In a notable expansion of its life sciences capabilities, McDermott Will & Emery has announced the addition of two new partners: Sarah Caggiano and Karen Cadwell from Schulte Roth & Zabel. This strategic move underscores McDermott’s focused commitment to strengthening its presence in the competitive life sciences sector. Sarah Caggiano, an established figure in intellectual…
The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to review a former Cornell University graduate student’s attempt to revive his malpractice lawsuit against Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP. This decision marks the end of a long-standing dispute stemming from a patent litigation case against Illumina Inc., focused on DNA sequencing intellectual property. Details surrounding this…
In a significant decision impacting intellectual property law, the U.S. Supreme Court has declined to hear a petition from a former Cornell University graduate student alleging malpractice by Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP. This decision effectively ends the student’s pursuit of reviving a lawsuit linked to patent litigation with Illumina Inc., which centered…
The U.S. Supreme Court recently decided against reviewing a law professor’s trademark appeal concerning the use of the name “Rapunzel.” This decision effectively upholds a ruling by the Federal Circuit that consumers do not possess the standing to challenge generic trademarks at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. This development raises important questions regarding the…
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP has recently announced a significant addition to its Chicago office with the hiring of David Wellever, a prominent figure in the music industry legal sector. This move underscores Akin’s commitment to bolstering its media and entertainment practice. David Wellever, previously with Loeb & Loeb LLP, will bring extensive…
In the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence (AI), the role of General Counsels (GCs) within corporations has transformed significantly. Once considered primarily strategic advisors, GCs are now pivotal in building alignment across various domains of an organization. This evolution is driven by the myriad of challenges and opportunities presented by AI technologies. As companies…
National law firm Polsinelli PC faces allegations of misconduct involving the issuance of unwarranted patent infringement letters to two medical device companies. These allegations have taken the form of malpractice lawsuits lodged against the firm, according to recent legal filings. The suits contend that Polsinelli’s actions caused significant harm to the companies involved, casting a…
The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) has given Apple the green light to import its redesigned Apple Watch, as it no longer infringes patents held by Masimo Corp. This decision marks the conclusion of a protracted legal battle that began when an import ban was imposed on certain Apple Watch models in 2023 due to…
In a notable decision, the Eleventh Circuit has decided to reinstate a trademark dispute involving a company claiming ownership of several Frida Kahlo trademarks and the heirs of the iconic Mexican artist. This decision follows the appellate court’s conclusion that the lower court incorrectly dismissed the case due to a perceived lack of jurisdiction. The…
In a recent legal battle, Impossible Foods presented a defense in a California federal court against claims made by lifestyle brand Impossible X. The court is considering whether to award over $3 million in attorney fees and potentially enhance a $3.25 million jury verdict, which found that the food company willfully infringed upon the “Impossible”…
The landscape for patent disputes in the United States is shifting significantly, as recent data reflects a decline in petitions under the America Invents Act (AIA) while reexamination requests are on the rise. The trend highlights the impact of policy changes implemented by U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) Director John Squires. In the first…
OpenAI has decided to abandon its appeal in the Ninth Circuit regarding an injunction that prevented the use of the term “Cameo” for a component of its AI video generator, Sora 2. This decision comes amidst a series of legal challenges that highlight ongoing tensions over trademark usage in the rapidly evolving tech industry. The…
In a significant decision, a federal jury in the Western District of Texas has cleared Riot Platforms of allegations of patent infringement. The legal dispute centered around claims made by Green Revolution Cooling Inc., which accused Riot of using patented methods to cool electronics at data centers. After deliberation, the jury found no infringement by…
In a decisive legal victory for Google, a Delaware federal judge ruled that the final claim in a patent infringement suit concerning targeted advertising software is invalid. The determination was made on the basis that the claim in question was deemed abstract and lacked an inventive step. This case marks the culmination of a legal…
In a recent legal battle shaking the local culinary scene, a food truck business in Denver has accused a potential partner of misappropriating trade secrets. According to a lawsuit filed in a Colorado state court, the aggrieved business alleges that under the guise of forming a partnership, its rivals illicitly acquired confidential operational strategies, which…
In a recent development in intellectual property litigation, HyperSphere Technologies Inc., a cybersecurity firm based in Georgia, managed to sidestep allegations of copyright infringement. The lawsuit, brought against HyperSphere by a software developer, claimed unauthorized use of copyrighted code. However, the court dismissed the case, ruling in favor of HyperSphere, allowing the company to continue…
A Denver independent bookstore, Denver Book Society, has filed a lawsuit in Colorado federal court seeking a declaratory judgment that its use of the term “book society” does not infringe upon the trademark rights of a California-based book and wine lounge. The bookstore contends that “book society” is a generic term and cannot be trademarked….
In February 2026, the High Court of Australia made a significant decision that could have broad implications for the technology and gaming sectors worldwide. The court refused to grant special leave to hear an appeal in Commissioner of Patents v. Aristocrat Technologies Australia Proprietary Ltd., centered on patents for electronic gaming machines. This action effectively…
In a recent legal dispute, Los Angeles rapper G Perico has filed a lawsuit in a California federal court against luxury fashion brand Coach. The rapper claims that Coach has infringed on his trademark by using a slogan closely resembling his “this is a blue t-shirt” brand. Perico alleges that Coach’s shirts, emblazoned with the…
In a recent development, the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) has initiated reviews concerning the validity of three patents held by Cellspin Soft Inc. The focus of these evaluations is on patents pivotal to the company’s technology for publishing data on websites. This move comes after Cellspin successfully circumvented previous challenges from TikTok, raising…
In an intriguing clash of trademarks, Deer Feed Co., a Mississippi-based animal feed company, is pushing back against Blockbuster LLC’s attempt to obstruct its application to trademark “Block Buster” for deer feed supplements. The dispute hinges on Blockbuster’s claims that the iconic video rental brand, though largely defunct, could suffer from trademark infringement or dilution,…
In a recent episode of the One54 Africa podcast, Zimbabwe-born comedian Learnmore Mwanyenyeky playfully interpreted the iconic chant featured in Disney’s 1994 film, “The Lion King.” This lighthearted moment, however, has spotlighted the complex legal landscape surrounding podcast content, particularly when it brushes up against big entertainment entities. Disney’s potential legal action could further complicate…
In a contentious legal battle, a Massachusetts-based life sciences startup has accused a former vice president of taking proprietary trade secrets to a new position with a competitor in California. The executive, who departed last fall claiming family health concerns as the reason, stands at the center of allegations that could have significant implications for…
In a recent legal development, national law firm Polsinelli PC faces malpractice accusations for allegedly sending baseless patent infringement demands to two medical device companies. The litigation arises as a consequence of what the companies describe as unsubstantiated allegations, posing significant reputational risks to the firms involved. The legal complaints, filed by the medical firms…
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has decided to extend its Artificial Intelligence Search Automated Pilot Program until June 1, as it continues to evaluate the program’s effectiveness in assisting with patent examinations. Launched last year, this initiative leverages AI technology to streamline the process of searching for prior art, aiming to improve both…