Visit WTR Logo
Subscribe now

United States of America

A patent conundrum for the Biden Administration’s BigTech sceptics

Lina Khan’s appointment as FTC chair puts a vocal critic of Silicon Valley’s titans at the heart of policy-making, but also raises big IP questions

A patent conundrum for the Biden Administration’s BigTech sceptics
MediaTek goes on patent attack, suing NXP over Wi-Fi and chip tech
18 Jun 2021

MediaTek goes on patent attack, suing NXP over Wi-Fi and chip tech

Bosch, Continental and Denso among customers also named in California lawsuits

In the mobile licensing world, US patent holdings do not have the power they did
17 Jun 2021

In the mobile licensing world, US patent holdings do not have the power they did

Globalisation in the 5G era has reduced the clout of portfolios centred on the country, but decisions taken by the government, the courts and in boardrooms have hastened the process

Latest

View all
17 Jun 2021

Everything you need to know about the covid-19 IP waiver negotiations

With text-based discussions of a TRIPS suspension about to get underway, IAM highlights the key issues to be aware of. Read more

17 Jun 2021

Another startup taps Aon for insurance-backed IP financing

Insurance giant, which recently announced a $400m IP fund, says it has a strong pipeline of lending deals in the works Read more

16 Jun 2021

Tesla transactions show that patents matter in research collaboration and M&A

Recent recordals show the electric car maker has cut a deal with Panasonic, assimilated a large portfolio of solar rights and gained assets via M&A deals Read more

15 Jun 2021

$2 billion deal shows growing sophistication of drug royalty sales

Latest Royalty Pharma investment shows is further evidence of the increasing IP monetisation options open to healthcare innovators Read more

Designs

View all
31 Mar 2021

Legislators tell the White House that IP must move up the to-do list

After letter from Senators Leahy and Tillis telling President Biden to pick up the pace of appointments, Hill source tells IAM that IP needs to be seen as a tier one priority Read more

23 Jan 2021

Rebooting IP engagement with China need not mean giving up ground on key concerns

The patent world functions better when its two most powerful players have a constructive, though competitive, relationship Read more

4 Dec 2020

3M’s diversity pioneer on why data and collaboration are key to broadening the innovation pool

After seeing her work recognised by the IPO, the company's assistant chief IP counsel Sandra Nowak spoke with IAM on why some parts of the market are still playing catch-up Read more

21 Nov 2020

RCEP is a leap for China but a small step for IP

World’s largest trade pact is not a show-stopper when it comes to IP, but it will bring changes to ASEAN and clouds US ability to set regional agenda Read more

Finance

View all
4 Jun 2021

Chinese buyer of 10,000+ LED patents from LG Innotek revealed

Newly-created Suzhou Lekin Semiconductor is backed by a well-connected Chinese lighting magnate Read more

9 Apr 2021

Fortress’s latest patent fund could top $900 million

As it pitches the market for new investment the Eran Zur-led IP team tells of a patent market in recovery and ripe for new capital Read more

18 Feb 2021

Seven top IP tips for biotech SMEs

How smaller biotechs can best overcome pitfalls and maximise the value of their inventions Read more

8 Jan 2021

South Korea's Intellectual Discovery is in the process of becoming a big league, mainstream NPE

A year after a major capital infusion and a change of leadership, the firm has notched some notable settlements in the US and laid the groundwork for new assertion campaigns Read more

Frand/SEPS

View all
14 Jun 2021

Bolstered by LG SEP acquisition, Japanese patent fund takes on the Nordics

IP Bridge lawsuits against Nokia and Ericsson confirm NPE’s focus on the wireless space Read more

10 Jun 2021

Getting IP and antitrust right is crucial to turbocharging the US innovation economy

The DoJ’s warnings of a change in approach to SEPs raises important questions about the basis for decision-making across the government Read more

7 Jun 2021

We’re rethinking our policy on SEPs, says senior DoJ official

Richard Powers, acting head of the department’s AntiTrust Division, provides strongest indication yet that the Delrahim ‘New Madison’ approach is on the way out Read more

19 May 2021

Seeking a better deal from Ericsson, Samsung updated the defensive playbook

From its unconventional validity campaign to the ‘Wuhan submarine’, result shows that device makers have powerful tools at their disposal Read more

Law & Policy

View all
12 Jun 2021

Increasing diversity in innovation – a call to action

If the US is to compete successfully with China and the rest of the world it must make use of all the talent at its disposal – and that means ensuring more women get to the cutting edge of the invention process Read more

