More broadly, the fact that any company can demand protection for the basic shape of a device, years before it had invented the actual device or technology, should not entitle that company to claim that it had patented the design for a smartphone any more than Richard Branson can patent business class travel in outer space.

FORBES: Apple v. Samsung: The Rights To Rectangles

On Monday morning, Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) announced its acquisition of Motorola Mobility Holdings (NYSE: MMI), perhaps in an attempt to diversify its patent portfolio and gain market share in the mobile telecommunications space.

FORBES: A Potential Play for Those Who Missed the Motorola Deal

This is the home of the Patent Records Office, 4, 600 square meters of storage space hewn out of solid rock, the last repository of America's intellectual property.

FORBES: The smother of invention

Bigelow, who launched a small prototype of the module in 2006 after licensing the patent from NASA, will rely on Boeing Co. and Southern California rocket developer Space Exploration Technologies to provide transportation.

NPR: Space Station To Get $18 Million Balloon-Like Room