Twentieth Century Fox Film Corp. has initiated legal action against a Philadelphia-based special event company, JMC Pop Ups, for allegedly infringing on the intellectual property associated with “The Simpsons” animated series and movie. The lawsuit, filed on Thursday, contends that JMC Pop Ups unlawfully recreated Moe’s Tavern, a well-known location from the series. For more…
As the traditional office-bound model of legal practice faces increasing scrutiny, attorneys disenchanted with returning to physical offices are finding more options available to them. This shift is encapsulated by an Am Law 200 firm’s recent launch of a virtual lawyering program. According to legal consultant and recruiter Frederick Shelton, “We’re past the era where…
A bipartisan group of U.S. senators introduced the COPIED Act on Thursday, aiming to tackle the proliferation of AI-generated “deepfakes.” The proposed legislation seeks to empower journalists and artists by implementing a watermarking process, providing them with control over their work. Moreover, the act would enable creators to take legal action against unauthorized use. This…
Legal News Coverage The Beastie Boys are taking legal action against Chili’s parent company, Brinker International Inc., for the unauthorized use of their 1990s hit song “Sabotage” in social media videos aimed at promoting the restaurant chain. The band has filed a complaint in Manhattan federal court alleging that the restaurant chain has been using…
VLSI Technology is urging the Federal Circuit to revive a patent it successfully used to secure a $1.5 billion infringement verdict against Intel. This plea follows what VLSI alleges was an improper handling of sanctions proceedings that tainted the Patent Trial and Appeal Board’s (PTAB) decision to invalidate the patent in question. The company argues…
Utah Supreme Court Decision on Constitutional Right to Reform Government in Gerrymandering Case In a unanimous decision, the Utah Supreme Court decided Thursday that Utah citizens have a constitutional right to reform their government in response to past redistricting efforts that divided Salt Lake City into four congressional districts. These efforts resulted in Republicans winning…
In a legislative move aimed at reducing the financial burden of prescription drugs, the U.S. Senate passed a bill on Thursday designed to halt pharmaceutical companies’ ability to divert patients from opting for generic drug versions. Proponents argue that this measure will significantly lower drug prices in the healthcare market. The initiative specifically targets tactics…
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) announced on Thursday that it has successfully reduced delays in the review process for patent and trademark applications. This improvement is attributed to several measures, including increased hiring, better compensation for patent examiners, and advancements in technology. For further details, the report is available on Law360.
The European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) released a report on Thursday revealing that Jews in Europe face alarmingly high levels of antisemitism, partly driven by the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The survey, which included perspectives from diverse Jewish communities across Europe, indicated that over 90% of Jews had experienced antisemitism in the past…
Partner Pay Bubble In recent discourse, the question of whether partner pay in Big Law is evolving into a bubble has garnered significant attention. According to some industry observers, compensation packages ranging from $25 million to $30 million are increasingly becoming the new top tier for valuable laterals, high-performing partners, and certain Big Law leaders….
In the latest edition of Europe Moves this month, significant partner hires and management changes have taken place across several major law firms in Europe. Latham & Watkins, Gowling WLG, and White & Case have made notable partner hires, while DLA Piper and William Fry have implemented key management changes. These updates underscore ongoing shifts…
A Moscow court upheld the February sentence against Nobel Human Rights laureate Oleg Orlov on Thursday, maintaining his conviction for criticizing the war in Ukraine and drawing comparisons between the Russian justice system and Nazi Germany. Orlov, a prominent Russian human rights activist, co-chairs the “Memorial” law enforcement center, which the Russian government has labeled…
Class counsel representing plaintiffs in a long-standing multidistrict litigation (MDL) against Visa and Mastercard have advocated for sanctions against Milberg Coleman Bryson Phillips Grossman LLC. The litigation revolves around allegations that Visa and Mastercard imposed improper merchant fees. The call for sanctions follows the firm’s admission of mistakenly registering fraudulent clients. For more detailed information,…
The head of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has vacated a Patent Trial and Appeal Board decision that had previously resulted in a loss for the owner of a patent related to a portable backup charger, redirecting the case back to the board for further consideration. To read more about this development, visit the…
In a notable development within the trademark law sector, a Texas lawyer is preparing to argue before an appeals court for a retrial in a case involving a Napa Valley winery. The attorney, a former legal representative of the winery, claims his ex-client illicitly sold a “wildly successful California cult wine” without his knowledge or…
In a significant development concerning intellectual property in the cannabis industry, subsidiaries of Canadian cannabis company Halo Collective Inc. have been unsuccessful in their efforts to dismiss patent infringement claims lodged by a Colorado-based firm. The latter specializes in developing advanced techniques for extracting hemp oil. This decision comes after a California federal judge rejected…
A D.C. federal judge on Thursday appeared skeptical about Vanda Pharmaceuticals’ assertions that the company’s future is at risk if it must wait for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to review its challenge. The dispute concerns the FDA’s approval of a generic version of Vanda’s sleep medication, a decision Vanda claims could seriously…
A former General Manager at United Natural Foods, Inc. (UNFI), has filed a lawsuit alleging reverse racism and wrongful termination. According to reports, the plaintiff contends that he faced discrimination when he was reprimanded for a decision involving an employee’s request, whereas another management member, who is African American, made a similar decision without facing…
In a significant shakeup, President William Ruto of Kenya dismissed his entire cabinet and the Attorney General on Thursday, excluding only the deputy president and the Prime Cabinet Secretary (PCS). This decision comes in response to persistent demands from the country’s youth, particularly the Generation Z demographic, for substantial governance reforms. The President made the…
Atsumi & Sakai, a prominent Japanese law firm, has announced the opening of a new office in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. This move is part of the firm’s ongoing strategy to expand its presence outside Japan. The new office will offer a comprehensive range of legal services and will be instrumental in supporting clients…
The business case for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) remains robust, but many companies are approaching DEI initiatives clumsily, according to UC Davis law professor Afra Afsharipour. Critically, she highlights how ad hoc mentoring, sponsorship, and leadership development programs often inadvertently benefit individuals who are already in privileged positions. The disconnect between DEI goals and…
A federal jury in Virginia has found that claims in an inventor’s patent on elevated stairs are invalid, marking a legal victory for Mission Integrated Technologies. The jury’s decision was handed down on July 11, 2024. For further details on this case, you can read the original article on Law360.
Amid the initial burst of excitement around generative AI, companies invested vast sums into the technology. However, recent findings suggest that the results are not meeting expectations. A quarterly survey by Bain Research noted a significant dip in satisfaction, particularly within the legal sector. The satisfaction levels in legal have plummeted sharply over the past…
The Federal Circuit has decided to temporarily halt the removal of Teva Pharmaceuticals’ asthma inhaler device patents from an important government database while the Israeli drugmaker appeals a prior decision. This move comes as Teva challenges an order that had favored Amneal Pharmaceuticals in an infringement lawsuit. The ruling allows Teva to maintain its patents’…
A recent legal case has revealed that a former regional manager in Connecticut allegedly spent several days downloading “extensive” data before his departure from a security firm. According to the suit filed in federal court, he handed over millions of dollars’ worth of stolen business secrets to his new employer, a direct competitor, to help…