In case you haven't seen it:
http://www.ispot.tv/ad/7dVm/2013-mercedes-benz-e-350-patents
I was casually watching tv) and this ad showed during the commercial break. Usually, I pay no attention to ads, but this one caught my eye. Most probable because it talks about patents!
In this ad, Mercedes- Benz claims to own over 80,000 patents and that's why they're car is so great. It's interesting to me that Mercedes is including information about the number of patents they own. It seems like their marketing strategy is to play off that if you own a lot of patents, you are creators and the best. And owning 80,000 patents is quite a feat. What they don't mention is that a lot of companies own a lot of patents and a lot of trolls own patents and sue other people for more money!
Funny what they do leave out.
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Week5,Post9:Congress's View
Food for thought:
http://about.bloomberglaw.com/law-reports/smartphone-patent-war-briefing-in-congress-with-one-conclusion-legislation-unlikely/
A panel comprised of 4 professors of law and writers met in a Congressional briefing to discuss the AIA and the current patent litigation wars. Three out of the four panelist argue that the system is broken, however one person says that it will all blow over. I thought that this was an interesting argument. Adam Mossoff argues that this war will all blow over, as it did with the sewing machines and pharmaceuticals.
I'm not sure that I agree with his stance. I think that the amount of money and time spent by each company towards this patent wars is huge in comparison to maybe the companies back in history. The smartphone boom is huge with a large market (let's think in billions of dollars) that I think these giant companies are not going to want to lose. Maybe a patent pool may happen, but I doubt it in the next five years.
http://about.bloomberglaw.com/law-reports/smartphone-patent-war-briefing-in-congress-with-one-conclusion-legislation-unlikely/
A panel comprised of 4 professors of law and writers met in a Congressional briefing to discuss the AIA and the current patent litigation wars. Three out of the four panelist argue that the system is broken, however one person says that it will all blow over. I thought that this was an interesting argument. Adam Mossoff argues that this war will all blow over, as it did with the sewing machines and pharmaceuticals.
I'm not sure that I agree with his stance. I think that the amount of money and time spent by each company towards this patent wars is huge in comparison to maybe the companies back in history. The smartphone boom is huge with a large market (let's think in billions of dollars) that I think these giant companies are not going to want to lose. Maybe a patent pool may happen, but I doubt it in the next five years.
Friday, February 22, 2013
Week4,Post8:Hardware producers reaping all the benefits
Reading:
http://seekingalpha.com/article/1185511-as-smartphone-patent-war-rages-on-hardware-producers-reap-enormous-profits
So I know we've been talking in class about how it software companies have been using millions of dollars to back up other companies in their progress of developing products. However, we never really talk about the hardware companies who actually make the products. So I looked up this today and found an amazing article about the hundreds of MILLIONS of dollars these companies are making during all these legal battles. I was super surprised! These companies are still doing really well although their partner companies in software are locked up in litigation wars.
Good for them!
http://seekingalpha.com/article/1185511-as-smartphone-patent-war-rages-on-hardware-producers-reap-enormous-profits
So I know we've been talking in class about how it software companies have been using millions of dollars to back up other companies in their progress of developing products. However, we never really talk about the hardware companies who actually make the products. So I looked up this today and found an amazing article about the hundreds of MILLIONS of dollars these companies are making during all these legal battles. I was super surprised! These companies are still doing really well although their partner companies in software are locked up in litigation wars.
Good for them!
Week4,Post7:HALT!
Some background:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/apple-samsung-judge-says-she-may-put-second-patent-case-on-hold/2013/02/15/7bc0f8b2-7730-11e2-b102-948929030e64_story.html?wpisrc=nl_tech
So the infamous battle between Samsung and Apple has come to a halt! Judge Koh, who was overseeing two of their patent lawsuits, asked the two companies to postponed their trial to March 2014 while they look over a verdict made on a lawsuit from August 2012.
What I thought was interesting about this article is that the government is requiring both companies to reveal their financial information. However, both companies (separately) are appealing this ruling calling them 'trade secrets'. I'm a bit confused as to how this information are trade secrets. What exactly is so valuable? Is it how the companies are spending money on research? Is it on marketing? I'm just a bit confused why BOTH companies are so against it!
Thoughts?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/apple-samsung-judge-says-she-may-put-second-patent-case-on-hold/2013/02/15/7bc0f8b2-7730-11e2-b102-948929030e64_story.html?wpisrc=nl_tech
So the infamous battle between Samsung and Apple has come to a halt! Judge Koh, who was overseeing two of their patent lawsuits, asked the two companies to postponed their trial to March 2014 while they look over a verdict made on a lawsuit from August 2012.
What I thought was interesting about this article is that the government is requiring both companies to reveal their financial information. However, both companies (separately) are appealing this ruling calling them 'trade secrets'. I'm a bit confused as to how this information are trade secrets. What exactly is so valuable? Is it how the companies are spending money on research? Is it on marketing? I'm just a bit confused why BOTH companies are so against it!
Thoughts?
