How a Little-Known Company VirnetX Became Responsible for Some of the Biggest Names in Technology (Like Skype)

And we're pretty sure everyone's heard of Skype. The revolutionary Internet phone system designed to maximize communication, enhance group messaging and calling in such a way that landlines started to get nervous. And for the longest time.... We thought Microsoft had the goods on Skype especially since we see it's associated with Hotmail.

Not So.... Skype Came From Something Completely Different.... And Apparently Much Smaller!

VirnetX is a little-known company responsible for some of those most innovative technologies we've come to use without even thinking: Internet security, 4G LTE security, communications, VoIP, instant messaging, smartphones, eReaders, video conferencing. None of this stuff wouldn't be possible today if it wasn't for the contributions made by VirnetX, and it just so happens that this little company's notorious for filing some pretty strong lawsuits.

And, yes.... They just happened to file one against one of the biggest players in the game: Microsoft.

Remaining among the several big technology lawsuits to date, this lawsuit did involve the technology surrounding Skype, and -- of course -- VirnetX won the dispute against Microsoft for a hefty $200MM just for the big company to own the rights and use Skype -- as well as its technology -- exclusively.

This Is Proof That Even Legal Cases Like This Can End Equitably

In a way, Microsoft simply bought the right to use Skype and its technologies. Fair enough. And it's a great homage to the power of the legal industry. It was an agreement made between VirnetX and Microsoft back in 2014, and let's just say that Microsoft hasn't looked back since.

Vention: Swarovski Crystals Book Released

Vention:  Swarovski Crystals was written to introduce those interested in jewelry and art to intellectual property.   Swarovski provides ample illustrations of design patents to the aspiring inventor or artist to help appreciate and understand intellectual property.  

Since 1895, Swarovski has been identified as producing some of the world’s finest crystals. Through high-quality craftsmanship and mastery in cutting, Swarovski produces light-filled crystals of breathtaking design.

Nearly 60 different crystal inventions are in Vention: Swarovski Crystals. With this book you can study the stain-glass quality of the designs themselves.  In particular, the book explores Swarovski's design patents including gemstones, flatback gems, beads, pendants (below) and others.

The book can be used as a coloring book to become familiar with the illustrations themselves.  Design patents are used to protect the ornamental features of a product.  To accurately convey what is being protected, the patent applicant must submit a drawing of each side of the crystals...front, back, left, right, top, and bottom.

The book also provides an introduction to the aspiring inventor on how to read a patent.  To the right, you'll find an example of the information you'll find in Vention:  Swarovski Crystals.   Through the book, you will learn how to identify the patent number, inventor, assignee and much more.

Enjoy!

Google Doodle - Honoring James Welch

The November 18, 2016 Google Doodle honors a poet and author that chronicled the experiences of Native Americans.  James Welch would have been 76 today.  His prominent publications and introductions to his copyrights can be found below. 

Publications

The following is a list of his prominent publications.

Novels

• Winter in the Blood (1974)
• The Death of Jim Loney (1979)
• Fools Crow (1986)
• The Indian Lawyer (1990)
• The Heartsong of Charging Elk (2000)

Nonfiction

• Killing Custer: The Battle of Little Bighorn and the Fate of the Plains Indians (1994)

Poetry

• Riding the Earthboy 40 (1971 rpt. 1975)
• Last Stand at Little Bighorn
• Christmas Comes to Moccasin Flat

COPYRIGHTS

His copyrights are chronicled at the United States Copyright Office.  You can explore the Copyright Search Records to learn additional details on the ownership of James Welch work.

For example, when searching for the title Fools Crow...

...you will learn that the copyright was originally filed in 1986 and that there were two copyright claimants:  Jack Welch for the text of the novel (Fools crow : a novel / James Welch. TX0002011906 ) and Viking Penquin, Inc., the publisher, for the illustrations and maps in the novel (Fools crow : a novel / James Welch. VA0000252783).  You can also learn that there are other works that derive from the novel of Fools Crow.