Patent Trolls, Venue Shopping and the U.S. Supreme Court's Landmark Decision in TC Heartland v. Kraft Foods Group Brands

At the ABA Journal Supreme Court Report, Mark Walsh gives us a nice analysis of the very important patent case
TC Heartland v. Kraft Foods Group Brands
in Supreme Court makes venue shopping harder for patent trolls.

We already posted at LawPundit in May about the decision of the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) on the case in question in
U.S. Supreme Court Unanimously Reverses Long-Standing Lax Federal Circuit Patent Venue Rule.

Walsh refers to Stanford Law School intellectual property expert Professor Mark A. Lemley, who calls the Heartland decision SCOTUS's "most important patent ruling" since the Supreme's 2014 decision in the patent eligibility case of Alice Corp. v. CLS Bank International ("what is patentable subject matter").

Take a look at Supreme Court Reins In Patent Venue by Dennis Crouch at Patently O for an interesting United States map of patent venues prior to
TC Heartland LLC v. Kraft Foods Group Brands LLC. Change was necessary!

The DF-Models.com "Drive-Fly" 9300 SkyWatcher Pocket Racer Camera Drone with Controller and WIFI via VS FPV App

This not an ad, just our report about a pocket-size camera mini-drone of the new generation.

At Mueller.de in Germany for a reduced price of €69.99 we just acquired the DF-Models.com "Drive-Fly" 9300 SkyWatcher Pocket Racer Camera Drone with Controller (+ WIFI smartphone control via the VS FPV Android app (Google Play)).

See https://shop.mueller.de/spielwaren/alle-kategorien/verkehr-action/drive-fly-skywatcher-pocket-racer-wifi-rtf-fpv-2159710

The SkyWatcher Pocket Racer quadrocopter can be ordered online but must be picked up at a Mueller.de general market store of choice (toy department). For us, it was a shopping deal for obtaining at a bargain price one of the new generation of camera "mini-drones".

For comparison, the SkyWatcher Pocket Racer is listed by a shop in Amazon.de at a price of ca. €108 (plus free delivery).

Here are the specs via online material in the original German as well as our edited version of the Google translation:

"Drive & Fly - SkyWatcher Pocket Racer - WiFi - RTF - FPV

• Klappbarer „Selfie-Copter“, steuerbar per Controller oder Smartphone.

• Videos oder Fotos können per WiFi-Übertragung auf das Smartphone gespeichert werden.

• Automatische Start-/ Landefunktion und Höhenstabilisierung.

• 2,4 GHz Controller, Flugzeit ca. 8 Minuten, 100 % RTF Akkus und Zubehör inklusive (Es wird kein weiteres Zubehör benötigt!).

• Arme eingeklappt Hosentaschenformat 135 x 66 x 31 mm

Lieferumfang:

• SkyWatcher Pocket Racer - RTF
• Flugakku 3,7 Volt – 500mAh
• Fernsteuerung inkl. Akku
• USB Lader (2)
• Ersatzrotorblätter (4)
• Anleitung
• Window-Box

Technische Daten:

• Antrieb: 4x brushed Motor
• Länge: 135 mm
• Breite: 66 mm
• Höhe: 31 mm
• Kamera mit FPV WiFi Modul"

English translation via Google translate (edited by us):

"Drive & Fly - SkyWatcher Pocket Racer - WiFi - RTF - FPV

• Foldable "Selfie-Copter", controllable via controller or smartphone.

• Videos or photos can be saved to the smartphone via WiFi transmission.

• Automatic start / land function and altitude stabilization.

• 2.4 GHz controller, flight time approx. 8 minutes, 100% RTF batteries and accessories included (No additional accessories needed!). Folded state, pants pocket format 135 x 66 x 31 mm

Delivery includes:

• SkyWatcher Pocket Racer - RTF
• Flight battery 3.7V - 500mAh
• Remote control including battery
• USB charger (2)
• Spare rotor blades (4)
• manual
• Window box

Technical specifications:

• Drive: 4x brushed motor
• Length: 135 mm
• Width: 66 mm
• Height: 31 mm
• Camera with FPV WiFi module"

Thus far, in our opinion, this beats the competition as regards quality and price. However, we make no statements or guarantees about drone performance or suitability to purpose.

Caveat emptor. Buyer beware.

After all, this is a toy.... but nevertheless potentially dangerous, especially to children (and adults!) of all ages, due to freely open, otherwise unprotected fast-spinning rotor blades as well as the use of lithium batteries. You have to read the manual (!), follow its instructions and know what you are doing!!

Trump Administration Apprenticeship Initiative Reminds of Germany's Fabulously Successful Apprentice Programs

Germany's apprentice programs are fabulously successful. The Trump Administration's apprenticeship initiative makes great sense given the example of the German model. See the report at Forbes. This is one way the Trump Administration is surely moving America forward.