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Week3,Post6:An interesting dyanmic
This week's article read:
http://news.msn.com/science-technology/stalemate-between-apple-samsung-in-smartphone-wars
So I was received this article through my Google Alert this week. While reading it, I was a bit shocked. Not because Apple is suing Samsung and vice versa (I mean come on, that's pretty old news), but by the fact that Samsung actually manufactures a lot of parts of Apple's iPhone, iPads, iWhatevers. I find it interesting that Apple chose to pick up a fight with the guys who make parts for their phones (I mean...their phones wouldn't work without Samsung). And I'm pretty surprised that Samsung hasn't dropped them from their clients (okay, I guess having Apple as one of your clients is a pretty huge money maker, but wouldn't it be a giant f***k you to apple?). It's interesting to see how to companies hate each other, sue each other, want the other company to not succeed, and yet still work together to produce products.
A bit silly I think. Thoughts?
http://news.msn.com/science-technology/stalemate-between-apple-samsung-in-smartphone-wars
So I was received this article through my Google Alert this week. While reading it, I was a bit shocked. Not because Apple is suing Samsung and vice versa (I mean come on, that's pretty old news), but by the fact that Samsung actually manufactures a lot of parts of Apple's iPhone, iPads, iWhatevers. I find it interesting that Apple chose to pick up a fight with the guys who make parts for their phones (I mean...their phones wouldn't work without Samsung). And I'm pretty surprised that Samsung hasn't dropped them from their clients (okay, I guess having Apple as one of your clients is a pretty huge money maker, but wouldn't it be a giant f***k you to apple?). It's interesting to see how to companies hate each other, sue each other, want the other company to not succeed, and yet still work together to produce products.
A bit silly I think. Thoughts?
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Week3,Post5:Qwerty Keyboard
So something Professor Lavian said in class intrigued me this past Monday. People were patenting QWERTY keyboards on smartphones. For those of you who may not know exactly what a QWERTY keyboard is, it's the keyboard layout that is used in most present day keyboards for laptops and computers. If I remember correct, it was designed during the age of type writers (oh dang that's old). This is from memory, but I believe that it was designed so that letters that were used often were spread apart on the keyboard so that ink wouldn't get smeared/damaged and the keys wouldn't get jammed easily on the type writer.
I was intrigued that people were patenting QWERTY keyboards. Initially, I thought people were actually patenting the keyboard layout. However after some research, I found companies were just patenting how the keyboard was placed on their phone. I thought that this was interesting concept. It's true, how a phone has the keyboard on it is really crucial to user interface. I know I've hated certain phones of my past simply because the keyboard was just annoying to utilize. I guess in a way it's good for these companies to patent their layouts, it protects their idea! So I guess, good job companies!
I was intrigued that people were patenting QWERTY keyboards. Initially, I thought people were actually patenting the keyboard layout. However after some research, I found companies were just patenting how the keyboard was placed on their phone. I thought that this was interesting concept. It's true, how a phone has the keyboard on it is really crucial to user interface. I know I've hated certain phones of my past simply because the keyboard was just annoying to utilize. I guess in a way it's good for these companies to patent their layouts, it protects their idea! So I guess, good job companies!
Thursday, February 7, 2013
Week2, Post4:Patent Trolls
I'm not sure if you've heard of this bizarre patent licensing issue, but I heard it from my brother while at home during the winter break. So what's this issue? Basically, a company patented the act of scanning documents and emailing them to someone. WHAT? And on top of that, this company is asking for $900-$1200 per employee head at various companies for licensing. This just is such a bizarre thing to me. I do not know about you, but scanning and emailing documents is something I have done since anyone had the ability to do so! I will admit, it is pure genius to patent this idea. However, asking up to a thousand dollars for something that most people do on a weekly basis is just......I guess the word I'm going for is mean. I am interested to see how this licensing issue plays through.
To read more:
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2013/01/patent-trolls-want-1000-for-using-scanners/
To read more:
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2013/01/patent-trolls-want-1000-for-using-scanners/
Monday, February 4, 2013
Week2, Post3:Trade Secrets
Today's lecture consisted of going over topics such as copyrights, trade marks, and trade secrets. One thing that stood out to me was trade secrets. I remember realizing how important trade secrets were when I was in Netherlands two years ago. I was in the Heineken museum, a beer that has been circulating all around me all my life (it's my dad's favorite beer). As I walking through the museum, the different processes of how the beer was made was shown to us through movies/exhibits/etc. It was pretty interesting to see all the different vats and things put into the beer. However, there was one portion of the beer making process that we were not allowed to see. I was confused. Why wouldn't they let us see this tiny portion, the portion of them adding the yeast?
Well, it was explained to me that very day: the yeast Heineken uses and the way they use it is something unique to Heineken beers. If someone else found out what the yeast was and how they use it, the Heineken business could basically go bankrupt. All other parts of the their beer making is quite standard, and its this one small part of the entire process that makes Heineken a huge beer company. It's why most of Heineken's beers are actually brewed in the Netherlands to be exported out. It's also why Guinness makes most of it's beers in Ireland! Without trade secrets, these huge companies would not thrive since anyone could make their product!
