In accordance with provisions of the America Invents Act, the U.S. patent system will transition to a first to file framework in March 2013. As stakeholders across the intellectual property community debate the merits of this move prior to its enactment, some are beginning to suggest that the legislation may not serve its expressed goals of protecting inventors and fostering innovation.

In an effort to direct the attention of technological innovators toward some of the world's most pressing humanitarian crises, the White House has partnered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for a new program that will provide incentives to those who "do the most" to apply their intellectual assets to the development of much-needed solutions.

The integration of social media and television may be the next frontier in consumer entertainment, and a new patent application from Comcast may go a long way toward fueling its growth.

President Obama broached the issue of intellectual property protection several times in his State of the Union address on Tuesday. But as Congress continues its debate of controversial digital piracy legislation, at least one expert is suggesting that businesses may be better served by a reorganization of the the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

While some critics may balk at the profits posted by pharmaceutical companies in the past few decades, biotechnology firms insist these revenues are being reinvested to create the breakthrough medicines of tomorrow. According to the Wall Street Journal, some advocates are now pushing for an extension on pharmaceutical patents to ensure these organizations can continue to prosper from their intellectual assets.

In accordance with the America Invents Act, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has submitted a report to Congress discussing key considerations for small businesses hoping to secure international intellectual property protection.

Following the passage of the America Invents Act last September, provisions surrounding the establishment of an expedited patent review process garnered attention from all corners of the intellectual property community. Last week, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office officials released a series of progress updates related to the Track I Prioritized Patent Examination Program.

Although intellectual property trends in several major American industries seem to suggest an increased focus on the acquisition and defense of patents, a more open and collaborative attitude toward IP management may be needed to drive the economy back from recession.

Imation Corporation has established itself as a leading brand in the technology community on the strength of its portfolio of secure data storage solutions. But to ensure its products remain relevant in a rapidly evolving industry, company officials have announced the acquisition of intellectual assets from data deduplication specialist Nine Technology.

With climate change experts around the world calling for faster production of eco-friendly innovations, some have suggested that intellectual property debates may be inhibiting the distribution of clean technologies to developing nations.