New Patent Rules: What You Need to Know | Inc.com:
As the new US patent rules really kick in, here is a very good overview what’s happening in the world of IP by DesMarais.
The US will join the rest of the world to become first-to-file (vs first-to-invent).
Litigation can be hopefully be largely avoided by moving the contesting of the patent clear up the issuing process.
But make no doubt about it, patents and IP will continue to have a dominant role in the competitive advantage of business and the innovation process.