Nouvag/ Malak - A costly second try at invalidity

http://eplaw.org/be-nouvag-malak-a-costly-second-try-at-invalidity/

Update from Belgium.

On 3 April 2017, the Mons court of appeal issued a judgment in a patent revocation action between Nouvag and Dr. Jean Malak (Docket nr. 2016/RG/263). The judgment, the latest in a series of decisions in relation to Dr. Malak’s patent nr. EP 0971754 for a liposuction apparatus, includes interesting considerations on res judicata and legal costs in Belgian patent litigation.

VPATAPP Alert_Stat of the week - The location of patent litigation

http://abovethelaw.com/2017/04/stat-of-the-week-the-location-of-patent-litigation/

The Eastern District of Texas is still king of the hill for patent cases

VPATAPP Alert_South Centre's IP NEGOTIATIONS MONITOR_January to March 2017

https://www.southcentre.int/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/IPMonitor21_EN.pdf

The IP Negotiations Monitor summarizes the latest developments in multilateral and regional fora where intellectual property negotiations are taking place, and informs on upcoming meetings and events. 

VPATAPP Alert_Courts' Findings of No Invalidity Are Not Binding on the Patent Office in Inter Partes Reviews

http://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/courts-findings-of-no-invalidity-are-37861/

The US Circuit Court for the Federal Circuit issued an important decision last week regarding the interplay of court litigation and inter partes reviews (IPRs) at the US Patent and Trademark Appeals Board (PTAB) on the issue of invalidity/patentability of the same patent. See Novartis AG v. Noven Pharm. Inc., ____ F.3d ____ (April 4, 2017).

by

Martin S. Masar,

Brian Sodikoff from Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP

VPATAPP Alert_Is It Really That Obvious? A Tale of Two Decisions

http://www.ipwatchdog.com/2017/04/09/really-obvious-tale-two-decisions/id=81750/

By William Gvoth & Paul Gurzo from Harrity & Harrity

On January 3, 2017 the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (the court) handed down two decisions relating to obviousness under § 103 – In re: Marcel Van Os, Freddy Allen Anzures, Scott Forstall, Greg Christie, Imran Chaudhri, No. 2015-1975 (Fed. Cir. 2017) (Van Os) and In re: Ethicon, Inc., No. 2015-1696 (Fed. Cir. 2017) (Ethicon).  This article will tell the tale of these two decisions as well as highlight some of the questions that these decisions raise.

VPATAPP Alert_Pre-Consultation Draft Of Canadian Patent Rules: Coming soon

http://www.mondaq.com/canada/x/583394/Patent/Coming+Soon+PreConsultation+Draft+Of+Canadian+Patent+Rules

Article by David Chaikof and Eileen McMahon from Torys LLP

VPATAPP Alert_Preparation for (more) Patent Assertion Entites in Europe

http://www.ip.finance/2017/04/preparation-for-more-patent-assertion.html

Intellectual Property 2 Innovate: Brussels-based IP advocacy group

The organization is called Intellectual Property 2 Innovate and its members include: Adidas, Google, Intel, Bull AtWios Technologies, Proximus, Spotify, Wiko, Daimler, the European Semiconductor Industry Association, and Syndicat De Industrie Des Technologies De L'Information.  Notably, the Intellectual Property 2 Innovate website has references to a list of suits brought by patent assertion entities in Europe, media reports concerning patent assertion activity in Europe and third party studies concerning patent assertion entities in Europe. 

VPATAPP Alert_Does the triggering of Article 50 impact the IP rights?

Brexit Update:

While there have been plenty of headlines about the triggering of Article 50 by the UK’s Prime Minister, Theresa May, the situation surrounding IP rights remains stable. The final outcome of the negotiations around Brexit, which will now begin in earnest, is uncertain. However, no change is envisaged until March 2019 – the earliest date at which the UK would leave the EU. In some key areas of IP, no changes are envisaged at all.

http://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=553d6382-4b5e-410d-accb-b92a5909c90e

VPATAPP Alert_US CAFC: Prior Judicial Opinions Do Not Bind the PTAB

Novartis v. Noven Pharma (Fed. Cir. 2017)

https://patentlyo.com/patent/2017/04/prior-judicial-opinions.html

VPATAPP Alert_Canadian Patent Law’s Invalidation of Patents Under Promise Doctrine Does Not Violate NAFTA

Canadian Patent Law’s Invalidation of Patents Under Promise Doctrine Does Not Violate NAFTA

http://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=fd68f9b0-6a69-4686-85f1-1f93e7d1b56c

By John Richards from Ladas & Parry LLP

On March 16, 2017, the International Centre for Settlement of Investment disputes rejected Eli Lilly’s claim that the Canadian Courts use of the “promise doctrine” to invalidate patents owned by Eli Lilly and the Canadian government’s failure to correct this by legislation constituted a breach of Canada’s obligations under the North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

VPATAPP Alert_Bundesrat (Federal council) approves German UPC laws

Following approval by the Bundestag (Germany’s parliament) on 9 March 2017, the Bundesrat (Federal Council) also approved the two laws required for Germany to ratify the Unified Patent Court (UPC) Agreement on 31 March 2017.

http://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=14d6e5cb-a8c5-430c-8516-6e845d68447a

VPATAPP Alert_IP Review Spring 2017 Magazine

http://www.withersrogers.com/ebrochure/ip-review/spring-2017/files/assets/basic-html/index.html#1

Inside this edition:

1. Is this your patent, sir?

2. Why doesn't every company have an IP director?

3. Is UK one of the least inventive countries?

VPATAPP Alert_Good Practices Concerning Intellectual Property Ownership

http://www.ip.finance/2017/03/good-practices-concerning-intellectual.html

Articles by Novagraaf.

In a helpful series of articles, the law firm Novagraaf addresses the issue of good practices concerning intellectual property ownership (particularly internationally) that make the future transfer of intellectual property easier.