As the literary world makes the jump from hardcovers and paperbacks to tablet computers and dedicated eReaders, authors are encountering an entirely new slate of risks and rewards. As they strive to expand their audience and without deflating content value, writers will need a keen knowledge of emerging royalty management realities.

The covered business method (CBM) patent review program instituted by the America Invents Act completed its first practical application this month as tech giant SAP was able to disprove the patentability of proprietary processes formerly claimed by Versata Software. As a result of the patent review board decision, SAP may have new leverage in an infringement dispute that the two parties have taken to federal appeals court.

The U.S. Supreme Court handed down a unanimous decision this week which may fundamentally shift the trajectory of biomedical research. In a polarizing case concerning molecular diagnostics innovator Myriad Genetics, the court invalidated the entirety of the company's patents associated with naturally occurring human DNA.

Silicon Valley played host to delegates from the world's five largest intellectual property offices (IP5) last week, continuing the conversation toward greater harmonization of international patent management mechanisms.

Recorded TV innovator TiVo has decided to settle its outstanding litigation with Google and Cisco centered on their distribution of infringing digital video recorder (DVR) technologies to Time Warner Cable to include in its set-top boxes. As part of the deal, Google's Motorola Mobility unit and Cisco will enter into a patent licensing deal with TiVo after paying a collective settlement fee of $490 million.

This past week, the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers (CISAC) held its fourth biennial World Creators Summit in Washington, D.C., to discuss some of the most pressing royalty management issues facing artists today. Attendance from key content creation, distribution and regulation authorities should prove useful as consensus was that greater collaboration across sides will be required to identify and address copyright dilemmas.

President Obama has consistently underscored the link between homegrown innovation and economic recovery, and now The White House is shining a light on the exploitative entities standing in the way of American inventors. This week the administration released a set of five executive actions and seven legislative recommendations designed to root out frivolous litigation and promote higher standards of patent quality.

A long-standing infringement dispute between Apple and Samsung took one step closer to resolution this week following a ruling from the U.S. International Trade Commission. The exclusion order calls for a limited sales ban on Apple mobile devices supported by AT&T networks across the country.

Ditto Technologies is a Silicon Valley startup which allows customers to upload images of their faces and conduct virtual fitting sessions prior to purchasing designer eyewear. The fate of the business could be in jeopardy, however, after potentially negligent invention disclosure management practices have left it open to multiple infringement suits.

Despite the prevalence of courtroom battles attracting attention in recent months, litigation should be considered a recourse of last resort in intellectual property management. This may be particularly true regarding trademarks, as an overzealous defense of one's branded assets could cost companies their customer loyalty in addition to the associated legal fees.