GEN-ERIC Patent News

RETURN to News Archive
==================================================
Copyright(c) 1998-2003 GEN-ERIC Channel. All rights reserved.

GEN-ERIC Patent News
Tuesday, December 23, 2003

==================================================
Use Quick Links to Access any Area of Interest
Headlines
News
Patents of the Day
Access Official Gazette and Notices
Patents Available for Licensing
Patent Related Opportunities

Printer Friendly Version
==================================================
HEADLINES (patents issued a few hours ago..)
The 4-D Portal Patent of the Day goes to
Lucent Technologies Inc. of New Jersey for
Space/time portals for computer systems

The Ashes to Ashes Patent of the Day goes to
Independent Inventors from New York for
Ash silhouette display device
    Index
==================================================
NEWS
FTC rules Schering-Plough deal illegal
http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2003/12/19/ftc_rules_schering_plough_deal_illegal/
Drug maker Schering-Plough Corp. said it plans to appeal a Federal Trade Commission ruling that it illegally conspired with Wyeth and a Minnesota drug company to delay the two from introducing generic competition to one of its drugs. The case, involving agreements ending patent litigation between Schering and the other two companies, is one of several FTC has brought in recent years in an effort to stop brand-name drug companies from making deals to keep competitors from bringing cheaper generic medicines to market. In this case, FTC said the delays cost consumers more than $100 million.
    Index
TSMC lawsuit could upset SMIC's plans to go public
http://www.itworld.com/Man/2687/031223tsmcsuit/
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd. (TSMC), the world's largest contract chip maker, has detailed accusations of patent infringement and the misappropriation of trade secrets in a lawsuit that could hurt rival Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp.'s (SMIC's) plans to go public early next year. TSMC, based in Hsinchu, Taiwan, filed the lawsuit Friday in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. It alleges that SMIC has infringed on five of TSMC's chip-making patents and misappropriated trade secrets, and seeks monetary damages and a permanent injunction against SMIC. The suit was filed along with TSMC North America and TSMC subsidiary Wafertech LLC.
    Index
Medinol wins another patent case in Netherlands
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1071721353477&p=1006688054984
The District Court of The Hague in the Netherlands has ruled that Boston Scientific infringed on Jerusalem-based Medinol's stent patent, the medical technology firm said Thursday. The ruling prohibits Boston Scientific, a former distributor for Medinol and the world's third-largest maker of stents, from selling its Express line of stents in the Netherlands, and orders the American firm to pay Medinol royalties of 30 percent on past and future sales of its Taxus model of stents sold, manufactured or distributed there.
    Index
==================================================
PATENTS OF THE DAY

6,668,353

Space/time portals for computer systems

Abstract: A portal defines a set of information requests used to gather various types of information in order to present to a user a single composite display that essentially provides the user with his or her own personal web page or view of information. A space/time portal is a particular type of portal whose set of information requests is automatically modified as a function of a specified location or a specified time or both. In one configuration, the specified location and time are themselves selected automatically to modify the space/time portal in real time based on the current location and time for the user. In another configuration, the user can manually change the selection of the specified location and/or time. The space/time portal is then automatically modified based on the new selections, and the composite display is updated in real time accordingly.

Index

6,665,916

Ash silhouette display device

Abstract: A display of cremated remains of humans or animals in a decorative and artistic fashion. In the preferred mode, the remains are applied to one-dimensional or multi-dimensional objects, such as a wall hanging, plaque, or urn, in the form of a silhouette of the deceased. The silhouette may be of the face, head, or body of the person or pet, and, importantly, is derived from at least one photograph for image accuracy. In addition to the ash silhouette, the frame or plaque may include text relating to the deceased, such as the person or animal's name, dates of birth and death, or other inscription. Finally, the decorative item may also include other colors or graphics, including items or scenes related to the life of the deceased. Thus, in total, the method results in an artistic, aesthetically-pleasing reminder of a beloved family member or cherished pet.