Companies to store Megaupload files for another two weeks By Managing IP Correspondent January 31 2012
Patent cliff prompts generics to rethink branding As more blockbuster drugs tumble off the patent cliff this year, the generic industry is set to become more profitable than ever - but the spike in competition means generics may also have to become more brand-savvy By Eileen McDermott January 31 2012
Quiz of the week – January 23-27 How many questions on the week's IP news can you answer? By Managing IP Correspondent January 27 2012
Federal Circuit clarifies patent eligibility post-Bilski The Federal Circuit has ruled that the words “computer-aided” do not limit a claim for a method of managing a credit application meaningfully enough to make it patent-eligible By Eileen McDermott January 26 2012
Interdigital strategy highlights shifting IP paradigm Just months after the mega-deals for Nortel and Motorola patents, Interdigital has failed to find a bidder for its portfolio. Is the patent boom over already? By Eileen McDermott January 26 2012
Obama highlights anti-piracy initiatives in national address President Obama Tuesday night devoted a portion of his annual State of the Union address to promise tougher anti-piracy enforcement By Managing IP Correspondent January 25 2012
Fashion and functionality: what happened at the red sole hearing Shoe maker Christian Louboutin took his legal fight to save his red sole trade mark to a new level yesterday as judges in New York began hearing arguments in his dispute with rival designer Yves Saint Laurent By Eileen McDermott January 25 2012
What the Megaupload defendants can expect in US court The seven men from former file-sharing company Megaupload who are charged with copyright infringement could face a “very quick” US district court trial if they are extradited from New Zealand By Ed Conlon January 23 2012
Icann denies misconduct over .xxx Icann has rebutted claims that it approved the .xxx TLD in an unfair manner and then created a monopoly for ICM by claiming that it does not engage in trade or commerce By Ed Conlon January 23 2012
New: weekly IP news quiz Following the success of Managing IP's 2011 quiz of the year, we are launching a weekly version – based on the week's IP news By Managing IP Correspondent January 20 2012
Leader's action kills US anti-piracy bill for now Legislation targeting rogue websites appeared dead on Friday after Senate majority leader Harry Reid of Nevada cancelled a floor debate on the Protect IP Act (PIPA) scheduled for Tuesday By Managing IP Correspondent January 20 2012
Legislators use Twitter to retreat from anti-piracy laws By Managing IP Correspondent January 20 2012
US authorities act against Megaupload Copyright owners are celebrating after US officials yesterday shut down file-sharing site megaupload.com which allegedly earned $175 million over seven years By Ed Conlon January 20 2012
SOPA – what’s it all about? Stumped by SOPA? Perplexed by PIPA? In light of Wikipedia’s blackout this week, Managing IP provides a simple guide to legislation pending in the US Congress and the debates surrounding it By James Nurton January 19 2012
US Supreme Court: copyright can apply to the public domain A group of orchestra conductors, teachers, performers, film archivists and distributors has failed to convince the Supreme Court that Congress does not have authority to restore copyright protection to foreign works t... By Eileen McDermott January 19 2012
As Google goes black, Congress prepares to debate PIPA The voluntary blackout of websites today including English-language Wikipedia and Reddit was coordinated to coincide with a hearing planned for today by congressional opponents of rogue sites legislation By Managing IP Correspondent January 18 2012
EPO figures show changing fortunes of patent filers More patents than ever were filed at the EPO last year, but the upward trend masks the shifting fortunes of developed and emerging economies By Emma Barraclough January 18 2012
Obama shake-up threatens USTR US President Barack Obama wants to consolidate six government agencies, including the US Trade Representative, into one new authority By James Nurton January 16 2012
British man could be extradited for US copyright charges A judge has today ruled that British authorities can extradite a man to the US for infringing copyrighted material after he hosted sites which linked to protected films and television programmes By Ed Conlon January 13 2012
IBM still top patent holder – but not for long IFI Claims Patent Services’ list of the top 50 global companies awarded the most US utility patents in 2011 ranks IBM on top for the 19th year in a row By Eileen McDermott January 13 2012
Quiz 2011: answers and winners No one got all 20 answers right in Managing IP’s quiz of the year’s news. But two entrants shared the prize with 19 correct answers By Managing IP Correspondent January 13 2012
Supreme Court gets tough on USPTO in Kappos v Hyatt The USPTO today faced aggressive questioning from Supreme Court justices regarding the agency’s request to overturn a Federal Circuit en banc ruling it says will encourage patent applicants to withhold evidence in exa... By Managing IP Correspondent January 09 2012
Lessons from PhoneDog: who owns your Twitter account? A row in the US over the ownership of a twitter account has underscored the need for companies to implement clear social media policies, say IP lawyers By Emma Barraclough January 09 2012
Offices clash over route to harmonisation Last week the director of the USPTO pledged to expand its network of patent prosecution highways as it seeks to cut pendency and backlogs. But not all big offices share his approach By Emma Barraclough January 09 2012
USPTO fast-track “a welcome change” The USPTO released a report last week on the progress of Track 1 of the Office’s three-track programme, which promises examination in 12 months to those willing to pay a $4,000 fee By Eileen McDermott January 09 2012
Universal loses key fight against video-sharing site Universal Music was granted a 10-day extension to file a request to rehear a decision that website Veoh benefits from safe harbour protection under the DMCA By James Nurton January 06 2012
Woolf’s works enter public domain As the clock counted down to 2012, the estates of artists, creators, authors and composers prepared to see their incomes wane as copyright works slip out of protection By Emma Barraclough January 05 2012
Professors side with YSL on red sole mark Eleven law professors have denounced the way Louboutin and INTA have applied the doctrine of aesthetic functionality in Louboutin’s battle with Yves Saint Laurent over red-soled shoes By Eileen McDermott January 05 2012
US government may demand more gTLD TM protection The most senior politician in the US government agency that gives Icann power over delegating new gTLDs has said he will evaluate whether additional trade mark protection measures are needed in April 2012 By Ed Conlon January 04 2012
Baidu is removed from USTR market list The USTR’s latest review of so-called “notorious markets” that are rife with counterfeiting and piracy has praised Chinese search engine Baidu for striking a deal with rights owners By Managing IP Correspondent January 04 2012