Hansen IP Law — Patent, Trademark & Copyright Attorneys

ABA's Landslide Magazine Publishes Steve Hansen's "Thirty Years After Markman"

On September 1, 2026, the American Bar Association's Landslide magazine published Steve Hansen's article "Thirty Years After Markman." The article revisits the Supreme Court's April 1996 decision in Markman v. Westview Instruments, Inc., 517 U.S. 370 (1996), and the promise that came with it – that the meaning of patent claims would be settled exclusively by judges rather than juries. The article looks at whether the decision has lived up to that promise in the three decades since.

Steve Hansen Named Michigan Super Lawyer in Intellectual Property for 2026

Hansen IP Law is pleased to announce that Steve Hansen has been named a Michigan "Super Lawyer" in intellectual property for 2026. The Super Lawyers publication is put out annually by Thomson Reuters and recognizes top attorneys across a variety of practice areas nationwide based on a peer-nomination process. "It is an honor to be nominated by my peers again this year. I'm grateful and feel fortunate to get to do the work I love for a great group of clients," said Mr. Hansen.

"Your Patent Sucks" Videos Now on TikTok at @yourpatentsucks

We have migrated our "Your Patent Sucks" videos to the TikTok profile @yourpatentsucks. The focus is on discussing what makes a patent "strong" or "weak". We have found that people ask about the strength or weakness of patents without really knowing what that actually means. The videos also address some of the questions and problems that frequently arise in our practice.

Foreign-Domiciled Applicants and Owners Must Now Use a Registered U.S. Patent Practitioner

How Do You Protect Software?

Broad Claims May Broaden the Prior Art – The Federal Circuit Looks to Claim Scope in Applying the Analogous Art Test