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  • America's patent problem – POLITICO.com Print View

    America’s patent problem – POLITICO.com Print View:

    Interesting Politico article by Leahy & Lee related to legislation to tame some of the really bad actors in the patent pool.

    The didn’t mention patent trolls by name, but the idea of building a bridge over the pond certainly implies that it will make it harder for trolls to reach up and pick off stray pieces of the economy.

    The article talks about the problem of patent holders skipping over the (?infringing?) manufacturer and going straight to end users and consumers.

    The two Senators are promoting legislation that would help curb this intrusion into the mainstream economy.

    Looks pretty good on the face of it?

    What do you all think?

    ‘via Blog this’

  • Patent law changes alter entrepreneurs' planning

    Patent law changes alter entrepreneurs’ planning:

    This is a nice article by Laura Baverman about patents and how they needed to be integrated into the business plan and entrepreneurs’ strategy. Since the US is now first-to-file, inventors must get their foot in the proverbial patent door early, often with a provisional patent while the details are being worked out.

    This article also slips in the key provisions related to the laws and fees that were enacted in March of 2013.

    Although the fees have all been dramatically increased, especially the follow-on maintenance fees, there is actually a micro-entity option that is only 25% of the full fee structure for large entities. (To qualify as micro, you must not have a high income and not have too many patents in your name.)

    There are a few things that are are perfectly touched on in such a short article. There’s a quick look at the staging process to protect the invention without bankrupting the small inventor. There’s a side story about the great use of a business incubator for a specific company, EnerLeap, the next-best Lithium battery.

    There’s the indication of how IP must be specifically budgeted into the business plan. Your business plan must have the budget for IP, it must have the timing for IP expenses (patent, TM, Lawyer, R&D, engineering, etc.), and it must accommodate contingencies for litigation.

    Of course, you still want to include the high margins and royalties from licensing in your income stream, you simply need to demonstrate that you have a sound plan for getting to that point.

    Great article Laura!

    Check out the Patent Primer 2.0, part of the Perpetual Innovation(tm) series, by Hall and Hinkelman (2013) at: http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/SBPlan   … or … Kindle eBook at: www.TinyURL.com/IPPrimer2

    Visit SBP’s IP web site at: www.IPplan.com 

    ‘via Blog this’

  • Apple, Samsung, Google and the smartphone patent wars – everything you need to know | Technology | theguardian.com

    Apple, Samsung, Google and the smartphone patent wars – everything you need to know | Technology | theguardian.com:

    This is an interesting overview of the many concepts associated with patents and patent strategies.

    Very nice overview.

    Of course you will also want to get the Patent Primer 2.0 at one of these fine book store locations near you:

    ‘via Blog this’

  • The Wonk Gap – NYTimes.com — its the lie not the truth that is telling.

    The Wonk Gap – NYTimes.com:

    Rotary International has a 4-Way test that starts with “Is it the truth?” In all we say and do …

    If the facts that are presented are not truthful, then whatever follows in the arguments are bogus. Who benefits and why can not meaningfully be determined.

    Stated differently, often (usually?) based on a careful organization of the facts, the best decisions are self-evident.

    So what does Dr. Paul have to say about outright denial and miss information on the right? He points out the healthcare costs have actually been tame in recent years. Current estimates of the future costs/savings are actually better the GAO had originally estimated. Until recently, healthcare costs had been increasing at about 10% per year over the last 30 some years. All evidence is that these costs are much tamer, just over inflation, for the last few years. And that is prior to Obama care really kicking in.

    I know! I’m surprised too, because Obama care doesn’t do nearly enough to address out-of-control healthcare costs as I would like to see. But shifting people out of the emergency room as the primary care, has got to save tons of money.

    Klugman points out how obvious and untruthful some of the information is that continues to be propagated. At least on PBS, you will find a serious analysis of the issues and usually a fare representation of both sides.

    Why would anyone anywhere continue to accept consistent untruths and even blatant lies?

    I like to hear what I want to hear. But I need to hear what I don’t want to hear. As long as it is factual.

    Counter factual is, will, counterproductive, to say the least.

    Good article Dr Paul. It is too bad that the right people won’t read it. And the people who do read it, probably won’t apply the concept of truth-in-information-sources to their own media noise.

    We all need to unfriend sources who promote bogus information, and let them talk to empty space. Only then will we have meaningful solutions to replace meaningless bickering.

    ‘via Blog this’

  • Ceres Monthly Newsletter – Flaring of Gas/NatGas

    See this blog over at SustainZine: http://sustainzine.blogspot.com/2013/08/smaller-cities-get-startup-style.html

    Ceres Monthly Newsletter:

    This report starts to document the amount of gas (nat gas) that is flared in the production of oil/gas.

    In the US we can’t get the nat gas to market, so it is imply flared in many cases. The oil (wet particulates) are much more valuable so that is shipped by pipe if possible, but by truck or train if not.

    One statement from a CEO in the oil patch has commented that half of the nat gas produces in the US is being flared. Safety, of course is critical. But this is a humongous waste of energy and environmental waste as well.

    Check out the article and then look at the report here: http://www.ceres.org/resources/reports/flaring-up-north-dakota-natural-gas-flaring-more-than-doubles-in-two-years/view

    Basic economics is one approach to this issue. If NatGas were more valuable, then there would be very little flaring. Right now it is about $3.50 (per … unit) in the USA. So Nat gas is a byproduct of the production of oil unless it can be readily distributed to market (pipeline).  But for the world markets, NatGas is very valuable, let’s say $10. If we can bridge the gap from domestic only to world, then the price would jump and the flaring would, well, burn out. 🙂

    The key is liquefied natural gas (LNG). Not coincidentally, LNG is the trading symbol of Chaniere Energy, one the the leading players in infrastructure for exporting LNG.