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Why Patent Litigation Was on the Upswing in 2012
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by George H. Pike
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Well, so much for patent reform. According to a recent study from the accounting firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), 2012 was a "banner year in patent litigation," with increases in the number of patent infringement lawsuits filed in the federal courts and larger damage awards. The PwC study suggests that much of the increasing patent litigation may be due to "patent trolls," those companies that purchase patent portfolios for the primary purpose of threatening and filing infringement lawsuits, along with the effects of the America Invents Act, the so-called "patent reform" legislation enacted in 2011.
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Thomson Reuters Offers Clinical Trial Intelligence Solutions
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The Intellectual Property & Science business of Thomson Reuters introduced two clinical trial intelligence software solutions for R&D professionals: Cortellis Clinical Trials Intelligence and Cortellis Site Performance Advisor. These solutions improve clinical trials, speed up product development and release, and help professionals strengthen portfolios and R&D strategy.
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Academic Video Store From Alexander Street Press Opens Its Virtual Doors
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Alexander Street Press unveiled its online Academic Video Store offering academic DVDs and streaming videos for librarians and educators. The store has more than 2,500 single-title films in more than 40 disciplines, selected by a team of editorial experts.
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Polaris Library Systems Upgrades Software With 100 Enhancements
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Polaris Library Systems, a library automation software company, recently updated its software to Polaris 4.1 with about 100 enhancements that will help librarians and administrative staff increase their productivity and workflow efficiency. Polaris 4.1 improves patron services, circulation, cataloging, and acquisitions.
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Top Mobile Apps for Productivity
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by Paula J. Hane
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In last month's Spotlight article, I highlighted some browser extensions that I find to be very useful. The article has proven popular with readers, and I've even benefitted from readers' suggestions. So, now I'd like to cover some of the mobile apps that I've found to be the most helpful. I have a Samsung Galaxy Nexus phone running Android 4.2.2 (Jelly Bean), and the apps I'm including here are available for Android devices (at the Google Play Store), and some are also available for Apple iOS at the Apple iTunes store. I trust you will find these to be handy and serve as a starting point to look for others. (If you have others in your toolkit that you'd like to share, let me know.)
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