Harrity’s Firm Controller, Sandra Maxey, was featured on Foster Web Marketing’s World of Marketing Podcast! Along with host, Tom Foster, Sandy discusses her snowbird lifestyle, her proudest moments, meditation, and why she regrets jumping out of an airplane!
You can listen to the full interview here!
Heart health is a topic that resonates with people from all walks of life, but for some individuals, it holds an even deeper significance. In a recent interview conducted by Rachel Kirkland of WashingtonExec, the co-chairs for the American Heart Association’s Lawyers Have Heart 10K, 5K, and Fun Walk shed light on the importance of this issue. Co-Founding Partner John Harrity shares a harrowing personal experience of a “widow-maker” heart attack that left him hospitalized for weeks, transforming heart health into a matter of life and death. His story serves as a powerful reminder of the fragility of our cardiovascular systems and the need for proactive measures to safeguard our hearts.
David Jaffe, Dean of Students at the American University Washington College of Law, emphasizes the vital connection between heart health and mental well-being. Jaffe highlights how our emotional and mental states can significantly impact our cardiovascular health, underscoring the importance of addressing both aspects holistically. This interview showcases the multifaceted nature of heart health and the importance of raising awareness about this critical issue.
As the Lawyers Have Heart event approaches on May 20, it serves as a timely reminder for everyone to prioritize their heart health. Whether through participating in the 10K run, the 5K race, or the Fun Walk, individuals can come together to support a cause that affects millions of lives. The personal narratives shared in this interview remind us that heart health is not merely a medical concern but a holistic one, intertwining physical and mental well-being. Let us take inspiration from these stories and make conscious choices to lead heart-healthy lives. And, if you are able, please consider making a donation to ensure a brighter and healthier future for ourselves and our loved ones.
Harrity & Harrity LLP is matching up to $50,000 in donations, doubling the impact of your dollars! Click HERE to make a donation through 6/30/2023.
Follow Harrity on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram and use #RUNLHH.
Derek Abeyta covers “Hindsight Bias in Patent Examination: How Language Models Can Help” in a featured article for IPWatchdog.com.
The article discusses the issue of hindsight bias in the patent examination process and proposes the use of artificial intelligence (AI) models, specifically large language models, to address this problem. Hindsight bias occurs when a patent examiner unknowingly uses their knowledge of the invention to reject a claim as obvious. This can lead to incorrect determinations of obviousness, prolong prosecution, and result in unfair narrowing of independent claims. AI models can help mitigate this bias by providing an objective and consistent standard for determining obviousness. These models can analyze the examiner’s rationale for an obviousness rejection and identify instances of impermissible hindsight, thereby assisting the examiner in providing a more reliable assessment of patentability.
“Language models have the potential to reduce the likelihood of appeals and legal challenges, streamline prosecution, and lead to more consistent and cost-effective patent examination,” Derek says.
The article also highlights the challenge of determining whether an invention would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill at the time of filing and how to overcome this challenge, the potential benefits of using language models, and whether they outweigh the initial costs and cons.
Read the full article to learn if language models offer a promising solution to mitigate hindsight bias, improve the patent examination process, and ensure consistency and objectivity in determining patentability on IPWatchdog.com.
Each year, Harrity Analytics releases the annual Patent 300® List, a ranking of the top 300 companies, organizations, and universities obtaining US utility patents. Patents reflect a company’s investment in innovation and their commitment to protecting their intellectual property.
This ranking is based on a count of the total number of US utility patent obtained in 2022.
The Top 15 Companies represent 15% of the 323,018 total utility patents issued in 2022. The total patents issued in 2022 dropped 1% from the prior year.
Click HERE for a larger version of the infographic.
Neil Kardos covers “The Importance of Using Commas after ‘Such As’ in Patent Applications” in this Practical Patents short blog.
As patent applications are legal documents, it is crucial to draft them accurately and without any ambiguity. A common grammatical error that can lead to unintentional narrowing of the scope of a patent application is the improper use of the phrase “such as.” In most cases, the intention of using this phrase is to provide examples of the items listed after it, but failing to use a comma before “such as” can result in the items being considered restrictive clauses and limiting the scope of the application.
For instance, consider the sentence “the network device may transmit packet data, such as a source address or a timestamp.” Here, the intended meaning is that a source address and a timestamp are examples of packet data. However, if there is no comma before “such as,” it becomes a restrictive clause, meaning that only a source address or a timestamp will be considered as packet data, not any other data like a destination address or a packet header.
Using a comma before “such as” can convert the phrase into a non-restrictive clause and make it clear that the items listed after it are only examples and not the only items that can be considered packet data. Therefore, it is essential to include a comma before “such as” to avoid any unintentional narrowing of the scope of a patent application.
In conclusion, patent applications require careful drafting and precise language to avoid any misinterpretation or ambiguity. Proper use of punctuation, especially commas, can help prevent unintentional narrowing of the scope of the application and ensure that the application provides adequate coverage of the invention.
Want more tips? Check out other Practical Patents videos with Neil Kardos here!
