ATLANTA, Ga. & STAMFORD, Conn. - Thursday, February 7th 2013 [ME NewsWire]

Crossover Rewards™ allows Delta SkyMiles Medallion members and SPG elite members to share program benefits and earn more miles and Starpoints when traveling with either brand

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Today, Delta Air Lines, Inc. (NYSE: DAL) and Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) announced a comprehensive new partnership that offers exclusive new benefits to Delta SkyMiles Medallion members and Starwood Preferred Guest® (SPG®) elite members. The program, called Crossover Rewards, begins March 1 and provides elite members of both loyalty programs reciprocal benefits.

Crossover Rewards allows Delta and Starwood elites to share program benefits and earn more miles and Starpoints. SkyMiles Diamond and Platinum Medallion members will have access to added benefits including priority check-in, 4 p.m. late checkout and free in-room internet access when staying at Starwood Ho ... Read more »

62 percent of consumers tap smartphone hotspot capabilities; worry around cost, usability and plan options persists

Business Wire / ME Newswire

ALISO VIEJO, Calif. - Thursday, February 7th 2013

Sixty-two percent of smartphone users leverage their devices’ hotspot capabilities, an increase of nine percent since May 2012, according to a new survey of more than 700 mobile consumers in the U.S. Despite the increase in adoption, many consumers are still concerned with the cost, usability and lack of plan options available with smartphone hotspots, and carriers are missing key opportunities to monetize personal hotspots. This survey was conducted by uSamp and commissioned by wireless and mobility solutions providerSmith Micro Software, Inc.(NASDAQ:SMSI).

The Survey Reveals:

    71 percent of respondents have used a dedicated hotspot device, a smartphone hotspot, or both to connect Wi-Fi devices to the mobile Internet:
   &n ... Read more »

La réforme en profondeur des activités du Bureau américain des brevets et marques

NEW YORK - Samedi 9 Février 2013 [ME NewsWire]

a entraîné la mise en œuvre d’une réforme législative de grande ampleur du système américain des brevets.

(BUSINESS WIRE)--Le cabinet d’avocats Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP est enchanté d’annoncer que M. David J. Kappos, l’ancien sous-secrétaire au commerce des États-Unis et directeur du Bureau américain des brevets et marques, s’est joint à son équipe en qualité d'associé.

Jouissant d’une renommée mondiale, M. Kappos est l'un des ténors du domaine de la propriété intellectuelle, et notamment de l’élaboration de normes, de lois et de pratiques internationales. En 2009, il a été nommé sous-secrétaire au commerce et directeur du Bureau américain des brevets ... Read more »

Fundamentally reformed USPTO operations

NEW YORK - Thursday, February 7th 2013 [ME NewsWire]

Led in passage and implementation of major legislative reform to U.S. patent system

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP is pleased to announce that David J. Kappos, former Under Secretary of Commerce and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), has joined the Firm as a partner.

Mr. Kappos is widely recognized as one of the world’s foremost leaders in the field of intellectual property, including the development of global intellectual property norms, laws and practices. In 2009, he was appointed Under Secretary of Commerce and Director of the USPTO by President Barack Obama, and this appointment was confirmed by the United States Senate. As Director of the USPTO, he was instrumental in achieving the greatest legislative reform of the U.S. patent system in generations through patent reform legislation signed by the President in ... Read more »

PAWTUCKET, R.I. - Thursday, February 7th 2013 [ME NewsWire]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The next MONOPOLY game token to ‘Pass GO!’ and collect $200 will be…the cat! After a month of voting on Facebook, and an overwhelming response from fans and organizations from 185 countries around the world, the cat has been chosen and will become the newest addition to the classic game from Hasbro (NASDAQ: HAS). The cat was able to scratch past the toy robot, guitar, helicopter, and diamond ring in the MONOPOLY "Save Your Token” campaign by receiving 31 percent of the fan vote.

In the vote to decide which classic tokens would be ‘saved’ by fans, the Scottie dog was a clear early favorite, eventually securing 29 percent of the vote. Meanwhile, supporters of the iron, wheelbarrow and shoe campaigned vigorously to save their favorite token from a lifetime in jail and ensure it would remain in the game. After a very close race, fans weren’t hot for the iron. With only 8 percent of the vote, the ico ... Read more »