The "Internet-of-Things" (IoT), sometimes known as the "intelligence of things," is a network of interconnected physical objects, each embedded with sensors that collect and upload data to the internet for analysis or control. Examples include IoT-enabled smart homes, smartcity traffic systems, and smart waste-management systems. The IoT will likely become the battlefront for the next industry patent war because of the amount of money at stake and broad competitive field.With rapid growth comes new challenges for companies trying to protect, enforce, and license their patent rights, especially so for the IoT. In this article, Finnegan attorneys Kenie Ho and James D. Stein address three IP issues of particular concern for IoT inventions, including (1) divided infringement, (2) subject matter eligibility, and (3) claim scope.
Previously published by Law360
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