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The long-awaited US Supreme Court has side-stepped the question of whether the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) should continue to issue software patents in a ruling Monday striking down a business-method patent. The ruling on Bilski vs. Kappos is a mess. Where many hoped fervently for some clarity to be brought to the ill-defined rules for patenting business methods and software in the US, the court instead was timid in the extreme.

"Apple is one name that features regularly at the US body that administers patent applications and this past week was no exception, with the tech giant filing a staggering 36 patents with the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office."

"The United States Patent and Trademark Office recently published details on a Microsoft patent relating to a two-sided smart device display system for phones and tablets, PatentBolt reported on Friday. The invention features an integrated second low-power, possibly E Ink, display on the back side of a smartphone or tablet that would contain certain types of information. The secondary display could provide vendors with an opportunity to move standard items like a clock off of the main display to free up space, or it could display a variety of other information that might otherwise not be shown. The second display would use its own low-powered processor and may reduce the power load from a device's primary display. The patent appears to be similar in intent to Samsung's "smart-device-skins" invention - a technology that may allow users to change the appearance of a handset using chameleon-like technology - and it could be used to display images or animations on the back side of a device."

"Patently Apple did what it does and dug up a patent related to building 3D avatars:"

Apple and Motorola Mobility today agreed to settle all patent litigation, ending one of the higher profile lawsuits in tech. In a joint statement Apple and Motorola mentioned that the settlement does not include a cross license to their patents. ...

According to CNBC, the US Financial Network blog, micro-blog station, Wal-Mart produced a lot of high-tech ideas behind the scenes. Recently, this large retailer has issued a series of patent applications that may in the future subvert the shopping experience we all know.

Microsoft has sealed two new patent-protection deals seeking to avoid any license issues for using Android and Google Chrome operating systems.

"With all the legal battles Apple are currently fighting it's certainly come as a revelation that Camp Cupertino has licensed software patents to companies including IBM and Nokia."

Patenting your App Idea - Secured earn and gain on app development with patenting, After all research just developing the application and looking

The Samsung-Apple battle over patent infringement seems to be never ending, with Apple attempting to get Samsung devices banned from sale.

"Canadian smartphone moguls RIM have applied for two patents suggesting the BlackBerry boys could be about to bring 'fuel cell' battery technology to its future devices."

"RIM has applied for two patents relating to new fuel cell technology that could be introduced into future BlackBerry devices."

"Sony has filed a patent for a technology that will allow smartphone users to use their device to scan fingerprints via the handset's screen."

Apple Inc scored a narrow victory against Taiwan's HTC Corp in a patent lawsuit over smartphone technology that will set the stage for further battles between rival makers in the fiercely competitive market.

"Yet another copyright lawsuit has hit the tech world after Motorola Mobility instigated proceedings to seek damages from Apple for a number of patent infringements. What's particularly interesting about this case however is that word appears to have been given by Motorola's parent company Google for the action to take place."

A federal jury in Florida on Monday ruled in favor of Blackberry Ltd <BB.TO> in a lawsuit accusing the company of infringing three patents belonging to Dutch semiconductor company NXP BV

"With Lumia sales still unable to fill the coffers, Nokia has turned to its rich patent portfolio as an extra source of income. "

"You would think that Apple would have had enough with the number of long-running legal disputes it's involved in but apparently the taste, smell and thrill of victory is just too much for the company to withstand, this time at the expense of Motorola."