Patlex Clears Patent Hurdle for Collecting Laser Royalties

Patlex Corp. has won another victory in its bid to collect licensing royalties from sales of lasers developed by inventor Gordon Gould.

Chatsworth-based Patlex said the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office accepted a federal appeals court decision, announced June 25, authorizing the Patent Office to issue Gould a patent on a common type of laser called the gas-discharge laser.

The Patent Office is moving to “promptly issue” the patent, Patlex said.

Patlex has contended since the late-1970s that Gould is entitled to three patents on laser technology he developed 30 years ago. In return for litigating his case, Patlex stands to receive 64% of any licensing income derived from those patents.

When the gas-discharge patent is issued, Gould would have two of the three patents he is seeking.