Well, it was explained to me that very day: the yeast Heineken uses and the way they use it is something unique to Heineken beers. If someone else found out what the yeast was and how they use it, the Heineken business could basically go bankrupt. All other parts of the their beer making is quite standard, and its this one small part of the entire process that makes Heineken a huge beer company. It's why most of Heineken's beers are actually brewed in the Netherlands to be exported out. It's also why Guinness makes most of it's beers in Ireland! Without trade secrets, these huge companies would not thrive since anyone could make their product!
Sunday, February 3, 2013
Week1, Post 2: IEOR 190G
I am currently enrolled in IEOR 190G, Wireless and Mobile Devices Patents. I am taking this course for two reasons. First, I am finishing the CET Undergraduate Engineering Leadership program with this course. Other courses I have taken are IEOR 171 and E 198. I also took part of the College of Engineering's LeaderShape program.
I am also taking this course because I am currently in the process of possibly patenting my own product. Last semester, I partook of BioE 192, a capstone bioengineering course. During the course, I created a device with three other undergraduate bioengineer students that works in conjunction with the existing LifeWrap, a product that helps elongate a woman's life during postpartum hemorrhages in third world countries.. We applied for the Big Ideas competition and are currently semi-finalists. In addition, we are filing for a technical disclosure for our product this week. We are hoping to apply for a provisional patent soon. In addition, we hope to run clinical trials to see if our product reduce mortality rates. I am hoping that this course will help me through the patent process.
I am also taking this course because I am currently in the process of possibly patenting my own product. Last semester, I partook of BioE 192, a capstone bioengineering course. During the course, I created a device with three other undergraduate bioengineer students that works in conjunction with the existing LifeWrap, a product that helps elongate a woman's life during postpartum hemorrhages in third world countries.. We applied for the Big Ideas competition and are currently semi-finalists. In addition, we are filing for a technical disclosure for our product this week. We are hoping to apply for a provisional patent soon. In addition, we hope to run clinical trials to see if our product reduce mortality rates. I am hoping that this course will help me through the patent process.
Week1, Post 1: Hello!
Hello World! My name is Alisha Manandhar and I am currently a fourth year undergraduate bioengineer major at UC Berkeley. I am graduating in May 2013 and am planning on working in the industry. I'm really interested working for biotech company as a an engineer.
I'm from El Cerrito, California. No, not that random city in SoCal called 'Ceritos' but the city five minutes north of Berkeley with two BART stations (EC Plaza and Del Norte). I've grown up going back and forth in between Berkeley and El Cerrito. So I guess....I've been in Berkeley for a long time.
In my spare time, I really enjoy baking. I bake a variety of items: from cookies to cakes, breads, and pies galore! Due to my baking extravaganzas, I have another blog dedicated to recipes and other sorts of things that I bake up. I was on Cal's Taekwondo club team (I'm a blue belt with a red stripe) until I got pateller femoral syndrome last January. I basically could not walk on my own without being in excruciating pain after years of extreme stress on my knees from soccer (i used to play varsity in high school and was on a traveling team) and taekwondo. Since then, I've gone through a lot of physical therapy to get both of my knees back in shape ( I use to wear two knee braces for 6 months!!). I finally am able to start running again (literally, I just started again three weeks ago). I soon hope to rejoin the team and continue with Taekwondo after I graduate.
Since I've been in the area for a long time, I have some favorite spots in Berkeley that I still continue visiting. My favorite past time is to watch the sunset or the fog roll into the bay from the Grotto in the Berkeley hills (just up the hill from Indian Rock, but a LOT less well known. It's never over crowded as Indian Rock gets. I guess being a local has perks like this).
I'm from El Cerrito, California. No, not that random city in SoCal called 'Ceritos' but the city five minutes north of Berkeley with two BART stations (EC Plaza and Del Norte). I've grown up going back and forth in between Berkeley and El Cerrito. So I guess....I've been in Berkeley for a long time.
In my spare time, I really enjoy baking. I bake a variety of items: from cookies to cakes, breads, and pies galore! Due to my baking extravaganzas, I have another blog dedicated to recipes and other sorts of things that I bake up. I was on Cal's Taekwondo club team (I'm a blue belt with a red stripe) until I got pateller femoral syndrome last January. I basically could not walk on my own without being in excruciating pain after years of extreme stress on my knees from soccer (i used to play varsity in high school and was on a traveling team) and taekwondo. Since then, I've gone through a lot of physical therapy to get both of my knees back in shape ( I use to wear two knee braces for 6 months!!). I finally am able to start running again (literally, I just started again three weeks ago). I soon hope to rejoin the team and continue with Taekwondo after I graduate.
Since I've been in the area for a long time, I have some favorite spots in Berkeley that I still continue visiting. My favorite past time is to watch the sunset or the fog roll into the bay from the Grotto in the Berkeley hills (just up the hill from Indian Rock, but a LOT less well known. It's never over crowded as Indian Rock gets. I guess being a local has perks like this).
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