Three Silicon Valley lawmakers have introduced an intriguing proposal that would effectively exempt the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office from across-the-board government budget cuts and allow the agency to proceed with several economically stimulating initiatives.

The moment when an entrepreneur first conjures the idea he or she believes can launch or transform a business is an exciting time, but it must be handled with careful discretion. Although many will be eager to get their product or process out to the masses as soon as possible, several key questions must inform invention disclosure strategies.

There were plenty of indications that 2012 could be a defining year for the U.S. patent system, not the least of which was the ongoing implementation of America Invents Act (AIA) provisions. Looking back from a distance, researchers are now suggesting that the precedents set and transformations observed may well have been more significant and diverse than originally suspected.

The U.S. Supreme Court handed down a unanimous decision this week which may fundamentally shift the trajectory of biomedical research. In a polarizing case concerning molecular diagnostics innovator Myriad Genetics, the court invalidated the entirety of the company's patents associated with naturally occurring human DNA.

Silicon Valley played host to delegates from the world's five largest intellectual property offices (IP5) last week, continuing the conversation toward greater harmonization of international patent management mechanisms.

President Obama has consistently underscored the link between homegrown innovation and economic recovery, and now The White House is shining a light on the exploitative entities standing in the way of American inventors. This week the administration released a set of five executive actions and seven legislative recommendations designed to root out frivolous litigation and promote higher standards of patent quality.

Colorado's reputation as a leading promoter of university technology transfer programs was one of several reasons the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office incorporated Denver into its expansion plans last year. The latest success story comes from the University of Colorado - Boulder campus where a team of engineering students have patented a medical device that could soon play a leading role in cancer research.

The so-called smartphone patent wars have brought considerable attention to intellectual asset management as leading names like Apple, Samsung, Motorola and many more continue to employ a variety of elaborate offensive and defensive tactics. While some would suggest that the resultant increase in litigation has hampered innovation, the lessons learned could transcend their specialized setting and help inventors in the green technology sector pursue smarter growth strategies.

Digital rights advocates banded together earlier in the year to protest a Library of Congress decision that effectively made it illegal for cell phone owners to unlock and modify their device software to switch wireless carriers. After several bills were introduced and ultimately derided as half measures, a more comprehensive attempt at reform is currently being spearheaded by four representatives focused on core Digital Millennium Copyright Act issues.

As traditional satellite and cable TV providers match upstarts like Aereo in extending the viewer experience in new directions, broadcast networks are increasingly concerned how their royalty management agreements will be impacted by emerging content distribution models. Most recently, Dish Network has drawn the ire of FOX Broadcasting with innovative features that allow subscribers to watch live and recorded TV programming via smartphone or tablet.