The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has long been an outspoken critic of so-called pay-for-delay patent settlements between branded and generic drug manufacturers. The agency's latest study suggests there is still much work to be done, however, as the number of pharmaceutical cases flagged for potentially anticompetetive tactics rose from 28 in FY 2011 to 40 in FY 2012.

As the intellectual property community attempts to adapt practices and policies for an increasingly digital economy, online media has posed a number of difficult questions regarding copyright protection and royalty management. The conversation turned to social media this week as a U.S. court ruled that a leading news organization improperly distributed images posted to Twitter by a freelance photographer.

As the intellectual property community attempts to adapt practices and policies for an increasingly digital economy, online media has posed a number of difficult questions regarding copyright protection and royalty management. The conversation turned to social media this week as a U.S. court ruled that a leading news organization improperly distributed images posted to Twitter by a freelance photographer.

Mobile internet innovator Unwired Planet, formerly Openwave Systems, has acquired more than 2,000 registered patents and pending applications from Swedish telecommunications giant Ericsson. The deal is expected to provide Unwired Planet with additional ammunition in its ongoing litigation with Apple, Google and others while affording Ericsson a share of future licensing revenues.

Bankruptcy is an unfortunate possibility for businesses operating in a market-based economy, and its impact often extends far beyond the entity filing for the motion. These issues were recently underscored in a case that has inspired renewed debate on if and how licensing agreements should be honored when patent portfolio owners become insolvent.

Bankruptcy is an unfortunate possibility for businesses operating in a market-based economy, and its impact often extends far beyond the entity filing for the motion. These issues were recently underscored in a case that has inspired renewed debate on if and how licensing agreements should be honored when patent portfolio owners become insolvent.

Harvard Law School is starting 2013 with its first ever foray into free online education. For the spring semester, the Ivy League institution is hoping to demystify copyright management complexities for the general public with a 12-week course touching on digital innovations and legal implications.

Google's proprietary technologies have come under extensive scrutiny in recent times amid a 19-month probe launched by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission. Regulators arrived at a conclusive decision this week, however, finding that the company's search algorithm designs and patent licensing practices did not unfairly improve market standing or merit sanctions.

Nokia and Research In Motion have decided to settle all outstanding patent litigation between the two sides as each plots its own strategy to close the widening gap in mobile market share created by Apple and Samsung. While the terms of the licensing agreement remain confidential, RIM will pay its Swedish competitor a one-time fee this quarter plus ongoing royalties.

The U.K. Intellectual Property Office has unveiled a new set of copyright reforms which could signal a watershed moment for the digital economy. In an effort to support the creative freedom of consumers and spur innovation, government officials will expand the number of scenarios in which protected works can be used without explicit permission of the original copyright owner.