If there were any lingering doubts as to the gravity of patent controversies currently circulating Silicon Valley, one only needs to consider the audience that is now hearing the debates. Delegates from Apple, Google, Microsoft, Intel and Motorola were all summoned to Geneva this week for a roundtable discussion hosted by the United Nations' International Telecommunications Union (ITU).

The 50th session of the Assemblies of World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) member states is taking place in Geneva this week, gathering delegates from 185 countries to discuss and resolve several pressing issues. So far at this year's conference, member states have already made important breakthroughs regarding the distribution of copyrighted works to visually impaired audiences and renewed their commitment to the development of simplified industrial design registration procedures.

The America Invents Act has fundamentally changed how inventors obtain, protest and defend patents. But, as the March 2013 implementation deadline comes into view, some are wondering if the small business community will realize the anticipated benefits of the legislative reforms.

IT departments have become more involved in collaborative endeavors in recent years as their business-side colleagues recognize the role of innovation in neutralizing the effects of recession. According to PC Advisor, this is leading many chief information officers on a path to the patent office as business directors demand protection for their companies' IT breakthroughs.

The Google Library Project came up against stiff opposition in 2005, when the Association of American Publishers (AAP) filed a copyright infringement lawsuit protesting the inclusion of its members' works in the search giant's digital catalogue. The seven-year saga came to an end this week as the two parties came to an agreement which will allow publishers to independently decide whether or not to include their content in Google's eBook initiatives.

The green technology sector continues to be among the most innovative segments of the American economy. But as more companies try to associate environmentally-friendly properties with their products and services, USPTO officials are shining a brighter light on applications for green trademarks.

This week, the federal government provided another example of the trust it is placing in the entrepreneurial community to help the country rebound from recession and lead the next generation of innovation. In a landmark partnership between the U.S. Department of Commerce and Cornell University's New York City Tech Campus, students will be provided with direct access to government resources for the first time as they look to expedite production cycles and get their inventions to market faster.

Few understand the current state of United States patent law quite like Richard Posner. Currently serving as a U.S. Court of Appeals judge for the Seventh Circuit, he has authored nearly 40 books regarding economics and legal thought, and was one of the most cited American scholars of the 20th century. Most recently, he grabbed headlines by throwing out the entirety of an Apple vs. Motorola patent case that came before him in June.

The University of Arizona now has renewed confidence that the innovations generated inside campus laboratories will make a splash in the commercial marketplace as well. According to the Arizona Daily Star, this optimism stems from a bold new vision outlined by recently appointed technology transfer director David Allen.

Just about every leading brand in the mobile device marketplace has found itself embroiled in one form of patent litigation or another within the past year. But as these so-called patent wars foster an unfortunate climate of hostility, one of the more beneficial side effects could be a renewed awareness of the role savvy intellectual property management can play in revenue strategies.