Intellectual Property

After a year of conducting U.S. Supreme Court-mandated director reviews of patent board decisions through an interim process, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) indicated on Monday that it has developed some proposed rules for how it plans to officially conduct those reviews. These proposed rules are a critical step in formalizing the…

A copyright infringement lawsuit lodged against supermodel Bella Hadid has been dismissed by a New York federal judge. The resolution comes four years after the celebrity was accused of republishing a photographer’s image on her Instagram account without permission. The photographer revealed to the court that they had reached a preliminary settlement with Hadid, leading…

In the latest twists of a complex legal battle over intellectual property rights, Boeing implored a federal judge in Virginia to block Virgin Galactic from progressing with a lawsuit in California. The suit, which Boeing labels as a “copycat”, is seen by the aerospace behemoth as Virgin Galactic’s attempt to evade an initial lawsuit concerning…

In a recent development in trademark disputes, the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) ruled in favor of Sage Therapeutics Inc., a biopharmaceutical firm. The company had raised objections against a psychological service provider’s attempt to register “SageForth” as a trademark. The TTAB agreed with Sage Therapeutics, stating that the “SageForth” name has the potential…

In an interesting turn of events, litigation involving Pfizer’s significant COVID-19 vaccine has encountered a setback in a Virginia federal court. On Friday, a judge suggested that proceedings for this suit should be suspended until a verdict concerning a similar patent ownership dispute is resolved. The related case involves one of BioNTech’s various partners. This…

In an escalating legal controversy, a photographer has expanded his copyright infringement lawsuit against the Detroit Lions and the NFL, along with several other defendants. The plaintiff claims that his copyrighted image was misappropriated in the creation of a statue honouring the famed running back Barry Sanders. Now, several new allegations have been introduced to…

On Monday, the Fourth Circuit established that a Virginia federal judge rightfully denied trade dress registration for Timberland’s Icon Boot. In a published opinion, the court stated that there was no error in the lower court’s decision, which concluded that the design elements Timberland sought to register were not eligible. This is due to the…

An Ohio state appeals court recently upheld a nearly $42,000 judgment in favor of Amin Turocy & Watson LLP, a prominent Intellectual Property (IP) firm, in an intriguing billing dispute case with a client named Just Funky. The appeal by Just Funky was dismissed, with the court citing a lack of necessary detail in their…

Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP, the New York-based global law firm, has confirmed that the former head of life sciences practice at Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP, has joined their intellectual property litigation team. This move solidifies Orrick’s commitment to expanding and strengthening its intellectual property services, particularly in the field of life sciences….

In a potentially landmark case, the U.S. Department of Justice recently filed an antitrust complaint against Apple Inc. This 88-page document alleges unlawful monopolization of the smartphone market, according to a recent analysis by Reuben Guttman. The case represents a fascinating intersection of law and art, as it requires an approach similar to pointillism, a…

China’s standing in the global marketplace continues to strengthen, making it an increasingly significant focus for brand owners. Parallel to this increased attention, China’s intellectual property application and enforcement processes have become noticeably more refined. According to attorneys Lee Eulgen, Lee Stark, and Alexandra Maloney from Neal Gerber, proposed changes to China’s Trademark Law aimed…

In a recent development, the U.S. Supreme Court has decided against hearing the appeal of a man involved in a hefty trademark dispute. The individual in question had argued that the Ninth Circuit’s decision to impose $36 million in sanctions against him and several other corporations was misguided. However, it was reported Monday that the…

Trading firm Jane Street Group LLC has filed a lawsuit against rival Millennium Management LLC and two of its former employees in New York’s federal court. Jane Street alleges that they stole a confidential trading strategy, leading to the defendants reaping considerable profits as a consequence of this alleged theft. The two former employees, who…

On Friday, U.S. District Judge Rodney Gilstrap made the decision to largely deny jury instruction requests from Korean tech giant Samsung and G+ Communications. This decision comes before a damages retrial that is due to take place in a Texas federal court and is part of ongoing litigation concerning wireless network patents. Both companies had…

In the latest developments in the pharmaceutical sector, Moderna Inc’s lawsuit alleging COVID-19 vaccine patent infringement by Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech has been momentarily slowed down. Following a decision from a Massachusetts federal judge on Friday, proceedings have been set aside until the Patent Trial and Appeal Board handles a review on two crucial patents…

In a case that has garnered significant attention in legal circles and across the industry, British defense contractor QinetiQ has managed to stave off a legal challenge to its patent for a fracking device. The contention surrounding this patent was recently brought before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, leading to a judgement that was…

In a ruling that could have significant implications for companies that use the ‘American-made’ label, a panel of the Tenth Circuit has determined there is no legal issue with foreign-made components being used in products marketed as such. The decision, made on Friday, supported a construction equipment maker’s triumph in dismissing its competitors’ allegations of…

During a recent symposium on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and evidence in civil litigation at the University of California, Berkeley School of Law, legal experts warned of a potential surge in AI-related lawsuits. This is anticipated as a result of ever-growing usage of this technology and its increasing regulation. As AI becomes more prevalent in corporate…

Over the course of the last year, concerns emerged surrounding the mental competency of U.S. Circuit Judge Pauline Newman of the Federal Circuit, triggering an investigation by her fellow judges. What transpired has marked a notable chapter in her longstanding legal career. A year has lapsed since Judge Newman found herself in the midst of…

The Federal Circuit’s investigation into the physical and mental competency of U.S. Circuit Judge Pauline Newman continues to be a point of contention. More than a year has passed since the public acknowledgment of the investigation, and Newman, who is in her nineties, demonstrates unwavering defiance. Still, she chooses not to comply with the court’s…

In an intriguing turn of events last Friday, the Federal Circuit upheld a decision involving two makers of toddler dining mats. The legal case saw one of the parties engaged in what was deemed “unconscionable” misconduct, which ultimately led to the failure of their patent case against their competitor. This ruling came after a prolonged…

The U.S. Federal Circuit on Friday confirmed the decision by the Patent Trial and Appeal Board holding that a majority of the patent held by Avago Technologies, a unit of Broadcom, is invalid. The patent, which pertains to offering digital media services to users, was challenged by Netflix, arguing it was obvious and not a…