IP SOLUTIONS BLOG

The recent Supreme Court ruling on Bilski v. Kappos left the door open for companies to continue to file for business method patents providing their claims are not too abstract. Some have interpreted this to mean that computer-oriented processes will likely remain patentable subject matter, whereas computer-implemented innovations will require additional evidence of the fact that the concept is nonobvious and patentable.

All this talk about the ruling got me wondering just how prevalent business method patenting is. So we did some research on the history of such patents. Here’s what the data showed:

• Global business method patenting has been on the rise for more than a decade, dipped slightly from 2003-2006, then rebounding with an increase of 637% from 1998 – 2009
• Over 43,000 business method patents filed and granted in 2009
• The United States and Japan are, by far, the most prevalent business-method-patenting countries. Their leading positions can likely be attributed to the technologically-saavy mentality of these nations and their awareness of the opportunity such patents present. The US and Japan are also world financial leaders, and business method patenting has strong origins in that industry.

To learn more, download our special report, The Evolution of Business Method Patenting.

Laura Gaze, Senior Marketing Manager, IP Solutions Bilski, Business Method Patents, Patents Bilski, Business Method Patents, Patents

Are you preserving a wrinkle-free face with nanotechnology?

You may be, without even knowing it. Nanotechnology, the use of microscopic devices, materials or compounds that are 100 nanometers or smaller, isn’t just for your favorite electronic gadget anymore.

A new report, “Can Nanotech Unlock the Fountain of Youth?” from Thomson Reuters IP Solutions, finds that the beauty industry has started taking an aggressive approach to using nanotechnology to improve the performance of creams, sunscreens, shampoos and other personal-care products.

And surprises abound: while L’Oreal and Amorepacific are, as expected, early innovators in the development of nanotech-based beauty products, a great deal of new innovation in the field comes from companies that one would not traditionally associate with the cosmetics industry, including Fujifilm and BASF.

Of 367 unique inventions filed in 2009, 10 were by Fujifilm; nine were by BASF and seven were by Amorepacific.

To hear more about innovation in the nanotechnology arena for personal care items, listen to Michael Thompson from IP Solutions in this podcast.

Read the full report.

Data for the report is compiled from the Thomson Reuters Derwent World Patents Index® database, for patent research, and SERION®, for trademarks, to identify global innovation and brand activity in nanotechnology for personal care products.

admin Nanotechnology, Patents, Trademarks Nanotechnology, Patents, Trademarks

Hear David Brown, President of the IP Solutions business of Thomson Reuters, talk about patent analysis of wind, solar and marine alternative energy technologies in a recent interview with Fox Business co-host Dagen McDowell. David highlights findings from the just-published Thomson Reuters World IP Today Report, “Alternative Energy Powers Up,” written by Sue Cullen, Ph.D., IP Consulting Services director, IP Solutions, Thomson Reuters.

Read the full World IP Today Report on Alternative Energy.

Laura Gaze, Senior Marketing Manager, IP Solutions Alternative Energy, Patents Alternative Energy, Patents, Thomson Reuters

A recent Chronicle of Higher Education posting describes an amusing deception carried out by a researcher in response to receiving numerous “aggressive” unsolicited e-mail messages from an open access publisher which finances its scientific journals by charging authors a publication fee.

Philip M. Davis, a doctoral student in communication at Cornell University, submitted a fake computer-generated research paper from a fake institution. The paper – “a nonsensical five-page report with footnotes and graphical charts” – was accepted after the publisher said it had been peer-reviewed (along with an invoice for $800.)

This made me wonder what happened to the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) conducted “Peer-to-Patent” experiment. The answer is that, as of June 15, 2009, the pilot is now closed to new applications, but the pipeline of existing applications will continue to be processed until they have all completed the normal peer review cycle (estimated to be mid-October).

The pilot was set-up to determine if peer review can support, in a cost effective manner, timely, accurate decisions about what inventions merit a U.S. patent.  Certainly in terms of participation the pilot can be judged a success.  A recent update recorded that since Peer-to-Patent launched, there have been 370,011 page views from 67,188 absolute unique visitors in 152 countries/territories with 2,501 registered users of the site and nearly 350 prior art uploads by volunteer experts since the project’s launch.  121 applications have completed or are currently participating in the program.  There are currently 27 patent applications available for review.

The decision to discontinue the program was made by the USPTO on the heels of the recent recognition of Peer-to-Patent by the White House Open Government Initiative.  The USPTO has requested a period of time in which to evaluate the program before making a decision on whether and how to proceed further.

We’d be interested here in your views of the program.

Bob Stembridge, Customer Relations Manager, Thomson Reuters Patent Law, Patent Reform, Patents Patents, Peer-to-Patent, USPTO

In a recent article published in BusinessWeek, Thomson Reuters CEO Tom Glocer provides insight into the factors driving the professionalization in the developing world. Among those factors is the patent boom in China. He explains that as the nation’s economy shifts to one focused on innovation, China is creating a legal system with a greater focus on protecting property rights. Read the full article.

Kevin Bonsor, Marketing Manager, IP Solutions Economy, Global IP, Patents Economy, Global IP, Patents, property rights