Category Archives: Legal

History of US Patents

By Simon Coles | Published: April 29, 2006
For patent geeks, an interesting overview of how US Patent Law developed to the present day starting from the beginning: In 1787, with the passage of the Constitution, Congress was empowered to “promote the process of science and the useful arts by securing for limited times to authors and inventors, the exclusive rights to their [...]
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The importance of Lab Notebooks in showing inventorship

By Simon Coles | Published: January 20, 2006
Yet another case of co-inventor issues arising from work in an academic setting is described in Patently-O: Patent Law Blog: Inventorship: Student Denied Co-Inventorship Opportunity (and also here. We’re seeing an increasing interest in PatentSafe from the academic sector, mainly as a quick & cheap way of avoiding such problems. Whilst this sort of dispute [...]
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Electronic Records finally get a front seat in litigation

By Simon Coles | Published: January 4, 2006
A lot of our work in introducing completely electronic replacements for the Bound Lab Notebook (we use the term “Patent Evidence Creation & Preservation” systems) revolves around talking with IT and helping them understand the implications of being on the front line of possible litigation. Well, it seems that Congress is prepared to give us [...]
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“Feeling Secure”

By Simon Coles | Published: March 1, 2005
Bruce Schneier quotes “Confessions of a Master Jewel Thief” : ” Nothing works more in a thief’s favor than people feeling secure. That’s why places that are heavily alarmed and guarded can sometimes be the easiest targets. The single most important factor in security – more than locks, alarms, sensors, or armed guards – is [...]
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