Much has been made of the so-called patent cliffs facing large pharmaceutical companies in 2012 and how executives are responding to these developments. Coupled with the United States moving to a first to file system in March 2013, it could be a definitive few quarters for the industry.

This week, Oregon Representative Peter DeFazio and Utah Representative Jason Chaffetz introduced a new bill taking aim at the patent litigation confusion that has enveloped segments of the technology sector. The Saving High-tech Innovators from Egregious Legal Disputes (SHIELD) Act looks to pave a way for inventors to recoup their expenses in the event they are the target of unsubstantiated infringement claims.

As Pfizer looks to write the next chapter in its impressive history of research and development, the world's largest pharmaceutical company is starting to look outside company walls and recruit local talent. According to the Boston Globe, Pfizer has been setting up satellite offices in academic hubs around the country as part of a five-year, $100 million search for the company's next blockbuster innovation.

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.