• DiceThe DOJ and USPTO released a joint policy statement on January 8 regarding remedies for infringement of FRAND-encumbered SEPs, taking the position that injunctive relief is generally inappropriate for these patents.  Microsoft praised the statement, and called on the FTC to consider strengthening its consent agreement with Google.
  • Ars Technica reports that at the 2013 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, a panel of speakers discussed the effects that patent trolls are having on technology companies and proposed solutions.  Congressman Peter DeFazio, who recently introduced legislation purportedly designed to protect companies from predatory infringement suits, appeared on the panel.
  • The Standardization Administration of the People’s Republic of China (SAC) released a draft interim version of its Regulatory Measures on National Standards Involving Patents for public comment on December 19, 2012.  The public comment period runs until January 20, 2013.
  • After almost a year of investigation, the European Commission sent a statement of objections to Samsung regarding Samsung’s potential misuse of mobile device-related standard-essential patents.
  • The USPTO is soliciting comments from the public regarding the potential need for and structure of a “small claims patent court.”  Written comments must be submitted to the USPTO by March 18, 2013.  More from Patently-O and Patents Post-Grant.