Well, if patents worked well and they truly represented an invention, then yes, Apple and Samsung could go to court but if it's something else... let them compete.
Those are all good questions and I don't have any good answers for them. Then again, I can say a few things. If Apple and Samsung are misbehaving, how will changing the law stop that? They can misbehave if they want to and litigate no matter what the law says. We also have to be aware of the limitations on what a "contribution" is. If someone makes a contribution and doesn't ask for compensation at the time, can they come back and say "Pay me!"? Would "Prior Art" be considered a contribution? I was under the impression this stuff was supposed to simplify things, but it looks like it is making things more complicated. Has the President signed the bill yet?
What is the issue regarding patents? Are the legal fights between Apple and Samsung good for the industry? IMHO, they do more harm than good. Are patents too broadly described?
Perhaps, but the person or people identified as inventors must have contributed to at least one claim in the invention. Seems like it would be a fairly easy trail to folow back and make a case for derivation. It will be interesting to see how sections of the legislation actually work in practice. I certainly make no claims (no pun intended) about how well, or fair, the mechanics will prove to be.
Actually, patent and employee agreements have safeguards for such activities. The current legislation states "The owner of a patent may have relief by civil action against the owner of another patent that claims the same invention and has an ealrier effective filing date, if the invention claimed in such other patent was derived from the inventor of the invention claimed in the patent owned by the person seeking relief under this section." Employee IP agreements have similar, and probably additional wording that restricts such actions. I'm sure anyone working in R&D, particularly something as capital intensive as drug development, is cover by these contracts.
Regarding your question "What effect do you think the legislation will have on high-tech IP companies that earn their bread and butter by building up a patent portfolio and then selling that technology to OEMs?", I don't perceive much impact. I haven't had a chance to completely read the bill yet, but I am sure for these firms, rapid drafting and submision of applications is already a focus. If anything, this lesgislation gives them an additional advantage over inventive entities that have fewer resources , as you mention in your article.
I can see advantages to both first-to-invent and first-to-file methods. The first-to-invent method to award patent priority seems like it levels the playing field a little more for the small business or individual inventor, provided they do a good job of recordkeeping during development. The 1-year statuatory bar gives such inventors a chance to evaluate the market potential for the invention prior to committing to the full cost of the application process.
However, first-to-file would encourage inventions to be filed sooner rather than later in the development process in order to secure ownership, and therefore would get innovation into the public domain faster, spurring the pace of innovation.
Fairness of the system comes down to how well the legslation is codified into patent rules and process - the jury is still out on that!
Jenn, great post. As I mentioned in the EBN newsletter I think this is a bad idea. I see it as "He with the most lawyers wins." I know organizations such as the Lemelson Foundation do a lot of good work, but tactics such as submarine patents undermine th true intention of the patent system. First to file is just a way to position yourself for a lawsuit, rather then actually create value int he makeretplace.
Jennifer, I think patent registration is a global issue. I had read that most of the common names or the technologies are patented by crown companies, without many efforts. Since this technologies are already in place with some other name or in local form, most of such small scale users or companies are in problem with the patent/ royalty issues.
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Thailand Stages a Comeback Join EBN contributor Jennifer Baljko on Thursday August 23, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. EST for a live chat on how electronic manufacturers in Thailand have shored up their supply chain to reduce the impact of future natural disasters.
Euro-Crisis: What It Means for High-Tech Firms Join EBN Editor in Chief Bolaji Ojo and Contributing Editor Jennifer Baljko on Thursday, July 12, at 10:00 a.m. EDT for a Live Chat on high-tech and Europe's economic difficulties.
Microsoft Surface: Potential Winners & Losers What are the implications for the electronics industry supply chain of Microsoft Corp.'s decision to launch its own tablet PC? Join industry veteran and EE Times' systems and OEM expert Rick Merritt on Tuesday, July 3, at 12:00 pm EDT for a Live Chat on this subject.
Join EBN contributor Jennifer Baljko on Thursday August 23, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. EST for a live chat on how electronic manufacturers in Thailand have shored up their supply chain to reduce the impact of future natural disasters.
Peter Drucker famously said "Trying to predict the future is like trying to drive down a country road at night with no lights while looking out the back window." Yet in the razor's-edge world of electronics—with a lean supply chain and just-in-time demands—the need to know the future is vital.
While no one really can accurately predict the future, we can take guidance from another Drucker saying which is the best way to predict the future is to create it.
You've heard the saying "the No. 1 supply chain risk is your people." That hasn't always been the case. But today's complex global supply chain requires a new type of multitalented employee. It's one who understands, finance, marketing, economics, is savvy with technology, graceful with relationships and can think analytically.
Where are these people? Are universities properly preparing the next generation supply chain professionals? How do train your existing workforce for these new, demanding positions?
Brian Fuller, editor-in-chief of EBN, will lead a 60-minute Avnet Velocity panel discussion that will ask and answer these and other questions swirling around today's supply-chain talent challenges.
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