As technology and innovation have progressed, war has transformed close behind, generating new types of weapons and threats. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine demonstrates the use of this development, including everything from Molotov cocktails to nuclear warfare. Though the West has not entered the fight, it has contributed to Ukraine’s efforts by not only supplying technology […] Maier & Maier PLLC has been ranked as a top law firm for Patent Law in the latest U.S. News – Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” rankings. We are thankful for this recognition and our wonderful clients and esteemed colleagues who made this success possible. An additional filing fee for any nonprovisional utility patent application filed under 35 U.S.C. 111, including continuing applications, that are not filed in DOCX format was set to take effect on January 1, 2022. However, on November 22, 2021, the USPTO issued a final rule delaying the effective date of the new fee until January […] Judge Alan Albright assumed the bench in September of 2018 and has quickly made the Western District of Texas a premier venue for patent litigation. 24% of all patent cases filed so far in 2021 were filed in the WDTX, up from just 3% of patent cases filed in 2018. This significant increase in filings […] The Maier & Maier litigation team successfully defended its client’s right to pursue trademark registration for its prominent jewelry brand, SAUER. In April 2021, Opposer Nextten Stauer filed an opposition proceeding challenging two of Amsterdam Sauer Joalheiros Ltda.’s (“Amsterdam Sauer”) trademark applications for the marks SAUER and SAUER ESTD 1941. The opposition proceeding challenged the […] The Precedential Opinion Panel (“POP”) has added more precedential and informative decisions which address key issues facing the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (“PTAB”). These cases provide key insight to guide practitioners before the Board to effectively represent their clients’ best interest. Precedential Opinions: 1. Sotera Wireless, Inc. v. Masimo Corporation, IPR2020-01019 In this proceeding, […] The Maier & Maier litigation team scored another victory for its clients, this time in the Southern District of Texas. District Judge Lynn Nettleton Hughes was the presiding Judge, while Maier & Maier represented Qiang Bai in the proceedings and earned the quick and favorable result. Houston-based Flexsteel Pipeline Technologies. Inc. sued Qiang Bai and […] The Precedential Opinion Panel “POP” has had a number of petitions recently on key issues facing the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (“PTAB”). We’ve collected some of the most impactful below concerning the use of Applicant Admitted Prior Art (“AAPA”) and two focusing on the Fintiv factors for discretionary denial. 1. SolarEdge Techs. Ltd v. […] In yet another sign of the strength of the U.S. patent system, the USPTO has now issued Pat. No. 11,000,000. The patent, dated May 11, 2021, was for “Repositioning Wires and Methods for repositioning Prosthetic Heart Valve Devices Within a Heart Chamber and Related Systems, Devices, and Methods”. When the USPTO began numbering patents in […] Earlier this week, IBM announced it would be working with IPwe to launch a new IP Marketplace powered by IBM’s blockchain technology. Organizations can also more easily view the IP as an asset on their balance sheet.” As related technology has been implemented to represent sports memorabilia and iconic moments, digital art, and even social […]