E-Learning Council

Annual Dallas ASTD event with one track devoted to E-Learning.  Cost: $65 (includes lunch). Full details at

http://www.dallasastd.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=27&Itemid=84

A federal appeals court has invalidated 38 of Blackboard Inc.’s contested patent claims to be invalid in ongoing litigation between the D.C.-based education software company and its Canadian competitor, Desire2Learn Inc. 

The ruling brings to an end one portion of a year’s long dispute between Blackboard and Desire2Learn.  Claims 1 through 38 (out of 44) have been invalidated by the appellate court, Unfortunately, claims 39 to 44 were not an issue in the appeal, though the US Trademark Office is also continuing it’s re-examination of Blackboard’s patent. 

Blackboard has received 3 other patents since the start of the case and has multiple law suits against Desire2Learn. 

You may read the appellate court’s decision here (PDF)