Welcome to the AmiCOUR IP Blog.  We invite your comments.  Past Issues.

November 30, 2009 - Google has launched its beta version of Google Scholar, which offers visitors instant case lookup and citation listings.  The site allows people to find and read the full text of the legal opinions that govern us.  In addition, the site includes the ability to research litigated patents, something PACER cannot do without users downloading individually filed complaints.  An advanced search page is included.  Read comments.

November 24, 2009 - Popular Science magazine named 100 new products as the Best of Whats New for 2010, giving its top award to a new stethoscope that transmits the sounds of a heartbeat to computers for digital signal processing and analysis. Other winners included a system to monitor hand washing in hospitals.  We soon located a related 2006 patent assigned Indiana based Hill-Rom Services, Inc. and a system called HandGiene. Our favorite new idea was eyeglasses with an adjustable focal length.
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October 28, 2009 - A Wisconsin state court has awarded a default judgment to Charles Joyce and James Voigt after they sued the soft drink maker claiming it’s distributors had misappropriated trade secrets related to selling purified water. They alleged that information was illicitly passed to PepsiCo and used to launch its Aquafina brand of purified water.  PepsiCo failed to appear in the Wisconsin court but now appears to be scrambling to overturn the $1.26 billion judgment.  Attorneys for the named Pepsico distributors did make appearances in June and July.  Now PepsiCo’s attorneys appear to be arguing “improper” service to a registered agent in North Carolina as the explanation of why it never heard about the case.  Other arguments are expected to include expiration of the statute of limitations and due process concerns related to the size of the damage calculation. Read comments.