All articles tagged with #patents
Sony has transferred 419 global patents, including 180 U.S. filings, to Meta in a deal finalized in December 2025. The transfer covers virtual, augmented, and mixed reality technologies, suggesting Sony is scaling back its XR hardware ambitions. This move follows the commercial struggles of the PSVR 2 and aligns with Meta's aggressive expansion into next-generation wearable devices.
A comprehensive analysis of 1.3 million chemical reactions in patents from 1976 to 2016 reveals that the use of hazardous solvents has increased rather than decreased over the past four decades. Despite nearly 30 years of efforts to promote greener alternatives, dangerous liquids like dichloromethane remain the preferred choice for over 70% of reactions in recent years. The study highlights a persistent reliance on petrochemical-derived solvents, even when regulations restrict specific toxic substances, often leading chemists to switch to other hazardous options rather than safer ones.
Microsoft has filed a patent for a system that inserts advertisements into video games during natural pauses, such as loading screens or after boss fights. The system uses game-state signals to determine optimal ad placement, allowing players to earn credits that extend their ad-free playtime. While the patent suggests a less intrusive alternative to traditional ad interruptions, it remains unconfirmed if Microsoft will implement this technology in commercial products.
Microsoft has filed a patent for a system that inserts advertisements into video games during natural pauses, such as loading screens or cutscenes. The mechanism uses a credit system where watching ads grants additional playtime, aiming to minimize disruption to gameplay.
HP has signed a multi-year global license with Huawei for WiFi standard-essential patents, a cross-licensing arrangement that follows last year's dispute settlement and is presented as narrowly scoped with no broader strategic partnership; the move signals Huawei's tech reach outside the U.S. despite the 2019 blacklist and ties into Huawei's role in the Sisvel WiFi 6 patent pool.
Nature analyzes which scholarly papers appear most often on patent front pages and in their text, revealing that life-science research—especially antibody science and bioinformatics tools like BLAST—dominates patent citations. Notable examples include the 1975 Köhler–Milstein monoclonal antibody paper (highly cited in patents), a 1994 Colman antibody paper with thousands of patent mentions despite few journal citations, and the 1990 BLAST software paper as the most-cited front-page patent reference. The study, drawing on The Lens and Reliance on Science datasets, shows patent references are driven by legal needs to map state of the art and that many top-cited papers are publicly funded; differences between front-page and in-text citations also reveal how methods and plant biology papers accrue patent mentions.
A LexisNexis patent analysis of over 26,000 patent families shows China dominating humanoid-robot innovation, occupying six of the top ten startups (led by Fourier and AgiBot) and UBTECH singled out for focused patent investment; by end-2025 China held about 73% of morphology-related patents and 63% of portfolio strength. The United States, while smaller in volume, leads in patent quality, with Figure AI, Apptronik and Agility Robotics ranking among the top US contributors and accounting for 11% of global portfolio strength from 5% of morphology-related patents. The report notes rising US-China tech tensions and argues patent data can signal future commercial leadership.
Biotech firms facing faster, cheaper Chinese trials must broaden patent coverage beyond their core assets and carefully manage public messaging to avoid signaling competitors. Experts advise filing on related pathways and variations, and even subtle misdirection strategies—like cheap early patents for assets they plan to abandon—to throw off fast followers, while maintaining broad, foundational claims to protect technology.
Gates published a patent for a frame-mounted mechanical CVT for bicycles (not e-bikes) that uses two tapered-pulley pairs and a belt, with a small motor adjusting pulley spacing to vary gear ratios. The design includes an overdrive stage to raise crank RPM (intended to improve CVT reliability and longevity), followed by the CVT and a planetary gearset to drive the rear wheel, aiming to improve weight distribution for MTB handling. While it suggests a full Gates drivetrain, the overall crank-to-wheel efficiency is uncertain and likely less than a derailleur, and Gates has not announced production plans.
Datavault AI announced the USPTO issued a Notice of Allowance for a patent covering the full lifecycle of tokenized assets (minting, authentication, and utilization), bolstering a portfolio of over 100 patents. The patent family supports the company’s IDE platform for converting real‑world assets like commodities and real estate into compliant digital instruments, with tangible traction including a $750 million tokenization contract pipeline and $77 million in fees in Q1 2026. The expansion aligns with regulatory developments around digital assets (e.g., CLARITY Act) and positions Datavault AI’s tokenization infrastructure as a competitive differentiator for enterprise adoption.
Insta360 filed two countersuits against DJI in the U.S., alleging five utility patents covering gimbal stabilization, directional control, camera smooth stabilization, telemetry overlays, and panoramic video stabilization are infringed across DJI products such as the Osmo Pocket, Ronin/RS, Osmo Mobile, and Osmo 360. The move comes in response to DJI’s separate design and utility patent lawsuits over Insta360’s Luna Ultra, which Insta360 says was independently developed and not based on DJI technology, and seeks to defend its intellectual property.
DJI filed a US patent-infringement suit in the Eastern District of Texas against Insta360 (Arashi Vision and affiliates), alleging that Insta360’s Luna Ultra and related Luna products infringe DJI’s handheld gimbal patents dating back to the Osmo Pocket era; DJI seeks judgment of infringement, permanent injunction, damages and related relief. Insta360 defends its independence, cites an ITC ruling favorable to Insta360, and says it will continue innovating while litigation proceeds.
DJI has filed two US lawsuits accusing Insta360 of infringing its design and utility patents with the Luna Ultra, arguing it closely copies the Osmo Pocket 4P. The design-patent claim covers the elongated handheld body and overall gimbal layout, while four utility patents address features like single-control mode switching, integrated subject tracking with a built-in display, image-driven gimbal commands, and a self-contained tracking system. DJI previously sued Insta360 in China over alleged employee poaching and stolen R&D. It remains to be seen whether the claims will yield an injunction to halt Luna Ultra sales in the US.
DJI filed two U.S. patent lawsuits against Arashi Vision (Insta360) in the Eastern District of Texas, accusing the Luna Pro and Luna Ultra of infringing DJI’s design patents related to the Osmo Pocket, as well as four utility patents covering gimbal control, subject tracking, and on-device display. DJI seeks injunctions, royalties, profit disgorgement, and enhanced damages, noting Insta360 promoted the Luna line as competing with DJI’s Osmo Pocket and alleging willful infringement.
The Supreme Court unanimously ruled for Hikma, holding that its generic Vascepa does not infringe Amarin’s patents because Amarin failed to plausibly show that Hikma actively induced infringement, thereby upholding skinny-label marketing for non-patented uses. The decision overturns a lower court ruling and reinforces the pathway for cheaper generics after Vascepa’s FDA-approved label expansions; Amarin’s patents on the severe form were invalidated in 2020, but some protection for other indications remains. DOJ support and industry reaction framed the decision as a win for generic competition and patient access to affordable medicines.