The legal battle involving Sam Smith and Normani over their 2019 hit “Dancing With a Stranger” remains unresolved as a California federal judge expressed skepticism about dismissing a copyright infringement suit against the pair. This suit accuses the artists of allegedly copying elements from another song. Despite the Ninth Circuit’s revival of the case, legal…
The recent settlement between T-Mobile and Kaifi LLC underscores the nuances and potential pitfalls associated with the wording of settlement agreements, especially concerning ex parte reexaminations (EPRs). The case revolves around T-Mobile’s strategic use of a contingency payment to finalize litigation, shedding light on the challenges faced by alleged infringers when contesting patents through the…
In a significant move toward modernizing intellectual property administration, the U.S. Copyright Office is set to pilot a new registration system by late 2026. The initiative marks a critical step in overhauling the current systems to enhance efficiency and accessibility for stakeholders in the creative industries. This forthcoming system aims to streamline the registration process,…
In a recent decision, a federal judge in California refused Walmart’s attempt to dismiss a lawsuit brought by Estee Lauder Companies Inc. The suit alleges that Walmart sold unauthorized replicas of Estee Lauder’s beauty products through its online platform, casting a spotlight on the complexities of trademark law in the digital retail space. More details…
In a recent ruling, a patent-holding entity has been mandated to pay approximately $821,000 in attorney fees and costs to eHarmony and The Meet Group. This financial obligation follows unsuccessful patent infringement lawsuits, which were challenged under the U.S. Supreme Court’s Alice Corp. v. CLS Bank International decision. The Alice test, which determines the patent…
A Colorado sod company is moving to impose sanctions against opposing counsel as part of an ongoing trade secrets litigation. This maneuver is seen by the defendants as an attempt to revisit previous discovery disputes. The case involves allegations that former employees and rival businesses misappropriated trade secrets, prompting the company to seek legal recourse….
In a notable decision, a divided panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit affirmed a lower court’s ruling favoring Amazon, absolving the tech giant from claims of patent infringement against AlterWAN Inc. The case centered around a network patent, the validity and interpretation of which have been hotly contested. The majority…
The Federal Circuit recently affirmed a Pennsylvania federal judge’s ruling, confirming that Globus Medical Inc. did not infringe on the spinal surgery tool patents held by Moskowitz Family LLC. The decision underscored the significance of patent language, specifically how the opening statements, or preambles, can narrow the scope of patent claims. This legal interpretation was…
Altria Group Inc., the parent company of Philip Morris, has signaled its intent to appeal a ruling by a North Carolina federal judge regarding a sublicensing agreement between R.J. Reynolds Vapor Co. and Juul Labs Inc. This decision, as reported by Law360, exempts R.J. Reynolds from paying continued royalties under a 2022 jury verdict. The…
A recent decision by the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) presents significant implications for trademark registrations in the context of law firms, particularly those providing niche legal services. The TTAB ruled against a former associate who attempted to register “Birth Justice” as a trademark for birth-injury legal services. This associate had developed these services…
A recent ruling by the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board has highlighted the complexities surrounding intellectual property rights in the legal sector. A former associate of a personal injury and medical malpractice firm was unsuccessful in her attempt to register the trademark “Birth Justice” for birth-injury legal services. She developed the concept during her tenure…
In a significant decision, the court has denied Jay-Z’s attempt to reinstate extortion and defamation claims against Damon Dash. The rapper, whose legal name is Shawn Carter, had alleged that Dash tried to auction off copyright for an album that Jay-Z created. However, the court determined Carter’s arguments were insufficient to proceed with the claims’…
The Associated Press has appointed a seasoned legal expert as its new general counsel. After spending over 16 years with Dow Jones, the publisher of The Wall Street Journal, this legal professional is set to bring their extensive media experience to one of the most respected news agencies. During their tenure at Dow Jones, they…
The Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) recently filed a lawsuit in the Delaware federal court against a competing organization, alleging misappropriation of proprietary materials. The complaint contends that the rival, which remains unnamed, utilized ACC’s resources to develop and promote an AI tool known as Lloyd. The ACC argues that this misuse was demonstrated when…
The Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) has initiated legal proceedings against The L Suite, alleging that the competitor unlawfully utilized ACC’s copyrighted materials to develop and promote its artificial intelligence chatbot, Lloyd. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, accuses The L Suite of both copyright infringement and trademark…
The Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) has initiated legal proceedings in a Delaware federal court, asserting that its competitor unlawfully harnessed proprietary data to enhance the capabilities of its artificial intelligence tool known as Lloyd. According to the complaint, the rival organization allegedly exploited ACC’s confidential materials to train their AI system, and further aggravated…
In a pivotal decision from the Ninth Circuit, a jury instruction has led to the reversal of a $40 million verdict in a trade secret case, spotlighting the proof burdens faced by plaintiffs in such litigation. The ruling underscores the critical importance of jury instructions and the precise requirements for establishing a trade secret claim….
Orkin LLC, a prominent name in pest control services, has recently confronted a legal challenge stemming from its 2025 acquisition of a central Pennsylvania pest control company. In a development that could set a precedent for merger and acquisition practices, Orkin has taken to a federal court, alleging that several employees who joined the company…
Norton Rose Fulbright has taken strategic steps to strengthen its intellectual property litigation team in Dallas by bringing on a partner from Holland & Knight LLP. The new addition is expected to bolster the firm’s capability in handling complex IP disputes, a sector experiencing heightened demand among clients seeking robust defense strategies. The lateral move…
In a significant development at Huawei’s RICO trial in New York federal court, a former engineer from a U.S. subsidiary of the Chinese telecommunications giant took the stand, sharing her alarm upon discovering that a colleague reportedly bragged about using patented code from Amazon’s cloud computing platform. This case sheds light on allegations of intellectual…
In a pivotal decision, a Washington federal judge has rejected Expedia’s attempt to dismiss a lawsuit that accuses the online travel giant of copyright infringement. The suit, filed by EVOX Productions LLC, centers on allegations that Expedia used hundreds of car images without permission. This legal confrontation highlights significant concerns about intellectual property rights in…
Surge ECN Holdings LLC and ECN Operating LLC have filed a legal complaint against the former owner of a clinical trial research network, claiming a breach of a $100 million acquisition agreement. Central to the allegations are accusations that the ex-owner violated a five-year noncompete clause and other contractual restrictions by diverting customers, recruiting key…
In a recent legal development, a Texas federal magistrate judge recommended that Cellspin Soft Inc.’s patent lawsuit against Fossil Stores I Inc. should not be dismissed. The case revolves around technology enabling the automatic publication of social media content, a legal battle that echoes previous proceedings in California where the allegations were dismissed. The Texas…
In a recent decision, the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) invalidated all challenged claims of a chip patent held by licensing company Daedalus Prime. The ruling marks a significant victory for British semiconductor firm Arm Ltd., who contested the patent’s validity. The proceedings centered on a patent initially associated with former tech giant Intel,…
A recent report by the Association for Accessible Medicines highlights a significant gap in the development of biosimilar drugs, noting that 90% of biologic products losing patent exclusivity by 2034 lack corresponding biosimilar development. This oversight threatens potential cost savings and innovation in the pharmaceutical industry, as it underscores the enduring impact of current patent…