Patents
The Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) effectively invalidates 84% of the patents it fully adjudicates. That fact comes directly from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s (USPTO) PTAB Trial Statistics FY23 End of Year Outcome. This astronomical PTAB invalidation rate has effectively shut down investment in early-stage startups, particularly in vital sectors that require […]
Inventors naturally solve problems that others have not. Tom Waugh had a successful business in Alabama, providing fittings and parts for utility poles and electrical systems. Utility poles must be strong and durable, especially tall ones with many lines. The metal utility poles that existed before Tom got involved required taking large sheets of metal […]
It used to be that a biometric sensor wouldn’t work on a moving body. A heart sensor would only work on a motionless person, like a patient in a coma. The solution that solved this problem was invented and patented by Dr. Steven LeBeouf. Dr. LeBeouf, who has a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering (no small […]
In the U.S. Senate, there is a push to markup the Patent Eligibility Restoration Act (PERA) and the Promoting and Respecting Economically Vital American Innovation Leadership Act (PREVAIL). Both are patent-related legislation introduced in the Senate, and PREVAIL has been introduced in the House. The recent lobbying blitz by those on all sides of the […]
Gene Luoma is a prolific inventor with roughly a dozen patents. He grew up on a farm in rural Minnesota, where money was tight. If he wanted something, he often had to make it. In his teens, Gene’s muscles started to weaken. He had muscular dystrophy, and it would worsen as he grew older. But […]
I have experienced firsthand the highs of success and the lows of participating in our country’s broken patent system. “The Great Equalizer,” a documentary I had the privilege to be a part of, directed by Pritchett Cotten and led by Luke Livingston, has just won an award for “Best Direction” from the Political Film Festival. […]
For any serious problem, a solution has usually been invented to fix it. One such problem is toxic gas leaks from oil pipelines, derricks, and refineries. These leaks are usually invisible to the naked eye and contain toxic, cancer-causing gases like Ethylene. Until recently, the technology used to find these leaks was called a “sniffer.” […]
The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation. 501(c)(3)s are largely prohibited from lobbying for candidates or legislation, even though a small portion of a 501(c)(3)’s resources can be used to lobby for legislation. The EFF lobbies a lot on many issues. Among those issues, for many years, the EFF has lobbied heavily […]
Recently, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) issued updated guidance to agency employees on the proper application of obviousness doctrine when determining patent validity. As a representative of America’s inventor community who has strongly opposed certain developments at the USPTO, I want to express my gratitude to Director Vidal for her work in clarifying […]
