During the past week, Law360 spotlighted the top legal stories and analyses that gained significant traction among legal professionals. Emphasizing the dynamic landscape of legal issues, the analyses and narratives provided insights into emerging trends and pivotal developments in various practice areas. For further details and to explore the full scope of the coverage, including…
The Ninth Circuit panel is currently deliberating on whether it has the authority to compel the U.S. Department of Justice to release confidential documents relating to Volkswagen’s emissions scandal. These documents were acquired through a grand jury subpoena and were part of the internal investigation conducted by Jones Day, the law firm representing Volkswagen. This…
Music publishers have filed a lawsuit against Anthropic, accusing the AI company of copyright infringement. The publishers claim that Anthropic’s Claude AI tool generated errors in a recent filing. They argue that these errors were downplayed by the company’s legal counsel, who reportedly violated a judge’s standing order. The publishers are seeking to have the…
In a new era for the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB), Acting U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Director Coke Morgan Stewart delivered her initial discretionary denial decisions. On Friday, she denied two petitions challenging patents because of forthcoming trials but determined that two other submissions do not warrant denial. These are the inaugural rulings…
Epic Games recently presented its arguments before a Seattle jury, urging them to dismiss claims of patent infringement regarding interactive concerts featured in the Fortnite virtual world. These events prominently starred pop icon Ariana Grande and rapper Travis Scott. Epic contended that the allegations misrepresented the nature of the technology employed during these concerts. The…
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is inviting public comment on its current methods of collecting information related to complaints about invention promoters. These entities often pledge to assist inventors in developing or marketing their inventions, yet they have been the subject of numerous complaints. The USPTO’s request for feedback will be detailed in…
In a recent decision, the Federal Circuit has upheld a series of determinations made by the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB), ruling that three beacon technology patents were invalid. This outcome marks a significant victory for Apple, which challenged the patents in question. These patents were relevant to location-tracking technologies, a critical area of…
The telecommunications company, Lumen, has made a significant legal contention in front of the Colorado Supreme Court, emphasizing the necessity for attorneys to perform their own “objectively reasonable inquiry” when utilizing claims from external litigants. This argument arises in light of a shareholder lawsuit where allegations borrowed from other cases were utilized, despite the attorneys…
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has decided to reinstate Fintiv Inc.’s patent infringement lawsuit against Apple Inc., related to contactless payment technology. This decision follows a previous ruling by a Texas federal judge that dropped the case, a decision which the appellate court found was based on an improperly narrow consideration…
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has ruled in favor of Lil Nas X, affirming the dismissal of a lawsuit brought by a model who claimed the musician copied his Instagram poses. The court determined that the model did not adequately show that Lil Nas X had “access” to the specific photos,…
Biotechnology leader Illumina Inc. has initiated legal proceedings in Delaware federal court against Element Biosciences, a company established by its former employees. The lawsuit alleges that Element Biosciences has infringed upon five patents concerning automated gene sequencing technology held by Illumina. These patents are central to the innovative processes employed by Illumina in rapidly advancing…
Data storage conglomerate Western Digital has reached an agreement to conclude a patent dispute with MR Technologies, as they disclosed to a California federal judge. This comes after a previous ruling placed financial liability on Western Digital to the tune of $262.4 million. The contention revolved around accusations that Western Digital had infringed upon patents…
Florida Circuit Court Judge Nancy Jacobs is set to resign from her position following a controversy in which she branded her opponent a “bigot” during a politically charged campaign. Jacobs, a Democrat serving in the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit in Hillsborough County, will officially step down on May 31. Her resignation was formally submitted to Governor…
Ed Sheeran has urged the U.S. Supreme Court to dismiss an appeal regarding a prior decision which concluded that his song, “Thinking Out Loud,” did not copy elements from Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get it On.” The legal contention revolves around the plaintiff’s assertion that the Second Circuit improperly adhered to guidance from the U.S. Copyright…
In the latest development of a legal dispute, three energy companies have filed a lawsuit against Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, asserting that his use of private, profit-driven law firms for official state matters violates their constitutional rights. The companies contend that this practice compromises their due process rights to an impartial state actor, as…
In the midst of recent administrative changes, the U.S. Copyright Office has released a new report on artificial intelligence, highlighting potential pathways for addressing AI-related copyright issues. This report comes amid significant upheaval within the office, sparked by a series of high-profile dismissals. Despite the turmoil, legal professionals suggest that the document serves as a…
A group of 44 prominent Big Law firms faces a charge of discrimination, according to a new filing with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The charge, filed by the nonprofit Americans for Equal Opportunity, alleges three “white or white-presenting” applicants were denied fellowships with Sponsors for Educational Opportunity (SEO) Law due to their race….
The Trump administration has approached the Supreme Court seeking to reverse a federal court order that temporarily blocks the implementation of measures aimed at large-scale reductions within the federal workforce. This legal maneuver follows a temporary restraining order issued by Senior U.S. District Judge Susan Illston in San Francisco. The order halted President Trump’s executive…
This week’s legal developments see the NCAA’s $2.78 billion settlement concerning name, image, and likeness (NIL) rights under scrutiny once more, with a fresh series of objections arising. This ongoing case has significant implications for collegiate athletes seeking to capitalize on their personal branding rights. Simultaneously, the NFL finds itself enmeshed in antitrust litigation. The…
A former supervisor at the Southern Regional Jail in Beaver, West Virginia, has been sentenced to 17 years in prison for his involvement in covering up the fatal assault of a 35-year-old inmate, Quantez Burks. This sentence was handed down to Chad Lester, a former lieutenant, who was convicted by a federal jury in January…
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has publicly urged the authorities in Niger to release three journalists from Sahara FM who have been detained for their reporting on the country’s military associations with Russia. The journalists, Hamid Mahmoud, Massaouda Jaharu, and Mahaman Sani, experienced their initial arrest on May 8, following the broadcast of claims…
The recent resignation of Judge Danielle McRae from the Upson County Probate Court in Georgia marks the resolution of an investigation conducted by the Judicial Qualifications Commission (JQC) of Georgia. Under a consent agreement, McRae has agreed not to “seek, request, or accept any elected or appointed judicial office position or status in the future.”…
In the realm of bid protests, recent decisions are providing critical insights for contractors and offerors alike. Alissandra McCann at Morrison & Foerster delves into three pivotal cases in her monthly column, shedding light on issues concerning size standards and procurement schedules. Two decisions offer guidance for U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) schedule holders. These…
The landscape for US law firms is shifting as private equity firms begin to see them as potential investment opportunities. Traditionally independent and tied to long-standing traditions, law firms are increasingly viewed by savvy investors as scalable businesses that are not yet optimized fully for their value potential. As private equity capital looks to make…
The U.S. Supreme Court has once again precluded the removal of Venezuelan nationals from the United States by extending its ban on their deportation. This decision was made in an eight-page unsigned opinion that remanded the case back to a federal appeals court. The opinion prevents the Trump administration from executing removals under a 1798…