Ericsson’s FRAND attack on Apple; Access Advance has top HEVC pool; Litigator tipped to lead USPTO; Softbank patent acquisition; Oppo and Sharp settle; plus much more
Everything we covered on IAM over the last seven days – and all you need to know from the global IP market to set yourself up for the start of another busy week
Benchmarking the IP5 Patent Offices
We want to know your views on the world’s top patent offices in our annual benchmarking survey. It shouldn’t take more than 10 minutes to complete, so click here to take part. The survey’s findings will be revealed in the next IAM Special Report, to be published in Q4 2021.
The Long Read
Biosimilars face far larger patent estates in the US than elsewhere, writes Adam Houldsworth. But when considering the causes of – and potential remedies for – the country’s thicketing phenomenon, the problem turns out to be a thorny one. Read more here
MONDAY 4 October
Softbank’s acquisition of around 200 patent rights from Alphabet entity Loon LLC is one of very few that the group has made in its own name. Read more here
Five ways in which the Leahy-Cornyn Restoring the America Invents Act would fundamentally change the current PTAB regime. Read more here
IAM’s panel of global IP business leaders delivers a scathing judgment on the Biden Administration’s patent policies in our Q3 benchmarking survey, but likes what it sees in Europe. Read more here
TUESDAY 5 October
Recent comments by US Trade Representative Katherine Tai may indicate that IP issues are moving further down the Biden Administration’s China agenda. Read more here
A US court victory – and a slew of settlements – have gone a long way towards justifying the $13.4 billion Amgen paid for Otezla’s IP. Read more here
GE Research has used a business productivity method lifted from the manufacturing sector to reimagine its patenting processes. Shell Oil looked to software development to do the same. Read more here
WEDNESDAY 6 October
Litigation launched by Ericsson against Apple in EDTX on Monday is a direct challenge to the iPhone maker’s 2019 FRAND manifesto. Read more here
Inside the patent litigation record of Kathi Vidal, the woman rumoured to be the Biden Administration’s USPTO director pick. Read more here
THURSDAY 7 October
A Patent Quality Charter is among the initiatives promised by the EPO in a report on what the new normal will look like for the agency. Read more here
Merck’s $11.5 billion acquisition of Acceleron Pharma is the biggest life sciences M&A deal of 2021 so far. Here are the four key IP-related takeaways. Read more here
Analysis indicates that Access Advance’s HEVC patent pool currently offers more to licensees than the platforms run by Velos Media and MPEG-LA. Read more here
FRIDAY 8 October
An Oppo and Sharp settlement of their multi-jurisdictional patent dispute delays the day when a Chinese court gets to set a global FRAND rate. Read more here
The Federal Circuit has heard oral arguments in a case whose outcome could either prevent or tee up a battle over Moderna’s covid-19 vaccine revenues. Read more here
DoJ antitrust head nominee Jonathan Kanter was asked about SEPs and FRAND at his Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing this week but avoided giving detailed answers. Read more here
SATURDAY 9 October
Patent value was a big theme at IPBC Europe in Dublin. For as long as it continues to be mired in opacity it will seriously hinder the development of an asset class. Read more here
