Indiana's Clean Technology Opportunity – TechPoint Event 3/6/09

20 Friday Feb 2009

Posted by Kenan Farrell in Tech Developments

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Indiana’s Green Technology Future has caught the attention of Indiana’s tech leadership…the next TechPoint New Economy * New Rules event topic is “Indiana’s Clean Technology Opportunity“:

There’s a perfect storm brewing for ‘clean technologies’. As federal climate change legislation threatens to increase energy costs by 50% and the Obama administration focuses on ‘green’ investment as a cornerstone of its stimulus plan, market demand is growing for technological innovations to harness the power of alternative energy. That’s why it is expected that the value of sectors like fuel cells, biofuels, solar and wind power will more than triple over the next decade to represent a $300+ billion industry by 2017.

Join us for a panel discussion of how the cleantech revolution can mean big business for Indiana’s technology and manufacturing industries, from the hybrid-electric vehicle market to the high-tech demands of the new smart power grid. Participants include Paul Mitchell, former economic advisor to Governor Daniels, who is now leading the formation of a new cleantech initiative for the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership, as well as representatives of Indiana companies in the sector.

green_technology

Speakers:
Paul Mitchell, Central Indiana Corporate Partnership
David Heger, Barnes & Thornburg LLP

Date: March 6, 2009

8:00 a.m. Registration and continental breakfast
8:30 – 9:30 a.m. Presentation

Click here to register.

Hope to see you there!

Indiana Supreme Court hires Director of Appellate Court Technology

18 Wednesday Feb 2009

Posted by Kenan Farrell in Tech Developments

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Indiana

No longer can anyone accuse our Indiana Appellate Courts of not being tech-savvy. Robert Rath

Today, the Indiana Supreme Court has named Robert Rath as the first-ever Director of Appellate Court Technology. “Rath will play a crucial role in developing a stronger vision for how the Court utilizes technology. Rath will review Court processes and identify how changing technology may improve Court functions and services.”

The National Center for State Courts (NCSC) recommended Indiana hire an Appellate Court IT Director. A consultant from the NCSC helped evaluate candidates for the position. The Supreme Court also formed a selection committee made up of Directors from the Division of State Court Administration, Court of Appeals, Indiana Judicial Center, and Clerk of the Appellate Courts. The decision to hire Mr. Rath allows Indiana to dedicate one person to developing a strategy for technology improvements.

I look forward to seeing what changes he implements. Streamlined online filing, trial simulcasts, enhanced public access for educational purposes…these are some of the ideas on my wishlist.

Click here for the full press release.

Hat tip to the Indiana Law Blog for the story.

TechPoint Tech Thursday 2/19

18 Wednesday Feb 2009

Posted by Kenan Farrell in Tech Developments

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Green technology

Tomorrow is TechPoint Tech Thursday.

TechPoint in their own words:

“Indiana’s premier initiative for growing Indiana’s thriving technology-based economy, TechPoint is known for its ability to identify and empower high-growth Indiana technology companies through education and networking programs, government advocacy and strategic economic development initiatives.

TechPoint represents Indiana’s entire technology community, including publicly-traded companies, private businesses, colleges and research universities, and local economic development organizations. As the preeminent voice for Indiana’s growing technology community, TechPoint is leading a focused and aggressive statewide effort to help transform the state’s technology sector.”

The speaker tomorrow is Jeff Ready, co-founder of Scale Computing.

Location:

Baker & Daniels LLP, Indianapolis North
600 E. 96th Street, Suite 600
Indianapolis, IN 46240

Time:

5:00 pm – 6:30 pm

Click here for further info and here to register.

Hope to see you there.

Happy Birthday Abraham Lincoln, Inventor-in-Chief

12 Thursday Feb 2009

Posted by Kenan Farrell in Patent

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Happy 200th birthday, Honest Abe! Did you know that President Lincoln, Indiana’s favorite lawyer, was the only president to hold a patent? On May 22, 1849, Lincoln received Patent No. 6469 for a device to lift boats over shoals.

Lincoln was fascinated by maritime technology and frequently visited the Washington Navy Yard to see the latest weapons and engines. Lincoln started work on his invention between sessions of Congress in 1848 when, on his way home to Illinois, his boat became stranded on a sandbar. Click here for the full story.

In 1859, President Lincoln praised the patent laws for having “secured to the inventor, for a limited time, the exclusive use of his invention; and thereby added the fuel of interest to the fire of genius, in the discovery and production of new and useful things.”

Shown below is Lincoln’s scale model which resides at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. Unfortunately, as with many patents, the invention was never manufactured.

Indiana Trademark Litigation Update – Boss Products v. Port-A-Pit Bar-B-Que of Edgerton

11 Wednesday Feb 2009

Posted by Kenan Farrell in Indiana, Litigation, Northern District of Indiana, Trademark

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Robert L. Miller

Boss Products, Inc. v. Port-A-Pit Bar-B-Que of Edgerton, Inc.
No: 3:05-CV-293 RM (February 4, 2009)
U.S. District Court, N.D. of Indiana
Before: Chief Judge Miller

For full opinion:
2009 U.S.Dist.LEXIS 8192

TRADEMARKS; LACHES

Opinion (Miller): Plaintiff Boss Products sued defendant Port-A-Pit Bar-B-Que of Edgerton, Ohio (Edgerton) for infringement of registered trademark (PORT-A-PIT) after Edgerton conducted business under PORT-A-PIT for 30 years. Defendant moved for summary judgment, arguing that Boss Products inexcusably delayed enforcement of its trademark rights and therefore its recovery should be barred under laches or acquiescence. The record indicated that Boss Products had knowledge of Edgerton’s use of the mark from the beginning and the 30 years of extreme delay would cause substantial prejudice if Edgerton was forced to rebuild its business under a new name. Edgerton’s motion for summary judgment was granted.

KLF Legal: Note that the PORT-A-PIT registration (abstract below) was assigned to Boss Products back in December ’04. Apparently, Boss continued to be unhappy about Edgerton’s use of the mark. Edgerton relied on the doctrine of “laches,” an equitable defense. This means that while Edgerton is legally infringing Boss’s trademark, it would be unfair to enforce the law against them. The person invoking laches (Edgerton) is asserting that the opposing party (Boss) has “slept on its rights”, and that, as a result of this delay, that other party is no longer entitled to its original claim. 3 years might be too long to wait and try to enforce your trademark rights…30 years is definitely too long.

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