The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) has initiated an investigation concerning Joby Aviation, a prominent player in the evolving electric air taxi industry. This inquiry seeks to determine whether Joby Aviation’s imported materials infringe on the patents held by a rival company, highlighting a critical legal battle in the realm of aviation innovation. Joby Aviation,…
In a legal maneuver illustrating the competitive dynamics of the sports technology industry, Genius Sports Ltd. has requested that a Texas federal court compel Panda Interactive to disclose a settlement agreement reached in a previous patent lawsuit. This request is rooted in Genius Sports’ ongoing effort to obtain discovery materials that may be crucial in…
In a recent development in the firearms industry, FN Herstal, a prominent Belgian gun manufacturer, has initiated legal proceedings against Glock Inc., asserting that the Austrian company’s latest offering, the Glock Gen6 pistols, infringes on their patent. The lawsuit, filed in Georgia federal court, specifically targets Glock’s design feature that allows users to attach optic…
Columbia University has filed a petition with the Federal Circuit, seeking a partial rehearing of a decision that overturned a significant patent judgment against Symantec, the company behind Norton antivirus software. The university contends that it sought damages related to foreign sales, contradicting the appeals court’s assertion that such instructions were not requested during the…
AI-powered cardiac imaging company Heartflow Inc. has filed a legal complaint against a former consultant, alleging patent infringement and misappropriation of trade secrets. The lawsuit targets a competitor founded by the ex-consultant, who Heartflow claims improperly accessed and used proprietary technology during his tenure with the company. According to a report by Law360, this action…
In recent developments, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) has highlighted issues with the Bayh-Dole Act reporting requirements, which are pivotal for universities and businesses holding patent rights on inventions developed with federal funding. The reporting complexities are becoming a bottleneck for compliance, leading to potential inefficiencies in the patent process (Law360). Under the provisions…
On February 26, the U.S. Army initiated a commercial solutions opening (CSO) to spur innovation in counter-drone technology, supporting a new joint interagency task force. This opening represents a specific procurement method where defense contractors are encouraged to propose solutions aligned with specified needs [Law360]. The process offers unique opportunities for defense contractors aiming to…
In a recent legal development, the Federal Circuit has upheld the Patent Trial and Appeal Board’s decision involving Meta Platforms Inc. The ruling confirmed the invalidation of all claims challenged by Meta against a patent held by AlmondNet Inc., a company specializing in advertising technology. The court’s decision, delivered on Monday, signals a continued trend…
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit recently held firm in its decision to reject Cisco Systems Inc.’s effort to reinstate challenges to two patents held by Ramot at Tel Aviv University. These patents, which concern data conversion technology, were under scrutiny as Cisco questioned their validity. However, the Federal Circuit supported the…
Green Roofing Co., a firm specializing in eco-friendly wall and roofing solutions, has filed a lawsuit against a former employee, alleging the unauthorized acquisition and use of proprietary information and client relationships. The company contends that this individual misappropriated confidential trade secrets to initiate a rival business venture while making concerted efforts to obscure these…
On Monday, the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) announced that it will investigate whether imported over-the-counter lidocaine patches sold by five companies infringe upon a U.S. patent. This investigation could potentially lead to exclusion orders preventing these products from entering the U.S. market, a significant move within the realm of international trade and patent law….
United Rentals Inc. is pressing for legal action against a former sales representative in North Carolina, claiming the individual deleted critical computer files on the same day he was served with a lawsuit. The lawsuit accuses him of misappropriating trade secrets upon leaving the company for a competitor. United Rentals suggests that a judge or…
The University of Michigan Law School has established an AI Advisory Council, comprising 24 distinguished alumni and leaders from the legal profession, technology sector, and academia. This initiative underscores the school’s commitment to integrating artificial intelligence into legal education and practice. Building upon existing AI-focused courses and research, the council aims to provide strategic guidance…
Sirius XM recently revealed through its latest regulatory filings that its former Chief Legal Officer, Patrick Donnelly, secured a $6.2 million compensation during his brief tenure of one year. This noteworthy payout included a mixture of base salary, bonuses, stock awards, and various incentives. Donnelly’s lucrative earnings were part and parcel of joining Sirius XM,…
In a significant development within the legal industry, partners at Ashurst and Perkins Coie have voted in favor of a merger, a move that is set to create a global firm with revenues of approximately $2.8 billion and a workforce of around 3,000 lawyers. This decision marks a notable trans-Atlantic expansion, reflecting both firms’ ambitions…
Covington & Burling LLP has made a strategic addition to its Palo Alto office by hiring Nithya Kailasanath as a part of its life sciences team. This move signals the firm’s intent to bolster its capabilities in the highly competitive life sciences sector. Kailasanath, who previously served as an IP litigator, brings extensive experience in…
In a recent gathering of intellectual property judges from around the globe, discussions centered on the dynamics of courtroom interactions across borders, highlighting both collaborative efforts and emerging challenges. This conference saw over a dozen judges delve into how courts can effectively engage with each other internationally, a subject that has grown in complexity alongside…
In a recent legal maneuver, the Trump Organization has entered a trademark dispute in Texas, targeting several companies associated with a Trump-themed burger restaurant. The organization’s legal team asserts these businesses have been using names like “Trump Burger” and “MAGA Burger,” along with imagery associated with Donald Trump, allegedly deceiving customers into believing the businesses…
The Federal Circuit recently upheld a ruling by the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB), affirming the invalidity of claims within a contested video-decoding patent. This decision came after the patent holder argued against the restrictions on presenting written description support during the proceedings. This verdict impacts the domain of intellectual property, reinforcing the standards…
The rise of generative AI tools in the tech industry is reshaping the development of software code, with companies increasingly relying on these tools to boost productivity and innovation. However, this shift is revealing potential vulnerabilities in copyright protection. As organizations depend more on AI to generate code, challenges emerge regarding the exclusivity of intellectual…
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has announced a pilot program that hopes to streamline the patent examination process, addressing long-standing concerns over examination backlogs. The program, revealed on April 10, 2026, introduces a new requirement for certain applicants in the national stage to actively request the examination of their patent applications, a move…
In a significant decision for intellectual property and technology law, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit upheld the Patent Trial and Appeal Board’s (PTAB) ruling, affirming that Microsoft Corporation successfully demonstrated the invalidity of claims from Lemko Corp.’s distributed mobile architecture patent. This comes as an important development in the ongoing interplay…
Oracle Corporation has brought a case to a North Carolina federal court, alleging that a former sales employee, recently laid off, is threatening to expose sensitive business information unless compensated with what the company claims is an “unreasonable and outsized fee.” The employee is accused of attempting to sell Oracle’s trade secrets to the highest…
The Federal Circuit’s evolving view of trade secrets represents a significant shift in the landscape of intellectual property law. Traditionally governed by common law and the Uniform Trade Secrets Act (UTSA), as adopted by individual states, trade secret law saw a change with the introduction of the federal Defend Trade Secrets Act (DTSA) in 2016….
A notable player in the pickleball industry has taken legal action against nine competitors, accusing them of patent infringement linked to the design and technology of pickleball paddles. These lawsuits have been filed across five different federal district courts and follow an action with the U.S. International Trade Commission aimed at halting the importation of…