Google, HTC, TTAB, PTAB, Judge Michel, Apple, Acacia, Microsoft – the week in IP

September 21 2017

Recent news included Google receiving a licence for HTC intellectual property, the TTAB again finding “Pretzel Crisps” to be generic, the PTAB designating a decision as informative, Judge Paul Michel suggesting seven ways to improve the US patent system, Apple settling with Acacia following a $22m verdict, and Microsoft extending its Azure programme to China

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More from across our site

Trademarks

Mobile phone being held with a Temu-branded package in the background

How small brands are fighting counterfeits with Temu’s Brand Guardian Initiative

The platform’s proactive intellectual property enforcement helps brands spot and kill fakes, so they can focus on growth. Managing IP learns more about the programme

February 24 2026

Patents

PONS IP hires ClarkeModet veteran to lead Catalonia offering

Hire of José María del Valle Escalante to lead the firm’s operations in ‘dynamic’ Catalonia and Aragon regions follows last month’s appointment of a new chief information officer

February 24 2026

Patents

Weekly take: UK Supreme Court rulings are big wins for regional firms

The London elite have dominated IP litigation wins for the past 10 years, but a recent bombshell AI case could change all that

Ed Conlon, February 24 2026

Patents

Exclusive: Boutique merger aims for scale without big-city overheads

Two New Hampshire IP boutiques will soon merge to form Secant IP, seeking to scale patent strength while keeping a lean cost model

Sanjana Mishra, February 23 2026

Patents

‘IP-forward merger’: Winston presses on despite recent departures

While the firm lost several litigators this month, Winston & Strawn is betting that its transatlantic merger will strengthen its IP practice

Sanjana Mishra, February 20 2026

Patents

$San Diego, California \ USA - 06 September 2019: Sign and logo o$

This week on MIP: BioNTech sues Moderna | Qualcomm settles £480m class action

In other news, Ericsson sought a declaratory judgment against Acer and Netflix filed a cease-and-desist letter against ByteDance over AI misuse

Sukanya Sarkar, February 20 2026

Patents

‘Proactive counselling increasingly important’: firms on trade secret spike

As trade secret filings rise due to AI development and economic espionage concerns, firms are relying on proactive counselling to help clients navigate disputes

Sanjana Mishra, February 19 2026

Patents

How Australian firms are capitalising on patent uptick from China

IP firm leaders share why they remain positive in the face of falling patent applications from US filers, and how they are meeting a rising demand from China

Sukanya Sarkar, February 19 2026

Patents

Diversity And Inclusion. Business Employment Leadership

Weekly take: DEI should not be last resort in legal tenders

The power of DEI to swing IP pitches is welcome, but why does it have to be left so late?

Max Walters, February 19 2026

Patents

Excited to offer ‘flexibility’ to clients: patent veteran on Pearce IP move

Mathew Lucas has joined Pearce IP after spending more than 25 years at Qantm IP-owned firm Davies Collison Cave

Sukanya Sarkar, February 18 2026