With software stories currently dominating the patent litigation landscape, open source development projects have been looking like an increasingly attractive alternative. But while the technology model is primarily associated with private sector upstarts, the Defense Information Systems Agency may be looking to expand its open source research and development capabilities as well.

This week, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office achieved a significant milestone in its ongoing implementation of the America Invents Act. Ahead of the March 2013 transition to a first to file system, officials have published a proposal to amend patent case rules of practice.

The Boeing 747 marked a quantum leap forward for the aviation industry, representing the gold standard in wide-body, high-capacity commercial airliners for decades. That reputation came into question following the introduction of a legitimate rival in 2005 with the double-decker Airbus A380. But if it's latest patent application is any indication, it looks like Boeing is ready to face the competition head on with the next iteration of its 747 model.

Finnish mobile device manufacturer Nokia has fallen on hard times in recent years. Whereas the company was once at the cutting edge of the industry, the latest statistics from comScore confirmed that just 1.3 percent of U.S. smartphone subscribers own Nokia devices.

In continuation of its commitment to raise awareness for intellectual property rights enforcement, the European Union has released a report detailing the prevalence of infringing goods across the continent. Customs officials opened a record number of cases in 2011, ultimately seizing nearly 115 million infringing items with a combined retail value of more than $1.4 billion.

Patent holding firm NTP, originally founded by wireless email inventor Tom Campana, has reached a landmark agreement that will see all pending litigation between the company and 13 leading technology corporations dismissed.

As consumer demand for digital technologies and experiences continues to expand in all directions, telecommunications providers are seeking creative ideas that can provide relief for their increasingly strained infrastructure. Semiconductor solutions specialist Entropic Communications believes it may have found an answer following a recent patent acquisition involving satellite broadcasting components.

The digital media community has been abuzz in recent weeks tracking the decline and ultimate sale of popular social news sharing website Digg. Now that the fallen company has effectively redistributed its physical and intellectual assets to various corners of the technology industry, it looks like leading social media platform LinkedIn could capitalize on some savvy patent acquisitions.

Most academic researchers understand the potential benefits to be gained from commercializing their innovations, but Drexel University's senior vice provost for research Deborah Crawford recently took that notion a step further and suggested that universities actually have a patriotic obligation to do so.

Texas Representative Lamar Smith was forced to put proposals for the controversial Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) to bed earlier this year, but the congressman has stayed true to his intentions of protecting American intellectual assets abroad with newly drafted legislation.