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The Big Fix How Proposed Changes to the Patent Process Would Impact the Strategy and Value of Patent Portfolios
In an effort to bring certainty to managing an intellectual property portfolio, Congress may soon consider overhauling certain aspects of the patent statutes that may bring only more uncertainty in the short term. Prompted by the perception that many questionable patents have issued recently, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) promulgated several proposals to change the patent system. Below is a synopsis of the FTC's efforts and resulting proposals, in addition to some thoughts regarding how those proposals may implicate intellectual property portfolios.
The FTC's Recommendations
In an effort to understand the current balance of competition and patent law and policy, the FTC held extensive hearings and received numerous written submissions examining how patent law and policy effects competition and innovation. Generally, the FTC found that competition policy and patent policy are not inherently in conflict. However, the balance between the two is tenuous and a failure to balance them can harm innovation.
Major Differences In UK, U.S. Copyright Laws
This article highlights how copyright law in the United Kingdom differs from U.S. copyright law, and points out differences that may be crucial to entertainment and media businesses familiar with U.S law that are interested in operating in the United Kingdom or under UK law. The article also briefly addresses contrasts in UK and U.S. trademark law.
The Article 8 Opt In
The Article 8 opt-in election adds an additional layer of complexity to the already labyrinthine rules governing perfection of security interests under the UCC. A lender that is unaware of the nuances created by the opt in (may find its security interest vulnerable to being primed by another party that has taken steps to perfect in a superior manner under the circumstances.
Strategy vs. Tactics: Two Sides of a Difficult Coin
With each successive large-scale cyber attack, it is slowly becoming clear that ransomware attacks are targeting the critical infrastructure of the most powerful country on the planet. Understanding the strategy, and tactics of our opponents, as well as the strategy and the tactics we implement as a response are vital to victory.
Legal Possession: What Does It Mean?
Possession of real property is a matter of physical fact. Having the right or legal entitlement to possession is not "possession," possession is "the fact of having or holding property in one's power." That power means having physical dominion and control over the property.
The Anti-Assignment Override Provisions
UCC Sections 9406(d) and 9408(a) are one of the most powerful, yet least understood, sections of the Uniform Commercial Code. On their face, they appear to override anti-assignment provisions in agreements that would limit the grant of a security interest. But do these sections really work?