A bipartisan group of senators recently introduced new patent reform legislation intended to change the U.S. patent system dramatically.

Some intellectual property infringement cases never make it to trial. When they do, however, the patent holder has a very good chance of winning, according to a recent PricewaterhouseCoopers study.

Intellectual property experts at the World Trade Organization are making progress on producing a multilateral geographical indications register for wines and spirits.

The return of Chinese scientists and engineers who have worked abroad may be contributing to the growth of interest in intellectual property in the country, according to a recent whitepaper from law firm Alston & Bird.

Republican congressman Bob Goodlatte was recently selected to serve as chairman of the Subcommittee on Intellectual Property, Competition and the Internet.

An upcoming conference will bring together international leaders in the fields of law enforcement, intellectual property and politics to work toward an international strategy designed to promote respect for intellectual property.

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer recently told Chinese president Hu Jintao that enforcement of intellectual property rights is necessary for China's economic development.

Ric Richardson, the inventor who instigated a seven-year intellectual property lawsuit against software giant Microsoft, recently called the federal court's ruling on the case "beautiful," according to a Wall Street Journal report.

Last year saw a surge in the number of patents awarded by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, as a growing number of companies and individuals worked to ensure the protection of their intellectual assets.

As the 2011 Consumer Electronics Show continued this week in Las Vegas, Nevada, discussions among tech industry leaders contributed to an overall sentiment that the U.S. is not doing enough to promote innovation and competition in a global marketplace that is quickly transitioning to an IP-centered economy.