Opinion

We need a better debate about US pharma patents

Opinion: Popular attacks on America’s life sciences patent system are highly misleading

18 March 2023

SVB’s collapse is a reminder of how far IP finance still has to travel

Like many others, the bank held thousands of patents as security for loan deals, but almost certainly had no idea of their value – or lack of it

16 March 2023

OpenSky: ending another round of IPR abuse whack-a-mole

Saturday Opinion: USPTO Director Kathi Vidal’s sanctions are a good start, but more must be done to curb untoward behaviour going forward

11 March 2023

IP professionals should not fear AI, they should embrace it

At the beginning of a new age of disruption, those who understand the potential of change will reap big rewards

09 March 2023

Square peg in a round hole: the dangers of expanding the TRIPS waiver

Saturday Opinion: Disseminating covid diagnostics and therapeutics is critical, but attempting to do so via the TRIPS waiver extension is rife with unintended consequences

04 March 2023

A comeback for injunctions would help to revive US patent leadership

Without significant reforms that restore the right to exclude, lower costs and clarify eligibility, SMEs will remain second class citizens and the big calls on FRAND and SEPs will be made in Europe

02 March 2023

‘Privateer’ licensing rates report stirs company kickback

Saturday Opinion: Harfang IP argues against conclusions drawn in a recent study on SEP ask rates

25 February 2023

The power of the unitary patent should be the UPC’s biggest draw

While the litigation system is attracting most of the attention, the new right has the potential to be more valuable than anything granted anywhere else in the world

23 February 2023

Amgen v Sanofi highlights growing ambiguity of pharma IP strategies

Saturday Opinion: SCOTUS enablement review has exposed divisions among innovative life sciences companies

18 February 2023

Global tax revolution will put corporate IP strategies under far greater scrutiny

New rules on transfer pricing drawn up by the OECD, which could be adopted by authorities in well over 100 countries, are set to have a major impact on how businesses manage their intangible assets

16 February 2023

Authenticity is key when it comes to brand sustainability

Saturday Opinion: Amazon, Tesla, Apple and Google lead sustainability brand value rankings but failure to be authentic could trigger significant financial blows

11 February 2023

Patent litigation finance works: no wonder some want it curtailed

The recent success of a UK SME in securing a $150 million payout from Samsung Electronics was made possible by backing from GLS Capital, a fact that exposes a big problem with the US justice system

09 February 2023

Are US companies embracing quality over quantity in the patenting race?

Saturday Opinion: IAM deputy editor Angela Morris confronts the claim that 2022 US patent grants may indicate American industry is slipping in the global innovation race

04 February 2023

The challenges that trade secrets pose to IP stakeholders

For companies, policy makers and service providers, the growing importance of know-how as a quantifiable asset presents dangers and opportunities

02 February 2023

The FTC’s war against US technology competition with China

Saturday Opinion: Supporting the legality of fair non-compete agreements will enhance foreign investors’ reasonable expectations of protection by the US IP system

28 January 2023

Patents set to lose out as trade secrets take centre stage

Emerging technologies and changing business priorities, alongside more legal certainty and new management tools, are leading many to rethink their IP strategies

26 January 2023

A view from inside the IP world of Silicon Valley

Saturday Opinion: Tech industry layoffs will impact everyone but those in the hub also see room for manoeuvre

21 January 2023

Collaboration not confrontation is the route to US patent reform

Individual inventors and innovative small businesses have a compelling story to tell about a system that does not work for them, but it has yet to hit home

19 January 2023

Diversity in IP: a global conversation that needs to continue

Saturday Opinion: IAM editor Rachel Mountain reflects on social mobility and offers a glimpse into an upcoming special report on DEI

14 January 2023

The patent licensing market is working, so let it be

A string of deals announced during December and the beginning of January send a very clear message to policymakers and regulators

12 January 2023