acquisition Inc." paid $15,500,000 for the patents.
I’m betting that JGR is not "Joe Gibbs Racing."
Maybe it is Jeffrey Green Russell Solicitors ("a medium-sized commercial law firm with strong international connections [...]
Tablet PCs (the anonymous fax)
Occasionally, I get anonymous faxes. Some of them are junk…some are "interesting." Here is the latest:
In the US 5,495,581 patent you mentioned, someone caught notice of two figures and the discussion in the text accompanying them (excerpted below):
–Begin excerpt–
FIG. 51 illustrates an example of a cradle C into which a fax tablet 1000 may be [...]
Bottle Cap Fishing Lures
I love stories of inventors who invented by chance (or by accident). A $50 bet that the inventor couldn’t catch a fish with a bottle cap lead to the creation of The Bottle Cap Lure.
Canadian application number: CA2392476.
See also: Inventor Turns Beer Caps Into Fishing Trend Success. The Original Bottle Cap Lure!
