The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's decision to establish one of its four satellite offices in Denver has been viewed as validation of Colorado's claim as the country's next great innovation hub. The state has now received a similarly significant vote of confidence, with NASA officials expressing a keen interest in local technology transfer programs.

Jurors ended their deliberation late last week to deliver a verdict that many are interpreting as a resounding victory for Apple in its patent lawsuit against Samsung. The Korean mobile manufacturer has been ordered to pay Apple approximately $1.05 billion in damages after the court ruled Samsung had infringed upon iPhone design components in several of its smartphones.

California Representatives Darrell Issa and Zoe Lofgren recently introduced the Promoting Automotive Repair, Trade and Sales (PARTS) Act, a bill which is intended to increase competition and potentially lower prices encountered by consumers in the market for replacement car components. However, automotive industry delegates have suggested that the bill could carry a number of unfortunate side effects that run counter to American economic goals.

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.

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.

Research In Motion, manufacturer of BlackBerry smartphones and tablets, has suffered a considerable setback in its attempts to turn its fortunes and restore competition with Google and Apple at the top of the mobile device marketplace. A U.S. Federal District Court ruled last week that RIM had infringed upon the patent portfolio of Mformation Technologies when designing the BlackBerry Enterprise Server.

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's first satellite location made its official debut in Detroit this week, drawing the attention of established and aspiring innovators across the state.

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU), a specialized body of the United Nations, recently announced plans for high-level discussions meant to root out "innovation-stifling" uses of intellectual property. Standard-setting organizations, key technology industry players and government officials will convene in Geneva come October in hopes of addressing the misappropriation of standards-essential patents.