Abiomed, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson MedTech, remains embroiled in a legal confrontation after a Massachusetts federal judge declined to dismiss claims regarding an alleged patent infringement. The case centers on a blood pump technology contested by Atrium Medical Corp., a unit of Getinge AB, a Swedish medical device company. This legal proceeding unfolds…
A former director of a specialty infusion therapy pharmacy is seeking a New Jersey federal court’s rejection of her previous employer’s efforts to bar her from joining a competing firm. The contention centers on allegations that her new role could potentially harm her former employer by leveraging proprietary information. However, she argues that her new…
The appointment of a General Counsel for Qnity, the electrical spinoff from DuPont, signals a significant move in the corporate landscape as the company prepares to establish its autonomy in the burgeoning electric sector. Previously embedded within DuPont, Qnity now embarks on an independent journey with a strategic emphasis on sustainable and innovative electrical solutions….
The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) has commenced an investigation following allegations from Belkin that a competitor is importing and distributing screen protectors that infringe on three of its patents. This move underscores the growing focus on intellectual property rights within the consumer electronics accessories market. Belkin, a prominent player in the accessory sector, claims…
Colgate-Palmolive, a global leader in consumer goods, announced a significant change in its top legal team. The company’s Deputy General Counsel, J. Griffith Parker, is set to take over as Chief Legal Officer (CLO), following the retirement of longtime CLO, Sue Allchurch, after a distinguished career at the company. In this new role, Parker is…
In a pivotal legal dispute, PNC Bank has urged the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold a decision by the Federal Circuit that nullified a series of $233 million patent infringement verdicts initially decided in favor of the United Services Automobile Association (USAA). The crux of the argument centers around the nature of USAA’s patents, which…
Heim Payne & Chorush LLP, a Houston-based intellectual property boutique, has recently appointed a new leader for its trademark litigation and appeals practice. The position will be filled by an attorney who brings decades of legal experience, including a formative stint as an examiner with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. This strategic hire aims…
In a recent legal development, former salesmen of Assurant, a prominent auto warranty underwriter, are contesting the company’s repeated legal actions against them. They have labeled Assurant’s latest attempt at bringing charges related to the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act and trade secrets as a “shotgun pleading” in a filing with a Georgia…
A recent session at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit became a scene of evident frustration as judges engaged with attorneys from Purdue Pharma LP and Accord Healthcare Inc. The legal debate centered around whether a Delaware district court’s decision to invalidate Purdue’s abuse-deterrence patent was adequately specific in its reasoning. Judges…
In a noteworthy legal battle, a federal lawsuit filed in California accuses an erotic content influencer, her entrepreneur boyfriend, and their Miami-based cannabis company of infringing on rapper Lil Baby’s intellectual property rights. The allegations suggest that the defendants have tarnished Lil Baby’s brand by marketing contaminated marijuana products linked to explicit adult content. The…
A Las Vegas performer is seeking legal intervention to prevent Taylor Swift from using the phrase “The Life of a Showgirl” in her merchandise and performances. The performer, who claims to hold a trademark for “Confessions of a Showgirl,” filed a motion in a California federal court to block Swift’s use of the term while…
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is implementing a significant procedural change that could reshape the landscape of patent law by potentially decreasing the number of ex parte reexamination filings. This new procedure allows patent owners to respond directly to reexamination requests, adding a crucial opportunity for defense before any action is taken. Legal…
Starbucks Corp. has decided to withdraw its lawsuit against two Irish entities that it had accused of violating Washington State’s laws concerning “bad faith” patent claims. This legal move came to light with a joint motion filed in a Washington federal court that requested the dismissal of the case. The lawsuit’s termination signifies a strategic…
Samsung Electronics Co. has announced its intention to seek a new trial following a jury’s decision in the Eastern District of Texas that found the company liable for $78.5 million. This verdict stems from allegations that Samsung infringed on patents related to automatic content recognition technology, specifically used for commercial advertising purposes. The tech giant…
In a significant development in the multidistrict litigation accusing OpenAI of copyright infringement, a New York federal judge has granted an extension for the deposition of an OpenAI employee. This decision follows concerns about the witness’s lack of preparation and numerous objections raised by OpenAI’s legal counsel, which impeded the previous deposition process. The litigation…
Military Gear Co., a manufacturer specializing in military protective equipment, recently filed a lawsuit against a former director, alleging the theft of sensitive trade secrets. The company initiated legal action in a Virginia federal court, asserting that the ex-director appropriated valuable proprietary information with plans to exploit it in his new business venture. This case…
Optis Wireless Technologies is seeking a fourth trial against Apple after a jury in a Texas federal court cleared the tech giant of patent infringement allegations in a recent trial. This follows Optis’ effort to secure a favorable judgment or a retrial, as reported by Law360. The case centers on alleged infringement of 4G network…
The impending Supreme Court case Amarin Pharmaceuticals Inc. v. Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc. has captivated the legal community, focusing on a critical aspect of patent law: the interpretation of “skinny labels” in pharmaceuticals. As the oral arguments approach, industry observers and legal professionals are closely examining the divergent strands of intellectual property law that the…
A legal battle unfolding in Manhattan federal court highlights a conflict between a landscape photographer and Shutterstock over the Digital Millennium Copyright Act’s (DMCA) safe harbor provisions. The central question is whether the stock photo company can be held accountable for images uploaded by its users or if these claims are invalid under the DMCA…
The United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit recently upheld a decision from the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB), which dismissed a challenge against a trademark application filed by a vape company. The court affirmed that there was no likelihood of confusion between the disputed mark and an existing one, thereby allowing…
San Antonio Winery has initiated a legal battle in Texas federal court, targeting a Houston-based family-owned beverage company over trademark infringement. The lawsuit claims that the company’s use of “Rosa 32” for its wine products is too similar to San Antonio’s “Rosa 22,” part of their renowned Stella Rosa collection. The winery argues that the…
In a recent decision from the Delaware federal court, the patent litigation involving Kaneka Corp. and a nutritional supplement manufacturer has taken a notable turn. The court ruled that most of the redesigned versions of the contested supplement do not infringe on Kaneka’s patent. However, the situation surrounding the previous versions of the product, which…
In a notable move by the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation, patent infringement suits involving a gun trigger company have been consolidated in the Eastern District of Texas. This decision follows the company’s recent agreement with the Trump administration and aims to streamline proceedings by choosing a venue deemed convenient for both parties and…
The Delaware Supreme Court recently reinstated a $12.8 million patent award in favor of LG Electronics, marking a significant turn in a protracted patent licensing dispute. The court determined that the lower tribunal had overstepped its mandate by reducing the jury’s verdict and ignoring crucial financial enhancements. This decision underscores the judiciary’s role in adjudicating…
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), under the direction of John Squires, has initiated a rehearing to evaluate the Patent Trial and Appeal Board’s (PTAB) prior decision to invalidate a patent concerning animal herd management. This move underscores the continued scrutiny and importance of intellectual property rights in the agricultural sector. The rehearing reflects…