In a recent development, a California federal magistrate judge thwarted the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s attempt to acquire a summary judgment victory in a lawsuit led by Snapchat’s parent company. The litigation sought to procure trademark rights for the term “Spectacles” that refers to its flagship virtual-reality product. The intellectual property disagreement will be…
Perkins Coie has become the fourth US law firm to close its office in mainland China within an eight-month period, following in the steps of Akin Gump, Proskauer Rose, and Latham. The decision to shutter the office is yet another example of the increasing challenges foreign firms are facing while operating in the country. Read…
In an important decision for trademark protection within the entertainment industry, a Florida federal judge has sided with the owner of the intellectual property rights of the iconic musical group Earth, Wind & Fire. The legal dispute targeted a concert producer and promoter accused of misusing the band’s trademarks. As revealed by Law 360, this…
Last week, a conference held by the World Trade Organization (WTO) concluded without an agreement regarding the proposed expansion of a waiver on intellectual property (IP) rights for COVID-19 vaccines to include tests and treatments. This outcome was welcomed by those in opposition to the expansion of the waiver. The proposed expansion of the waiver…
Novant Health has come under scrutiny as a competitor hospital asserts that it should not be allowed to access confidential information shared with regulators. This information was submitted during the legal challenge to Novant’s $320 million merger with two North Carolina hospitals. The competitor argues that they provided these sensitive documents under the assumption they…
In a seemingly counterintuitive trend, while the number of civil cases filed in U.S. district courts fell by 8% last year, there was a 10% rise in the number of e-discovery decisions, totalling 5,216 for 2023. This information comes from the recently released eDiscovery Assistant 2023 Case Law Report. This notable increase is the largest…
In a striking development, a dental health insurer has requested a Washington federal judge to dismiss trade secret claims made against a former executive. The insurer’s plea hinges on the former executive not being given the opportunity to request legal fees. This stems from the company’s perspective that she should not be considered a ‘winning…
In a recent development, a California federal judge has denied a motion proposed by a group of authors petitioning against OpenAI, a Microsoft-supported company. The authors, who are suing the AI startup over alleged copyright infringement, sought to prevent OpenAI from defending itself against a similar suit taking place in a New York federal court….
Elon Musk dismissed four senior executives from Twitter in quick succession following the acquisition of the social media giant, which has since been renamed X Corp. This surprising move, the executives suggest, was a calculated attempt by Musk to avoid the $200 million severance package that would have been due to them otherwise. The aggrieved…
Major turkey corporations, including Cargill, Perdue, and Tyson are currently entangled in allegations of price-fixing. The situation escalated on Friday in an Illinois federal court, where they significantly clashed with a Burford Capital affiliate regarding the implications of a federal magistrate judge’s ruling in a parallel lawsuit. The contentious point of dispute lies in the…
On Monday, U.S. Supreme Court Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito Jr. proposed that a university’s policy relating to the reporting of bias incidents should have been granted further review by the court itself, citing the potential for such a policy to violate free speech. The high court decided, however, to nullify the U.S. Court…
Recent issues regarding Air Canada’s AI chatbot offer a compelling case study for litigation risks presented by novel technologies in corporate operations. As reported in the New Jersey Law Journal, attorneys have relayed warnings that mishaps like these with AI chatbots could be the precursors for emerging consumer protection class-action lawsuits. A marked increase in…
In an interesting move for the trucking industry, a board member of Werner Enterprises – Vikram Mansharamani – has officially resigned. His resignation letter, tendered on February 27, voiced his discontentment over the company’s “unquestioned dedication to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) considerations as a primary strategy and the refusal to adequately consider differing perspectives.”…
Two recent Roundup verdicts have provided contrasting outcomes for Monsanto, the manufacturer of the pesticide Roundup. Monsanto claimed victory in an Arkansas trial, its 11th win to date on Roundup-related litigation. Simultaneously, a Delaware judge declared a mistrial in a separate Roundup trial, the first of its kind in the state. The trial in Arkansas…
Global law firm Gowling WLG has launched a new service called Saturn, which is aimed at enhancing brand protection strategies for the clients with the use of AI technology. The aim of Saturn is to bolster the capabilities of its global brands team beyond mere duplication of existing AI-based platforms designed to detect online counterfeits,…
The unfolding political drama in Texas continues to make national headIines, with six lawsuits recently filed against the governor and the state Attorney General over elections in the state. It seems that the aggressive stances taken by these two figures haven’t spared even the educational sector, with the Castleberry ISD getting embroiled in these developments….
Eight veteran lawyers from Nelson Mullins have moved to Baker Donelson. This change follows Baker Donelson’s strategic initiative to establish a Charlotte Office. The move is rooted in the company’s recognition of the Carolinas as a substantial growth market. This major legal team transition was confirmed by Baker Donelson’s CEO Tim Lupinacci. Baker Donelson aims…
In recent legal news, Vanessa Ford’s revelations about the toxic culture within law firms have sparked further conversation within the field. Despite efforts by many firms to improve the culture and nurture productivity, Ford’s experiences serve as a stark reminder that much more work needs to be done. Law firms, irrespective of their specializations or…
The recent $41.7 million fine imposed on the Dollar Tree retail chain for a rodent infestation at its Arkansas warehouse is a stark reminder of the potential legal and financial implications related to sanitation issues. This record-breaking criminal penalty, recognized as the largest ever issued by the Department of Justice in a food safety matter,…
In the current legal landscape, even the wealthiest are being forced to make tight fiscal decisions. Law firms have taken to more stringent budgeting measures, which in some cases, has led to layoffs. Above the Law reports on a leading Biglaw firm, not identified in the report, which recently let go of several employees due…
In what could be considered a landmark day for antitrust law, a proposed merger worth a sizeable $3.8 billion was halted by the Department of Justice (DOJ). Both the DOJ and a federal judge, who took action in January, found that the proposed conglomeration had transgressed antitrust laws and, therefore, could not proceed as planned….
The state government of Maine is currently embroiled in a controversy with its lobstermen community. Lobbyists representing the lobstermen are advocating for a federal court to block a new state-imposed requirement, which mandates the presence of tracking devices on their fishing boats. These lobstermen argue that the surveillance from these devices will inadvertently disclose their…
In a recent development, JPMorgan Chase Bank NA, along with seven other banks, stands accused of patent infringement. The allegation has come from a patent-holding company, claiming the banks have contravened two of their patents connected with ATM circuitry memory. This case demonstrates the continuing challenges faced by financial institutions in navigating the complex world…
Four former top executives of Twitter are reportedly pursuing a lawsuit against the company’s current owner and tech tycoon, Elon Musk, for an estimated $128.6 million. As stated in their complaint, they were fired unjustly to save around $200 million in severance payouts subsequent to Musk’s purchase of Twitter in 2022. The complainants include former…
In a trial currently underway, a gun and ammunition prop supplier related to the film “Rust” testified that he was not the source of live rounds found on set. This information, shared in court on Monday, could strengthen the ongoing involuntary manslaughter case against the film’s armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed. Gutierrez-Reed, faced with involuntary manslaughter charges…