Apple facing damages bill for patent infringement

Alex Hutchens, John Kettle, Paul McLachlan, Eliza Humble

Apple Inc could be facing up to $US862 million in damages after a US Federal jury ruled on 13 October 2015 that it infringed a patent owned by the licensing arm of the University of Wisconsin.

High Court ruling on the patentability of human genes

Malcolm McBratney

Today’s landmark decision by the High Court in D'Arcy v Myriad Genetics Inc & Anor [2015] HCA 35 (7 October 2015) essentially prohibits patent protection for human genetic material and genetic sequences.  The decision reverses the 15 February 2013 Full Federal Court ruling, which found that United States company Myriad Genetics Inc’s (Myriad) patent on the isolated BRCA1 gene, associated mutations and utilisation of the sequence for diagnostic purposes was valid.

But first, let me take a selfie…No, check your patent first

Malcolm McBratney, Stephanie Parkin

Taking a selfie has never been so simple – thanks to the selfie stick.  With an estimated 100,000 sold worldwide during Christmas, the selfie stick has become a household essential and earned itself a spot on the Time’s 25 Best Inventions of 2014.  In reality, the alleged original inventor of this newfound gadget launched the product in 2006 after years of investment and prototypes and long before the selfie was recognised as a word or became a phenomenon.