FEATURED
Innovation Gadfly
- April 18, 2025
280 views 7 min

Why Patent Reform Is Urgent: How China Exploits U.S. Disclosures and Undermines Innovation

In 2007, the United States led the world in 60 out of 64 technologies critical to our economic and national security.  However, warning signs that a shift had occurred emerged in 2018 when it was reported that China accounted for 48% of global Artificial Intelligence (AI) startup funding in 2017, surpassing the U.S., which held […]

28 POSTS
Paul Morinville is Founder and Executive Director of SPARK Innovation.  SPARK Innovation strives to create an policy environment ...
FEATURED
Innovation Gadfly
- April 9, 2025
667 views 9 min

Weaponized Fairness: Big Tech’s Dirty Secret in the U.S. Patent System

There’s a nasty little game going on in the U.S. patent system—one that no one in Washington seems willing to talk about. Big Tech corporations, the same ones screaming the loudest about imaginary “patent trolls” and “bad patents”, are quietly withholding prior art from the USPTO. Then, when those patents get issued, they turn around […]

28 POSTS
Paul Morinville is Founder and Executive Director of SPARK Innovation.  SPARK Innovation strives to create an policy environment ...
FEATURED
Innovation Gadfly
- February 9, 2025
1,268 views 9 min

Our Unhealthy Patent System in the US

With Robert Kennedy, Jr. making the rounds in Congress for his confirmation, many institutions do not like what he has to say about the American food industry, the ag industry, the pharmaceutical industry, the fast-food industry, and more. President Trump has stated that the health of our nation is something that must be addressed, and […]

-12 POSTS
Raymond Van Dyke is an IP/Patent Attorney and Educator. In his practice, he helps a variety of clients in their IP matters. He spe ...
FEATURED
Innovation Gadfly
- September 10, 2024
3,068 views 13 min

The RESTORE Act Fails; Codifies the Effects of eBay

The U.S. Constitution constructs a patent as nothing but an “exclusive Right,” the very essence of a private property right. As such, for two centuries preceding 2006, over 90% of patent owners who won patent infringement cases were awarded injunctive relief. Infringers knew ahead of time that the courts would stop their infringement, which could […]

28 POSTS
Paul Morinville is Founder and Executive Director of SPARK Innovation.  SPARK Innovation strives to create an policy environment ...
FEATURED
Innovation Gadfly
- July 31, 2024
1,606 views 10 min

Rep. Darrell Issa Proposes Legislation Harmful to Startups and Inventors

Rep. Darrell Issa, the Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee’s IP Subcommittee, recently introduced draft legislation titled the Litigation Transparency Act of 2024 (LTA).  Issa knows this legislation is bad for inventors and startups because it was explained clearly to him in a hearing in his IP Subcommittee. You can read more about this hearing […]

28 POSTS
Paul Morinville is Founder and Executive Director of SPARK Innovation.  SPARK Innovation strives to create an policy environment ...
FEATURED
Innovation Gadfly
- July 11, 2024
997 views 7 min

Got Knockoffs? Hit ‘Em with a 337 Complaint

We had a problem. Our patented Smartgrip, which allows any item to grip when knocked but lifts naturally, was gaining steam. Mighty Mug, our first item with Smartgrip, was so innovative that it attracted many imitators, which became a problem we were set on solving. Imitation is a form of flattery and a sign that […]

-12 POSTS
Jayme Smaldone is the Founder and CEO of Mighty Ventures, a company specializing in the development and licensing of innovative pr ...
FEATURED
Innovation Gadfly
- July 3, 2024
1,228 views 5 min

The Foundation of Innovation: Why Was Patent Protection Enshrined in the US Constitution?

patent protection constitution

In the intricate framework of America’s founding documents, patent protection holds a specific and distinct place, reflecting the wise foresight of the founding fathers of our great country. The prominence of patent protection in the US Constitution was no afterthought; on the contrary, it emerged as a pivotal instrument to foster innovation, promote progress, and […]

-12 POSTS
Andre' DiMino is a technology business executive with an extensive engineering and science background in the design, development, ...
FEATURED
Innovation Gadfly
- June 21, 2024
1,385 views 7 min

How to Write a Good Patent From Someone Who Has Patented Nothing and Is Not A Patent Attorney

write good patent

I haven’t written anything for external consumption in a long time unless you count the stuff I do for UnemployedProfessors.com and my Instagram captions. After last week’s US Inventor’s call, however, I was persuaded to not only write for Paul, my favorite patent frenemy, but also change my topic to this one. It has a […]

-12 POSTS
I come from an “all data, all the time” background. I’ve spent over 20 years working with co ...
FEATURED
Innovation Gadfly
- June 18, 2024
1,037 views 16 min

Why Third-Party Litigation Funding Is A Misguided Focus

third party litigation funding tplf misguided

On June 12, 2024, the House IP Subcommittee held a hearing called The U.S. Intellectual Property System and the Impact of Litigation Financed by Third-Party Investors and Foreign Entities. The hearing was about third-party litigation funding (TPLF) related to patent litigation and the perceived national security risks of hidden hostile foreign funders. Some of the […]

28 POSTS
Paul Morinville is Founder and Executive Director of SPARK Innovation.  SPARK Innovation strives to create an policy environment ...