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Patents and Trademarks
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6 Months Ended |
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Jun. 30, 2011
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| Patents and Trademarks [Abstract] | |
| Patents and Trademarks |
(8) Patents and Trademarks
The Company’s policy is to protect its proprietary position by securing U.S. and foreign
patents that cover the technology, inventions and improvements related to its business. The
Company has 3 pending and 9 granted U.S. patents, multiple international pending and granted
patents and a foreign application through the Patent Cooperation Treaty (“PCT”) related to its
patch technologies. The Company’s issued U.S. patents have a remaining legal duration ranging from
one to 11 years. Issued patents can later be held invalid by the patent office issuing the patent
or by a court. The Company cannot be certain that its patents will not be challenged, invalidated
or circumvented or that the rights granted under the Company’s patents will provide a competitive
advantage.
The Company uses both patents and trade secrets to protect its proprietary property and
information, but there can be no assurance that other parties will not independently develop the
same or similar information to its detriment.
On July 25, 2008, the Company filed a complaint for patent infringement against five
companies, alleging that those companies had infringed upon two of the Company’s patents relating
to its medicated patch technology. The Company has subsequently settled with all such parties.
See PART II, ITEM 1 of this Form 10-Q for additional information.
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