GPC's Alexander Poltorak was the patent expert interviewed for an IBTimes.com article about a wide variety of patent-related topics - including the need for a multi-tier patent system and special patent courts, the roles of the Federal Court and International Trade Commission in patent disputes, the existence of patent trolls and the outcome of the Apple/Samsung trial. ("Apple Vs Samsung Lawsuit Will Spawn More Patent Trials; Patents Are New Currency In Knowledge-Based Economy: Expert (Exclusive Interview)" International Business Times - August 30, 2012)
Article excerpt: The ongoing Apple/ Samsung trial proves that there is going to be no dearth of patent cases in future. What do you recommend as amendments to current law to expedite resolution of such disputes, especially in telecommunication industry? In the Apple/ Samsung tussle, testimonies alone were furnished over a span of three weeks. What do you think is an ideal time frame to close such cases, especially since some patent battles have been waged over decades?
[Dr. Poltorak:] Setting up of specialized patent courts and a patent arbitration forum wherein patent disputes can be effectively arbitrated outside the court system will facilitate speedy resolution of the trial. The advantages include: (i) it will be much faster (ii) it will be much cheaper and (iii) it will be done before a panel of patent attorneys trained in the technology at issue, thereby acting as a specialized patent court before one can be legislated. This apart, introducing a multi-tier patent system (at least a two-tier system with senior and junior patents like in many countries outside the U.S.) will facilitate patents to be issued faster and adjudicated faster.
The first issue can only be addressed with the multi-tier patent system. The second can be addressed with specialized patent courts and a patent arbitration forum.