News of the Week – December 3rd U.S. services sector activity slowed in November but remained at levels consistent with a steady pace of economic growth for the fourth quarter, a business survey showed on Thursday (Reuters). Janet L. Yellen, the Federal Reserve chairwoman, told Congress that she regarded domestic economic conditions as
News of the Week – November 19th Yesterday IAM held an event in Washington, DC, titled Patent Law and Policy. The first panel discussion of the day was on patent reform, taking a look at what has driven the legislative agenda over the past decade, what has been fixed, what remains to
News of the Week – November 12th The “patent troll” narrative — fueled by anecdotal tales of mom-and-pop operations snared by fraudulent patent suits and the image of ugly green trolls paraded from the House floor to the White House – became the conventional wisdom on patents almost overnight. As readers of
News of the Week – October 15th Federal Reserve Official William Dudley said recent data suggest the economy is slowing. Specifically, he said that inventories, dollar appreciation and sluggish global growth are holding the U.S. economy back (CNBC). Only a month ago, as Congress returned from its summer recess, both the House
News of the Week – October 8th Federal Reserve officials believe the U.S. recovery will likely remain insulated from the slowdown in China that has roiled the global economy, keeping the central bank on track to begin ending its extraordinary stimulus later this year (Washington Post). The jobs report is a bit unpleasant. Employers
News of the Week – October 1st World economic growth lost momentum in September, with China's factory output shrinking again, euro zone manufacturing growth slowing, and U.S. activity steady. The latest business surveys across Asia, Europe and the Americas paint a gloomier picture and are likely to prompt more calls for central banks
A toxic concoction of myth, media and money is killing the patent system In the past decade, the patent system has been turned on its head. Inventors are now villainized as cartoon characters called patent trolls simply because they assert their hard-earned patent rights against corporations who steal their inventions. These infringing
News of the Week – September 24th The Volkswagen emissions scandal has rocked Germany's business and political establishment and analysts warn the crisis at the car maker could develop into the biggest threat to Europe's largest economy (Reuters). Stock market turmoil and a surprise currency devaluation fueled fears of a Chinese slump
News of the Week – September 17th A Federal Reserve interest rate hike this week could shake markets but is likely to cause just a ripple in the solidly growing economy, analysts say (USA Today). U.S. homebuilders are feeling slightly more optimistic about the housing market, nudging their confidence this month to a
How a Washington Breakfast Influenced Conservative Votes on Patent Reform A Story About How Lobbying worked on Patent Reform to the Detriment of Innovation I bought breakfast at a local diner in downtown Harlan, Iowa a couple of weeks ago. A home cooked sausage and cheese omelet plus an endless cup of
