In an unprecedented move, a coalition of 13 federal judges has expressed its intention not to hire students from Columbia University or its law school due to the university’s response to recent student protests. These protests were centered around the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the judges have criticized the premier institution in strong terms, terming it…
On Monday, the Federal Circuit affirmed a decision from the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB), upholding that Mycroft AI has shown that multiple claims of a voice command patent for mobile devices held by Voice Tech Corp were not valid. This development is a significant testimonial in the ongoing discussions and litigations surrounding intellectual…
Lawyers from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) have argued that they are not required to share further communications with an inventor whose $533 million jury verdict against Apple Inc. was reversed. The inventor in question had lodged a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit in hopes of obtaining more information from the USPTO. However,…
Chinese smartphone manufacturer OnePlus, known for its stylish designs and competitive pricing, is now making headlines in the legal world. The company is currently disputing a Texas federal jury verdict, which found the phone giant liable for a staggering sum of $10 million, on counts of infringing five patents belonging to Pantech, another industry player….
An Argentine polo star has achieved a legal victory with a Florida federal jury ruling in his favor over a contested cloned horse deal. The case revolved around allegations of breach of contract and trade secret misappropriation related to the use of genetic material in the cloning of foals. Insight into the complexities of this…
A recent copyright case involving a high-profile tattooist, Kat Von D, and a photographer who captured a portrait of the late jazz legend Miles Davis has reached a pivotal moment. A federal judge in California denied the photographer’s request for a new trial on Friday. The contention in question alleged that Kat Von D had…
Just this Monday, a D.C Circuit panel heard strong objections against the Digital Millennium Copyright Act’s (DMCA) anti-circumvention provision from its opponents. The key point under deliberation was an assertion brought forth by the challengers that the mentioned provision possibly infringes upon the First Amendment rights. The provision, in essence, prohibits the circumvention of technological…
As climate-related litigation begins to grow in number, it’s becoming increasingly critical for judges to familiarize themselves with the complex science behind global warming. Arguably, such understanding could guide more effective decision-making in courtrooms. This sentiment was recently echoed by Oregon Supreme Court Justice Rebecca Duncan at a Berkeley Judicial Institute event, highlighting the need…
A recent development in the legal world has seen judges expressing a loss of confidence in Columbia University as an institution of higher education, due to on-campus pro-Palestine protests. Subsequently, these judges have stated that they will not hire clerks from the university. The judges conveyed their sentiments through a letter sent to Minouche Shafik,…
In a recent legal development, Taiwan-based chip manufacturer Realtek’s bid to use federal courts against a rival firm has been rejected by a California federal judge. Realtek accused the competitor of funding ‘patent troll’ litigation against them via an alleged ‘bounty’. However, the judge ruled this claim as invalid, affirming that such actions do not…
States opposing federal regulations allowing leave for abortions under the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) are likely to face significant challenges. The reason is that these regulations echo longstanding practices under Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. This perspective was communicated by employment attorneys this past Monday. The inclusion of the terms “pregnancy,…
In a recent turn of events, a judge from the Eastern District of Texas did not grant approval to Amazon’s request to move a two-factor authentication patent suit against it to the Western District of Washington. The ruling was driven by the fact that Amazon was not able to provide clear evidence to establish that…
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Samsung, and several tech industry groups have recently encouraged the Federal Circuit to dismiss a contention that patent applications can only serve to invalidate previously granted patents during inter partes reviews based on the publication date of the application. These entities argue instead for the relevance of the initial…
Global law firm DLA Piper has recently opened a foreign legal consultancy office in São Paulo, Brazil. The São Paulo office will primarily handle U.S. law matters concerning cross-border work, providing critical advice to both Brazilian and international companies. At the helm of this new office is newly hired partner Bruno Soares, previously from Allen…
The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court is currently hearing oral arguments regarding an Uber ballot proposal. The initiative creates confusion due to its complex nature, a point that was highlighted by Chief Justice Scott L. Kafker during the proceedings. According to Justice Kafker, the differing proposal initiatives proved hard to keep straight, reflecting the complexity of…
In a recent claim brought before the North Carolina business court, a home builder has successfully defended itself against allegations of trade secrets theft leveled against it by an interior designer. The designer had accused the home-builder of stealing cabinetry designs, as well as customer information, after hiring one of the designer’s former employees. The…
A bias suit lodged by an in-house attorney at Workday Inc., which leveled accusations of discriminatory and retaliatory practices against the company, was recently dismissed by a California magistrate judge. The plaintiff’s charges included allegations of pay inequities and perceived retaliation in the form of an unnecessary wellness check conducted by police at his home…
Hajer Gueldich, a professor of international law at Carthage University in Tunisia, was appointed legal counsel of the African Union (AU) in a historic move earlier this year, making her the first Tunisian to hold this prestigious position within the pan-African organization. In a recent interview with Law.com International, Gueldich shed some light on the…
Self-reporting has been highlighted as a critical determinant in attending U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) enforcement matters. In a recent conversation with Law360, SEC Enforcement Director Gurbir Grewal underlined that self-reporting is the most significant factor that the enforcement staff consider for determining cooperation credit and whether a corporation should endure a penalty. Enforcement…
In a recent incident, a number of conservative federal judges have managed to shift the focus from the Palestinian protests to themselves. This, it appears, is with the ulterior motive of airing grievances they harbor against an elite law school. For more insight into this, see this report. On a progressive note, the stigma surrounding…
The world of Biglaw is often characterized by high earnings and significant profits. However, evidence collected by American Lawyer indicates that one major firm in this sector isn’t outperforming as one might assume. The study was carried out in relation to the Am Law 100 ranking, a list that annually recognizes the 100 most profitable…
Major video game developer, Activision Blizzard has been found by a Delaware federal jury to owe Acceleration Bay a total of $23.4 million. This is due to allegations of patent infringement related to their highly popular games; “World of Warcraft”, and “Call of Duty”. The decision states that Activision Blizzard is to compensate Acceleration Bay…
The European Union Commission announced on Monday that it would conclude the rule of law proceedings it had initiated against Poland six years earlier. The Commission’s President, Ursula von der Leyen, delivered her congratulations to the Polish Prime Minister, Donald Tusk, calling the development the culmination of Poland’s dedicated and sustained commitment to reform. [Statement]…
Jim Langston, a well-known figure in the world of Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A), is set to change his professional affiliations. Having carved a strong niche for himself at Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton since 2015, Langston is will be joining the legal team at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, New York. Brought on board…
In a recent development, 12 Republican US senators dispatched a letter to Karim Khan, the International Criminal Court (ICC) Chief Prosecutor, threatening “severe sanctions” in the event the court issues international arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other officials. The details of the letter were revealed by Politico and further reportedly by…