http://www.out-law.com/en/ Latest legal news on patents from OUT-LAW.COM, part of international law firm Pinsent Masons en-gb Pinsent Masons LLP Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:26:40 Z http://www.out-law.com/en/articles/2012/february/technology-firms-plug-in-and-app-patent-claims-invalid-us-court-rules/ http://www.out-law.com/en/articles/2012/february/technology-firms-plug-in-and-app-patent-claims-invalid-us-court-rules/ Patents A US technology company that claimed major internet companies owed it hundreds of millions of dollars for infringing its patents rights has had its cases against the companies cancelled after a US court ruled its patents are invalid. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:46:00 Z http://www.out-law.com/en/articles/2012/february/microsoft-states-commitment-to-frand-licensing-of-standard-essential-patents/ http://www.out-law.com/en/articles/2012/february/microsoft-states-commitment-to-frand-licensing-of-standard-essential-patents/ Patents Microsoft has promised to always licence standard essential patents to rivals on fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory (FRAND) terms. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:02:00 Z http://www.out-law.com/en/articles/2012/february/samsung-investigated-over-enforcement-of-standards-essential-3g-patents/ http://www.out-law.com/en/articles/2012/february/samsung-investigated-over-enforcement-of-standards-essential-3g-patents/ Patents The European Commission is investigating whether a major electronics company abused a position of market dominance by failing to let rivals use "essential" mobile phone technology it owned patent rights for on legitimate terms. Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:58:00 Z http://www.out-law.com/en/articles/2012/january-/mps-express-concern-over-unitary-patent-proposals/ http://www.out-law.com/en/articles/2012/january-/mps-express-concern-over-unitary-patent-proposals/ Patents A plan for an EU-wide patent could lead to inconsistent decisions and high legal costs, a committee of MPs has warned. Wed, 11 Jan 2012 16:19:00 Z http://www.out-law.com/en/articles/2012/january-/amazon-obtains-patent-for-one-click-payment-method-in-canada/ http://www.out-law.com/en/articles/2012/january-/amazon-obtains-patent-for-one-click-payment-method-in-canada/ Patents The Canadian Patent Office has granted online retail giant Amazon a patent for a 'one-click' payment method for processing transactions, according to reports. Fri, 06 Jan 2012 14:17:00 Z http://www.out-law.com/en/articles/2012/january-/image-processing-software-not-excluded-from-patentability-ipo-rules/ http://www.out-law.com/en/articles/2012/january-/image-processing-software-not-excluded-from-patentability-ipo-rules/ Patents A computerised method of processing images and categorising features within it into database-searchable words is not excluded from patentability, a hearing officer at the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) has ruled. Thu, 05 Jan 2012 13:51:00 Z http://www.out-law.com/en/articles/2011/december/council-of-ministers-backs-eu-signing-of-acta/ http://www.out-law.com/en/articles/2011/december/council-of-ministers-backs-eu-signing-of-acta/ Patents EU ministers have given their backing to a controversial international intellectual property (IP) rights treaty paving the way for representatives of the trading bloc to sign the agreement. Tue, 20 Dec 2011 15:16:00 Z http://www.out-law.com/en/articles/2011/december/uks-first-intellectual-property-attache-to-begin-work-in-china-this-week/ http://www.out-law.com/en/articles/2011/december/uks-first-intellectual-property-attache-to-begin-work-in-china-this-week/ Patents The UK Government has appointed an intellectual property (IP) expert to provide advice about the enforcement of IP rights to companies looking to do business in China, it has announced. Mon, 12 Dec 2011 17:20:00 Z http://www.out-law.com/en/articles/2011/december/patent-tax-break-to-apply-from-april-2013/ http://www.out-law.com/en/articles/2011/december/patent-tax-break-to-apply-from-april-2013/ Patents A 10% corporation tax rate will apply to profits from companies' worldwide trading activities which are attributable to qualifying patents, the Treasury confirmed in draft Finance Bill 2012 legislation published today, establishing the 'Patent Box' tax regime. Tue, 06 Dec 2011 15:20:00 Z http://www.out-law.com/en/articles/2011/december/meps-will-negotiate-on-unitary-patent-plans/ http://www.out-law.com/en/articles/2011/december/meps-will-negotiate-on-unitary-patent-plans/ Patents Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) will negotiate with EU national governments on the establishment of a system for obtaining unitary patent protection, the Parliament has said. Mon, 05 Dec 2011 15:19:00 Z