10 Jun 2021

Getting IP and antitrust right is crucial to turbocharging the US innovation economy

The DoJ’s warnings of a change in approach to SEPs raises important questions about the basis for decision-making across the government Read more

8 Jun 2021

South Korea’s strategic approach to IP sets up key global deals

Agreements around chips and vaccines show that IP-related issues are high on the diplomatic agendas of advanced economies Read more

7 Jun 2021

We’re rethinking our policy on SEPs, says senior DoJ official

Richard Powers, acting head of the department’s AntiTrust Division, provides strongest indication yet that the Delrahim ‘New Madison’ approach is on the way out Read more

Litigation

View all
15 Jun 2021

Samsung sues Irish NPE just six months after settlement, claiming its “large checks” failed to buy “lasting peace”

New lawsuit puts the structure of Atlantic IP Services, the prolific Irish patent licensing firm, under the spotlight Read more

14 Jun 2021

Bolstered by LG SEP acquisition, Japanese patent fund takes on the Nordics

IP Bridge lawsuits against Nokia and Ericsson confirm NPE’s focus on the wireless space Read more

10 Jun 2021

Getting IP and antitrust right is crucial to turbocharging the US innovation economy

The DoJ’s warnings of a change in approach to SEPs raises important questions about the basis for decision-making across the government Read more

9 Jun 2021

Battle over aircraft start-up shows why Chinese investments fuel IP fears

Investors file Delaware lawsuit in bid to block IP deal with Chinese company Read more

Market Developments

View all
8 Jun 2021

Patent dealmaking down in the US during Q1 of 2021

More than half of the assets that were transacted were acquired by NPEs, many of which were active for the first time Read more

4 Jun 2021

Chinese buyer of 10,000+ LED patents from LG Innotek revealed

Newly-created Suzhou Lekin Semiconductor is backed by a well-connected Chinese lighting magnate Read more

2 Jun 2021

Apple, Facebook and Google still have work to do with inventor diversity

The Long Read: The Big Three each have a significant and prolific public record promoting DI&E within their organisations. However, writes Michael Pellegrino, a deep drill into USPTO patent data reveals that they are not yet meeting their ambitions when it comes to those doing the inventing Read more

19 May 2021

Seeking a better deal from Ericsson, Samsung updated the defensive playbook

From its unconventional validity campaign to the ‘Wuhan submarine’, result shows that device makers have powerful tools at their disposal Read more

Non-Practising Entities

View all
15 Jun 2021

Samsung sues Irish NPE just six months after settlement, claiming its “large checks” failed to buy “lasting peace”

New lawsuit puts the structure of Atlantic IP Services, the prolific Irish patent licensing firm, under the spotlight Read more

4 Jun 2021

TiVo secures IPTV patents after auction in which RPX also took part

That both the Xperi subsidiary and the defensive aggregator were involved in bidding for MobiTV’s assets shows the growing importance of the content delivery space to dealmakers Read more

27 May 2021

Mitsubishi Electric steps up patent dealmaking activity

Japan’s biggest PCT filer has been selling off assets, spurring litigation in multiple sectors Read more

24 May 2021

In first-ever action in US, Washington State seeks to take on alleged patent troll in court

Move made against entity called Landmark may present the chance to tie-down a legally defined meaning for the much-abused term Read more

Patent Pools

View all
27 May 2021

Mitsubishi Electric steps up patent dealmaking activity

Japan’s biggest PCT filer has been selling off assets, spurring litigation in multiple sectors Read more

26 Mar 2021

Patent pools need to innovate along with advances in technology, says video tech expert

Technologist and VC funder Alex Eleftheriadis warns that VVC is on a slippery slope to the same kind of fractured licensing landscape as HEVC Read more

17 Mar 2021

Spate of patent litigation dismissals involving Tesla points to possible Avanci deal

US cases brought by PanOptis and Sisvel were dismissed earlier this month, adding to evidence that auto company might have signed up to wireless pool Read more

28 Jan 2021

Failed attempt to back a single patent pool for VVC leaves operators with a choice of two

Industry vote splits between Access Advance and MPEG LA as the pair battle to sign up a new generation of innovators Read more

Patents Law

View all
14 Jun 2021

Bolstered by LG SEP acquisition, Japanese patent fund takes on the Nordics

IP Bridge lawsuits against Nokia and Ericsson confirm NPE’s focus on the wireless space Read more

12 Jun 2021

Increasing diversity in innovation – a call to action

If the US is to compete successfully with China and the rest of the world it must make use of all the talent at its disposal – and that means ensuring more women get to the cutting edge of the invention process Read more

