Post #17: Google vs. Microsoft

Google once again attempted to sue Microsoft and once again, it failed to win its case.  An Administrative Law Judge at the USITC said that Microsoft's Xbox did not infringe Google's (Motorola's) U.S. Patent No. 6,246,862 on a "sensor controlled user interface for portable communication device".  However, the case can still be put up for review, which means that the ruling can of course be overturned -- but that is still unlikely to happen.  This is coming again after a previous article I discussed where Google Map's was banned in Germany.  

It seems like Google is having a tough time winning its court cases these days.  Let's see the strategy it decides to pursue in the upcoming future and whether or not it will actually win that time.

Post #16: USPTO Fee Change

With the recent changes to the USPTO structure, without a doubt there would also be fee changes.  It is important to see how this will affect the different entities that file for patents whether they be a lone individual or an individual within a corporation.  One of the most noticeable differences is the increase in price to file a patent up from $1,260 to $1,600.  However, while there may be increases in certain areas, there are decreases in others.  One group of people that these new fee changes will help are "micro entities."  

To be considered a micro-entity there are various regulations that you must fit such as: having applied to less than four patents total; cannot have an income above $150,162 and the person isn't transferring or giving ownership of the patent to someone else.  These various qualifications create the difference between a micro or small entity patent, which get application fee cuts by 75% and 50% respectively.

Nonetheless, it appears as if people are still going to have to give up more money for their patents...