News today that CPA has been flipped by ICG.
CPA’s website has an announcement saying “Leading European investment firm Cinven has reached an agreement to acquire CPA Global from the current shareholders, including Intermediate Capital Group (ICG) and the founder shareholders.”
ICG purchased the firm only a year or so ago and seems to have turned a hansom profit from the initial deal.
More news to come as we research the facts.
The transaction is subject to the approval of a Scheme of Arrangement in Jersey and regulatory clearances, and is expected to close by the end of the first quarter of 2012.
CPA acquires Ipendo software. CPA the Jersey base software and services company announced it has purchased the Swedish software company Ipendo for an undisclosed sum.
Friday Sept 16 – The president signs the bill into law.
The America Invents Bill (HR 1294) has now been passed by the Senate after Congress approved it back in June. The bill is now heading to the White House for President Obama to sign into law.
The bill has been called the “Biggest Overhaul to the US Patent System Since 1952”. The bill has been in discussion and negotiation for over 6 years and is backed by a raft of large companies including top fillers such as IBM, Johnson & Johnson and Microsoft.
The bill covers a wide range of changes to the operations of the USPTO that will have significant impact to the processing of Patent Applications. One major change is the granting to the first inventor to file rather than the first to invent, bringing the US into line with the rest of the world. Plus there are a myriad of other changes as well including the thorny issue of funding the Patent Office. The USPTO has a backlog of many thousands of applications and does not have the resources to hire and retain patent examiners.
One immediate effect will be a price rise of 15% which goes into effect 10 days after enactment. The transition from First to Invent to First to File will be introduced within 18 months. One other money making service will be Prioritized Examination for a fee of $4,800.
The First to File process should remove most of the legal battles that have clogged the First to Invent process whereby Interference proceeding questioning and challenging the date of the initial invention. These Interference have caused major legal challenges that are often extremely costly. The drawback is that Inventors may now be forced to rush the application to ensure they are the first to file.
One other significant change will be the Opinions of Counsel. This legal money making scheme is to be cut back as the prior failure of an accused patent infringer to obtain an opinion of counsel can no longer be submitted as evidence demonstrating wilful infringement. This had a potential punishment of so called Triple Damages and tended to focus the mind.
Also a new class of filler has been created with lower fees: If you small firm then you price is halved.
Read more on the bill at Open Congress
One interesting note is that both side of the house have called this a Job Creation Act with both parties claiming success and that the bill will generate 200,000 jobs. Sen Patrick Leahy claims removing Red Tape will stimulate more invention and inventors in the US. The 200,000 figure has been challenged by a number of prominent sources who call it nonsense.
The changes have been reviewed in a large number of publications including:
The Economist:
IAM Magazine: – Free Subscription required
GSI release Version 5 of software
A software vendor based in Austria with a growing presence in the EC and USA.
Established in 1992, Inteum has been developing industry-leading Intellectual Property Management software for 18 years. In designing Inteum C/S and providing excellent services, we draw on decades of experience in the field.
With a Client Server product and a web based version. Also provides hosting.
Good product from a fine company at a great price.
Based in Kirkland WA.
First to File’s Electronic File Room is the world’s leading web-based, patent prosecution and management service. FTF eliminates costly paper storage and management through automated, digital filing and prosecution systems. We enhance collaboration, improve quality, remove risk, and provide total visibility across any sized organization’s patent assets.
Based in San Mateo CA
From the HQ in Luxembourg Dennemeyer serve the globe with a good range of IP products and services. They offer three software products: DIAMS Classic – read old – client server solution, DIAMS Xe a web based solution and DIAMS IQ the latest solution.
Services include the usual Patent and Trademark annuity services.