10 Jun 2021

Getting IP and antitrust right is crucial to turbocharging the US innovation economy

The DoJ’s warnings of a change in approach to SEPs raises important questions about the basis for decision-making across the government Read more

9 Jun 2021

Battle over aircraft start-up shows why Chinese investments fuel IP fears

Investors file Delaware lawsuit in bid to block IP deal with Chinese company Read more

Strategy

View all
12 Jun 2021

Increasing diversity in innovation – a call to action

If the US is to compete successfully with China and the rest of the world it must make use of all the talent at its disposal – and that means ensuring more women get to the cutting edge of the invention process Read more

5 Jun 2021

Increasing R&D and infrastructure investment is vital to US tech success

If the 21st century is to be another American one, both the government and business must commit to higher spending to strengthen the foundations on which innovation is built Read more

4 Jun 2021

Chinese buyer of 10,000+ LED patents from LG Innotek revealed

Newly-created Suzhou Lekin Semiconductor is backed by a well-connected Chinese lighting magnate Read more

2 Jun 2021

Apple, Facebook and Google still have work to do with inventor diversity

The Long Read: The Big Three each have a significant and prolific public record promoting DI&E within their organisations. However, writes Michael Pellegrino, a deep drill into USPTO patent data reveals that they are not yet meeting their ambitions when it comes to those doing the inventing Read more

Technology Licensing

View all
10 Jun 2021

Getting IP and antitrust right is crucial to turbocharging the US innovation economy

The DoJ’s warnings of a change in approach to SEPs raises important questions about the basis for decision-making across the government Read more

9 Jun 2021

Battle over aircraft start-up shows why Chinese investments fuel IP fears

Investors file Delaware lawsuit in bid to block IP deal with Chinese company Read more

7 Jun 2021

We’re rethinking our policy on SEPs, says senior DoJ official

Richard Powers, acting head of the department’s AntiTrust Division, provides strongest indication yet that the Delrahim ‘New Madison’ approach is on the way out Read more

17 May 2021

Iancu slams Biden Administration’s backing for “dangerous” covid vaccine IP waiver

“Once you have taken this genie out of the bottle, it will be very hard to put it back in again,” says former USPTO head Read more

Trade Secrets

View all
9 Jun 2021

Battle over aircraft start-up shows why Chinese investments fuel IP fears

Investors file Delaware lawsuit in bid to block IP deal with Chinese company Read more

8 Jun 2021

South Korea’s strategic approach to IP sets up key global deals

Agreements around chips and vaccines show that IP-related issues are high on the diplomatic agendas of advanced economies Read more

21 May 2021

President Biden finds himself caught between a rock and a hard place on the covid vaccine IP waiver

The administration's backing for a suspension looks increasingly like coming with heavy political and economic costs Read more

10 May 2021

Beware unintended consequences of proposals to tackle IP theft, warns trade secrets guru

With a growing number of bills aimed at China, Jim Pooley warns that harsh measures could prompt a tit-for-tat response against US rights owners Read more

Valuation

View all
14 May 2021

Big jury verdicts reflect significant shifts in the US patent landscape, damages experts claim

With litigation funding flooding the market and the appropriate payout for a plaintiff receiving more focus in a trial, the spate of big court awards may be set to continue Read more

7 May 2021

Samsung and Ericsson settle patent licensing dispute

Swedish company projects second quarter licensing revenues of up to $297 million after signing cross-licence which includes 5G rights Read more

12 Apr 2021

Six takeaways from the $1.8 billion finale to the LG Energy Solutions - SK Innovation IP dispute

As political wrangling and potential for commercial fallout mounted, the two Korean battery suppliers reached an eleventh-hour settlement deal yesterday Read more

1 Apr 2021

BlackBerry CEO: Majority of cash for patent portfolio expected in upfront payment

After IAM broke news of possible sale last year Canadian tech giant has confirmed it is in exclusive negotiations with a “North American” bidder for a part of its 38,000 asset stockpile Read more

Trending

1

Increasing diversity in innovation – a call to action

2

Increasing R&D and infrastructure investment is vital to US tech success

3

We’re rethinking our policy on SEPs, says senior DoJ official

4

Supreme Court could signal time’s up for Google’s anti-competitive IP infringement

5

As the fallout from covid continues, the two IP superpowers offer different messages

Find an expert

Catharine M Lawton
Managing Director
Chicago, IL, United States
Berkeley Research Group, LLC
View full biography