In a recent legal decision, a jury in Marshall, Texas, ruled that claims made under two out of three telecom patents were invalid in a lawsuit filed against Nokia. The patents, originally issued to a now-defunct Israeli tech firm almost twenty years ago, had allegedly been infringed by Nokia, according to the plaintiff, a Texas…
A judgment exceeding $600M against cybersecurity company NortonLifeLock has been labelled “indefensible” by the company and its former law firm, Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP. The ruling, which follows allegations of NortonLifeLock infringing on patents owned by Columbia University, has been partly based on a contempt finding against Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP….
The head of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has recently dictated that the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) reexamine its initial decision of not reviewing a contentious patent. This patent in question pertains to a method intended to hinder deterioration in vehicle radiators. This ruling compels PTAB to reassess its stance on…
In an important development for Paramount Pictures Corp.’s legal framework, the company successfully defended itself against a copyright lawsuit related to the “Top Gun” franchise. The lawsuit, filed by the family of the original “Top Gun” story’s writer, alleged that the sequel, “Top Gun: Maverick,” had infringed upon copyrighted elements of the original film. A…
In a recent turn of events, experienced Intellectual Property (IP) lawyer Dario Pietrantonio has been appointed the Managing Director of IPH Limited’s Canadian member firm. Pietrantonio brings extensive leadership expertise from his time at ROBIC, a Quebec-based firm, where he served various roles over a span of 30 years. His veteran insights and hands-on experience…
In the realm of intellectual property law, Starbucks recently dropped a trademark lawsuit lodged against two websites, according to a filing in a federal court in Washington. The lawsuit alleged that these websites had appropriated Starbucks’ trademarked “twin-tailed siren” logo among other brand materials, using them to market illegitimate franchise deals. As per the coffee…
The cannabis industry, with its patchwork of state laws in the U.S. and emerging global markets, presents unique challenges and opportunities for companies pursuing mergers and acquisitions (M&A). Within the unfolding dynamics of this industry, evaluating intellectual property (IP) risks has become increasingly crucial. A key factor for investors and businesses when acquiring IP is…
On April 1, 2024, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit issued a significant ruling, extending the authority of federal courts in the adjudication of trademark application disputes. This happened during the BBK Tobacco v. Central Coast Agriculture case. The Ninth Circuit’s decision offers the first instance of a federal appeals court explicitly…
A notable legal fight has seen its location shifted as a previous partner at Greenberg Traurig LLP moves the injunction petition against a social media influencer to a Florida state court. The case involves the former lawyer suing the influencer for $150 million over allegations of false accusations of abuse stated in online videos by…
In a recent development concerning Microsoft’s Intellectual Property (IP) dispute, the case has been moved to the federal court. The move occurred just before the pretrial conference, leading legal experts to speculate about the software giant’s motives. Mark Walters of Lowe Graham Jones commented on this, suggesting, “I think [Microsoft is] trying to avoid a…
Global legal practice Hogan Lovells has recently announced its recruitment of a former U.S. Department of Justice trial attorney. The significant hiring comes as businesses are facing escalating regulatory scrutiny and litigation over chemicals identified as PFAS. This attorney joins Hogan Lovells’ ranks after leaving their position at the multinational conglomerate corporation, 3M Co. The…
In a significant legal development this week, the Federal Circuit backed a decision made by the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB), ruling claims of a semiconductor patent held by VLSI to be invalid. This decision was made in response to a challenge presented by Intel, a major player in the technology industry. The patent…
Many lawyers are known for their pessimistic mindset, which can be an effective tool in their advocacy. However, this mindset can also bring serious drawbacks for lawyers’ personal well-being. Legal professionals have a duty to their clients, but also to their own health and happiness, and finding strategies to mitigate the negative effects of pessimism…
Noted attorney Kathy Vanderhook-Gomez has recently transitioned to the renown law firm, Hogan Lovells. She will serve as a partner in the esteemed firm’s global regulatory and intellectual property, media, and technology practice, based in their Washington, D.C. office, as confirmed by the firm. Vanderhook-Gomez’s specialized advice on compliance and civil litigation matters will be…
In a recent development, major shoe brands New Balance and Golden Goose have reached an agreement ending a trademark infringement dispute. This disagreement concerned a popular style of chunky ‘Dad’ sneakers sold by both companies. The resolution of this dispute was confirmed through a court filing. The ‘Dad’ shoe trend, characterized by bulky, comfortable sneakers…
The recent ruling of the U.K. Supreme Court in the case of Lifestyle Equities CV v. Amazon UK Services Ltd has reignite the exploration of the complexities related to trademark rights in the era of digital cross-border commerce. In the verdict issued on March 6th, Lifestyle Equities alleged that Amazon infringed upon its U.K. and…
The US Justice Department’s complaint against Apple Inc. attempts to dismantle the tech company’s defense of its stringent business model by targeting consumer privacy as a potential casualty of its alleged monopolistic behavior. As per the lawsuit, Apple is accused of leveraging its dominant position to control user privacy and security, exploiting these aspects to…
Welcome to yet another insightful session of legal occurrences across the globe. Here, we will dive into some of the transformative moves in the legal landscape, which entails law firms merging, top legal professionals making headlines, and prominent businesses drafting new operations strategies. The Intellectual Property (IP) law field has seen a significant merger of…
On Friday, Apple Inc. appealed to the Federal Circuit asserting that the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) had overreached its authority. This dispute arose following the ITC’s decision to ban the import of the Apple Watch. The reason being, the Apple Watch was found to violate the patents of Masimo Corp., specifically those pertaining to…
On April 5, 2024, Intel moved its bid to gain a ruling asserting their license to VLSI chip patents within a multibillion-dollar dispute to the courts of Texas. This strategic move came as a response after a California judge revealed a dismissal order. This order established that the contract language restricted her from settling the…
The ailing mobile tech firm SITO Mobile recently confronted another legal challenge as the Federal Circuit refused to upend several patent board decisions that were detrimental to its cause. This company, now in bankruptcy, has been embroiled in legal disputes with various streaming giants such as Hulu and fuboTV, pursuing them in court following the…
In a recent legal development, Hytera Communications faced a setback when an Illinois federal judge declined to provide explicit guidance towards how the company should approach a Chinese court in order to revoke the U.S judge’s substantial sanctions. Hytera Communications, involved in an overseas litigation on grounds of contravening the judge’s instructions, was held accountable…
After a near-decade long trademark dispute, healthcare giant Abbott Laboratories has reached a settlement with the producers of ‘gray market’ diabetes test strips, the company confirmed to a New York federal judge last Friday. This battle, which has been ongoing since 2015, involved the company’s allegations towards makers of these diabetes test strips. The specifics…
Debate surrounding the so-called ‘FDA safe harbor’ is brewing once again in the legal circles after U.S. Circuit Judge Alan Lourie put forth compelling arguments prompting the Federal Circuit to reconsider its precedent over this matter. The safe harbor in question is a provision that permits what would otherwise be patent infringement when companies are…
Renowned rapper French Montana is seeking attorney fees against a young musician who filed a lawsuit, claiming that Montana had sampled his song to create the hit track “Ain’t Worried About Nothin’”. Echoing sentiments voiced by many in the industry, Montana’s legal team labeled the lawsuit as “frivolous,” inferring that it was perhaps lodged with…