patent

In an update Tuesday, Pfizer said it is discontinuing 15 of the projects in its development pipeline. The news comes a month after the world's largest pharmaceutical company announced large research and development cuts were on the way.

The pharmaceutical industry is ready to fall off a cliff -- a "patent cliff." Over the next few years, some of the world's most popular and lucrative medicines will go off patent, and generic competition will siphon an estimated quarter of a trillion dollars from drugmakers' bottom lines.

RPX has been in business since just 2008, but it has rapidly built a list of big-name clients attracted to its novel service. It offers tech companies a way to gain access to patents without having to own them outright -- and without having to deal with litigious "patent trolls."

In a complaint to the U.S. International Trade Commission, Sony has accused rival LG Electronics of infringing on seven of its patents, including one for photo-based caller ID technology.

While it may sound more Scrooge than Santa Claus, Amazon, the world's largest online retailer, has filed a patent for technology that would allow customers to return -- or "convert" -- gifts they don't like, even before they actually arrive.

Social-networking giant Facebook made a bit of progress in its five-year effort to trademark the world "face," at least when used in things like online chat rooms and social-networking efforts. The company received what's called a "notice of allowance," which means a decision could be coming in as little as six months.

Pfizer shares were down more than 1% Monday afternoon despite the pharmaceutical giant's report Sunday of successful late-stage trial results for an experimental rheumatoid arthritis drug. The study showed tasocitinib reduced pain and inflammation and improved physical function in patients with moderately to severely active RA.

Apple faces one of the largest ever patent-infringement verdicts if a jury award of $625.5 million is upheld. The company is appealing after being found guilty of violating three patents owned by small tech company Mirror Worlds.

Brooks Brothers is facing legal claims that it marked its bow ties with expired patent numbers, which could cost the company as much as $500 per tie. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington yesterday gave the go-ahead for lawyer Raymond Stauffer to pursue his claim against...

"Never think that the corporation is there to help you. Always keep your guard up." So say the lawyers who helped little guy Michael Powell win $25 million from big, bad Home Depot after it stole his invention. WalletPop reported the initial verdict of $15 million following the trial, and the judge...