The $38 million in Trade Act Section 301 tariff costs iRobot incurred in 2019 inflicted a hit of 3 percentage points to its gross margin for the year, said CEO Colin Angle. IRobot assumes the List 3 tariff exclusion it landed April 22 on the robotic vacuum cleaners it sources from China (see 2004230045) will expire at the end of 2020, he said. The reinstatement of 25% tariffs on Chinese goods will result in a “similar contraction” to 2021 gross margin, he said. The stock closed 7.5% lower Wednesday at $79.35.

The $38 million in Section 301 tariff costs iRobot incurred in 2019 inflicted a hit of three percentage points on its gross margin for the year, CEO Colin Angle said. IRobot assumes the List 3 tariff exclusion it landed in April on the robotic vacuum cleaners it sources from China will expire at the end of 2020, he said. The reinstatement of 25% tariffs on Chinese goods will result in a “similar contraction” to 2021 gross margin, he said. U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer “made it quite explicit” in congressional testimony last month that any granted List 3 exemptions “would expire at the end of the year,” Angle said. Lighthizer’s testimony “is the most explicit guidance that we have been given,” he said July 22 following quarterly results.

More women are “entering and staying active” in the U.S. patent system “than ever,” reported the Patent and Trademark Office Tuesday. Patents listing at least one woman inventor were 21.9% of those granted in 2019, up from 20.7% in 2016, said PTO. The “women inventor rate” share of females among all U.S. “inventor-patentees” grew to 12.8% from 12.1%, it said. New women inventor-patentees increased to 17.3% from 16.6%. There’s a decreasing “gender gap” in inventor-patentees that stay active by patenting again, it said. Of women who landed patents in 2014, 46% patented again within five years, compared with 52% for men, said PTO. The gap in 1980 was 28% women, 38% men. The share of women among all new inventor-patentees increased 17.3% by the end of 2019 from 5% in 1980, said PTO. In the five years ended 2014, the number of new women inventor-patentees grew by an average of 10.8% yearly, said the agency. Though yearly growth in the five years ended 2019 “slackened” to 4%, it's higher than males' 2.5%, the office said.

More women are “entering and staying active” in the U.S. patent system “than ever,” reported the Patent and Trademark Office Tuesday. Patents listing at least one woman inventor were 21.9% of those granted in 2019, up from 20.7% in 2016, said PTO. The “women inventor rate” share of females among all U.S. “inventor-patentees” grew to 12.8% from 12.1%, it said. New women inventor-patentees increased to 17.3% from 16.6%. There’s a decreasing “gender gap” in inventor-patentees that stay active by patenting again, it said. Of women who landed patents in 2014, 46% patented again within five years, compared with 52% for men, said PTO. The gap in 1980 was 28% women, 38% men. The share of women among all new inventor-patentees increased 17.3% by the end of 2019 from 5% in 1980, said PTO. In the five years ended 2014, the number of new women inventor-patentees grew by an average of 10.8% yearly, said the agency. Though yearly growth in the five years ended 2019 “slackened” to 4%, it's higher than males' 2.5%, the office said.

More women are “entering and staying active” in the U.S. patent system “than ever,” reported the Patent and Trademark Office Tuesday. Patents listing at least one woman inventor were 21.9% of those granted in 2019, up from 20.7% in 2016, said PTO. The “women inventor rate” share of females among all U.S. “inventor-patentees” grew to 12.8% from 12.1%, it said. New women inventor-patentees increased to 17.3% from 16.6%. There’s a decreasing “gender gap” in inventor-patentees that stay active by patenting again, it said. Of women who landed patents in 2014, 46% patented again within five years, compared with 52% for men, said PTO. The gap in 1980 was 28% women, 38% men. The share of women among all new inventor-patentees increased 17.3% by the end of 2019 from 5% in 1980, said PTO. In the five years ended 2014, the number of new women inventor-patentees grew by an average of 10.8% yearly, said the agency. Though yearly growth in the five years ended 2019 “slackened” to 4%, it's higher than males' 2.5%, the office said.

Germany, France and Italy said they will pursue sanctions against countries that continue to violate the United Nations arms embargo against Libya, a July 18 joint statement said. The countries urged “foreign actors to end their increasing interference” and said they are “ready to consider the possible use of sanctions should breaches to the embargo at sea, on land or in the air continue.” The statement came about a week after the U.S. threatened sanctions against foreign militaries interfering in Libya (see 2007150020).

LG Electronics Chief Technology Officer Park Il-Pyung will keynote the global news conference at IFA 2020 Special Edition, said show organizers Friday. The sharply downsized in-person event is Sept. 3-5 and will be livestreamed (see 2005190035). IFA didn’t say what date Park will appear or whether he will attend physically or virtually. Organizers didn’t respond to emails Friday. “LG will take part in IFA 2020 Special Edition and focus on the consumer situation in times of the new normal,” they said. Rival Samsung announced this month it was pulling out of IFA and will stage its own virtual event in early September (see 2007020030).

LG Electronics Chief Technology Officer Park Il-Pyung will keynote the global news conference at IFA 2020 Special Edition, said show organizers Friday. The sharply downsized in-person event is Sept. 3-5 and will be livestreamed (see 2005190035). IFA didn’t say what date Park will appear or whether he will attend physically or virtually. Organizers didn’t respond to emails Friday. “LG will take part in IFA 2020 Special Edition and focus on the consumer situation in times of the new normal,” they said. Rival Samsung announced this month it was pulling out of IFA and will stage its own virtual event in early September (see 2007020030).

LG Electronics Chief Technology Officer Park Il-Pyung will keynote the global news conference at IFA 2020 Special Edition, said show organizers Friday. The sharply downsized in-person event is Sept. 3-5 and will be livestreamed (see 2005190035). IFA didn’t say what date Park will appear or whether he will attend physically or virtually. Organizers didn’t respond to emails Friday. “LG will take part in IFA 2020 Special Edition and focus on the consumer situation in times of the new normal,” they said. Rival Samsung announced this month it was pulling out of IFA and will stage its own virtual event in early September (see 2007020030).

The FCC approved a broadband mapping order and Further NPRM, as expected (see 2007140060), with changes to the draft circulated by Chairman Ajit Pai. He warned the FCC doesn't have the money to start mapping. Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel partially dissented. Commissioner Geoffrey Starks concurred. Commissioners agreed to change the maximum buffers for wireline networks and will seek comment on rather than require infrastructure reporting by wireless providers. The maps are considered necessary to offering money through the 5G Fund (see 2006260057).