The U.S. Copyright Office is actively seeking feedback on a proposal aimed at simplifying the registration process for online news publishers, according to a recent article by Lauren Berg in Law360. The proposed rule change would introduce a new group registration option, potentially providing a more streamlined approach for publishers looking to secure copyright protection…
In a recent announcement, Husch Blackwell LLP has welcomed the chair of Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP’s transportation practice and four other attorneys from the same group to its Phoenix office. The attorneys have made a strategic move as they have decided to leave their previous firm, Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP, and…
The Seattle Kraken, owned by the National Hockey League (NHL), is currently facing a significant legal challenge. A recent trademark lawsuit filed in a Washington federal court alleges that the team’s owner has been distributing jerseys and other retail merchandise adorned with a historic ‘S’ logo, originally belonging to a celebrated Emerald City hockey team….
District of Columbia Attorney General Brian Schwalb has once more refuted requests from Republican congress members for information surrounding speculated investigations into Leonard Leo, a report by Gina Kim discloses. In his response, dated Tuesday, Schwalb noted that these inquiries do not specify any valid legislative objective. Moreover, Schwalb indicated that the requests seemingly attempt…
On Tuesday, Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check LLP emerged victorious over two competing law firms when a federal judge in California named them the lead counsel. The firm will be at the forefront of the consolidated litigation concerning a proposed group of shareholders. The litigation alleges that Wells Fargo executives took actions that were detrimental…
In a recent development within the Evergreen State legal field, a Washington appeals court has breathed new life into a lawsuit initiated by an online fundraising platform. The digital fundraising entity had accused its former sales representatives of defecting unlawfully to a competitor firm. Interestingly, this case in Washington brings forth different aspects when contrasted…
The fallout from The New York Times (NYT)’s copyright infringement lawsuit against Microsoft and OpenAI continues to reverberate through the international legal community. In a surprising development, the suit alleges that Microsoft and OpenAI utilized millions of articles from NYT’s archives to refine their artificial intelligence (AI) text mode, ChatGPT, without acquiring necessary permissions or…
In a recent turn of events, Apple and the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) have urged the Supreme Court of the United States to reject an appeal lodged by VirnetX. The pivotal case concerned VirnetX’s claim that Apple was unjustly allowed to enter into patent challenges, which eventually resulted in overturning a hefty…
Amidst the ever-evolving terrain of intellectual property rights, a seed-selling startup has recently made a unique argument against so-called “double patenting”. The startup drew an analogy between this legal concept and the informal social rule against “double dipping”, highlighting a key debate in the patent world. In a twist of humor, they have dubbed counterarguments…
In a move likely of interest to legal professionals within the food industry, the Federal Circuit this week upheld a lower court’s decision to invalidate a couple of patents on non-caloric food sweeteners, held by PureCircle USA Inc. The patents were deemed problematic as most of the claims they contained were not adequately described within…
In a recent move, a California federal judge denied mutual requests from Intel Corp. and VLSI Technology to reach a summary judgment in relation to Intel’s claims. Intel maintained that it holds a license for chip patents owned by VLSI, which effectively shields it from infringement accusations. Thus, the court looked at Intel’s argument and…
New Jersey-based law firm Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi PC (CSG) has taken an active step forward in strengthening its securities enforcement capabilities with the recent establishment of a new group specifically dedicated to this arm of law. Spearheading this division are two former federal prosecutors, boasting of impressive resumes that include serving in crucial positions…
The recently released year-end report on the Federal Judiciary has made waves within the legal community. There is considerable intrigue surrounding the conspicuous absence of a particular element in the dossier, the details of which can be found here: year-end report on the Federal Judiciary. In an unexpected twist, the Supreme Court has turned into…
The path to equity partnership at Am Law 200 legal firms seems to be narrowing. Unlike the late 20th century when a significantly larger proportion of lawyers at these big law firms rose to that coveted status, it appears the trend has, quite drastically, taken a turn in the opposite direction. Above The Law reports…
Last week, the Ohio Supreme Court, in a 6-1 majority opinion, rejected Judge Daniel Gaul’s efforts to avoid a one-year suspension without pay. A spearhead of the Cuyahoga County judicial system for 32 years, Judge Gaul came under scrutiny for committing 29 rule violations under eight different counts. With immediate effect, Judge Gaul was suspended…
Dealmaker professionals in Big Law are keeping a close eye on various factors, including interest rates and inflation, as they evaluate prospects for the 2024 M&A market. According to recent analysis, if predictions for interest rate reductions in 2024 pan out, they could instill greater confidence among business leaders and potentially prompt an uptick in…
Last week, a federal judge in Iowa blocked a controversial school book ban from implementation within the state’s public school system. The legislation, known as Senate File 496 was enacted after consultations with the group Moms For Liberty. The law prohibits school libraries from hosting books which depict “sex acts” and restricts any programs or…
In a significant recent development, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit upheld a significant fee ruling in the patent dispute case, In re: PersonalWeb Technologies. The decision affirms a $5.2 million attorney fee award imposed by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. This case underscores the discretion vested…
In an unexpected development, the Illinois First District Appellate Court departed from the precedent set by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit regarding insurance coverage. The case involved two insurance companies who supposedly didn’t owe an employer the duty to defend against an underlying Biometric Information Privacy Act (BIPA) class action lawsuit. The…
Amid the recent departure of partners and teams, Clyde & Co’s Asia Pacific chair publicly reasserted the firm’s forthcoming agenda. In the face of these challenges, the company has vowed to focus intensely on its core sectors. Multiple partner departures potentially signal significant internal adjustments, with the firm suggesting a pivot towards its primary areas…
In a recent turn of events, Türkiye’s Directorate of Communications for President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan confirmed that the country would block two British military minehunter ships en route to Ukraine from passing through the Turkish Straits, citing adherence to the 1936 Montreux Convention. It was declared publicly that these ships, donated by the United Kingdom,…
Claudine Gay, facing a whirlwind of controversy amid allegations of plagiarism and an ongoing antisemitism fracas on campus, is resigning from her position as president of Harvard University. Until recently, Gay had the unanimous support of Harvard Corp., the governing council of the university. However, her situation rapidly changed with fresh suspicions surrounding her academic…
Last week, prominent legal scholar Jonathan Turley became the latest victim of “swatting,” as reported by the NY Post. Swatting refers to the malicious act of triggering a police SWAT team response by way of a bogus emergency call. The George Washington University law professor stated, “Yes, I was swatted this evening. It is regrettably…
This year began with an exciting entrance to the public domain, none other than “Steamboat Willie,” a precursor to the widely adored Mickey Mouse. However, despite the widespread enthusiasm, it’s crucial to clarify a significant legal distinction – the Mickey Mouse we know and love today remains private, and the use of his likeness could…
Former U.S. President Donald Trump filed a lawsuit in response to Maine’s rejection of his potential bid for the 2024 presidential elections. The state disqualified Trump due to his attempts to reverse the result of the 2020 election, which he lost to the current President, Joe Biden. According to Maine Secretary of State, Shenna Bellows’…