On November 24, 1874, the U.S. Patent Office issued U. S. Patent No. 157,124 entitled, “Improvement in Wire Fences” to Joseph F. Glidden of DeKalb. Ill.  The patent disclosed the creation of what came to be referred to as “barbed wire.” Despite being considered a revolutionary invention for its time as a means for cattle…

On September 10th the Federal Circuit issued its ruling, 2-1, in the case of Acorda Therapeutics, Inc. v. Roxane Laboratories, Inc. upholding the judgment of the District Court of Delaware which had invalidated four of Acorda’s patents (“the Acorda Patents”) on the basis of obviousness. One of the issues on appeal was whether the district…

On April 24, 2018, the Supreme Court issued the much anticipated decision in Oil States Energy Services, LLC v. Greene’s Energy Group, LLC (https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/17pdf/16-712_87ad.pdf). The Court held Constitutional the provisions of the America Invents Act authorizing the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (“PTO”) to conduct an Inter Partes Review (IPR) in which the PTO reconsiders…

On January 8, 2018 the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) announced a settlement with the toy manufacturer VTech Electronics concerning alleged violations of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (“COPPA”) arising from VTech’s collection of personal information from children through internet connected toys.  Under the terms of the settlement VTech is required to pay a fine…