Intellectual Property

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) scored a recent victory, with the Federal Circuit determining that Sumitomo Pharma’s appeal concerning a decision that invalidated all claims of its patent is now moot. The patent, pertaining to a dosage regimen for a schizophrenia drug, expired just prior to the appeals court hearing oral arguments. Sumitomo…

International law firm Nixon Peabody LLP has made a strategic addition to its intellectual property team based in Chicago. The firm has recently welcomed two patent attorneys, thereby augmenting its existing IP expertise. A significant addition includes a new partner who previously served at the renowned lighting company, DVA Holdings LLC. As patent attorneys, these…

U.S. Circuit Judge Pauline Newman has sought support from a federal judge in Washington D.C. as she continues to challenge the constitutionality of the law responsible for her current suspension. She has called for her case to be taken seriously, dismissing her colleague’s assertions that it doesn’t hold up under legal scrutiny. This legal tug-of-war…

In an important legal development, a Texas appeals court has breathed new life into a lawsuit brought by an IT consulting form against a former employee. The appellate court ruled that the IT consulting firm presented sufficient evidence to proceed with the case. Significantly, the court found that the lower court had abused its discretion…

In a significant trademark dispute, California’s esteemed Coachella music festival has recently won a preliminary injunction in a D.C. federal court. The court ruling prevents event organizers based in Washington, D.C., from incorporating the ‘Moechella’ mark in their music and cultural events. This marks a notable success for Coachella in protecting its internationally recognised brand….

Carl Sagan Co., the entity managing the works of renowned scientist and astronomer Carl Sagan, has affirmed its ownership of the rights to Sagan’s name and likeness. The company has asserted this claim in a lawsuit against a software enterprise accused of utilizing Sagan’s name without appropriate authorization. In their statement to a federal judge…

In a recent development at the intersection of law and aerospace, Virgin Galactic has filed a breach-of-contract suit against Boeing. The legal action taking place in a California federal court, accuses Boeing of failing to deliver a $45 million ‘mothership’ carrier aircraft, citing the alleged “shoddy and incomplete” work. Adding a twist to the tale,…

In a recent development, BJ’s Wholesale Club, a retail giant, was unsuccessful in convincing judges from an administrative patent board to invalidate any claims from a duo of patents associated with a self-checkout application. This application is currently at the heart of a legal battle launched by Walmart’s Sam’s Club brand against BJ’s in a…

In the world of business, maintaining brand identity and preventing unlawful imitation is crucial. This was recently embodied in the case of Sprint Communications Inc. The company has upheld a $4.5 million jury award for the unlawful use of its product name and a distinctive sound in walkie-talkie devices. This was decided according to a…

In a significant legal decision, the Federal Circuit recently reaffirmed the extensive rights of product owners pertaining to modifications and repairs of their property. Cited under the case name Karl Storz v. IMS, the ruling underscores the boundaries of these rights within the scope of patent infringement. As product manufacturers commonly utilize post-sale repair and…

This week, Florida State University found itself in the eye of the storm due to an ongoing ACC lawsuit. The lawsuit, if ruled in favor of ACC, could impose a nine-figure penalty on the University, should it opt to leave the conference. Such a ruling would indeed put significant pressure on the renowned educational institution….

Intellectual property firm, Bekiares Eliezer LLP, based in Georgia, has recently pursued legal action against a Florida attorney. The firm has alleged that the attorney has marketed his services using a name strikingly similar to their own “Founders Legal” brand. This case highlights the difficulties faced by law firms in protecting their brand identities in…

A Chinese insurer has been awarded nearly $15 million in damages by a California federal judge. The award followed allegations of a man conspiring to fraudulently claim ownership of several luxury properties, including New York City’s JW Marriott Essex House Hotel. The accused failed to present himself in court. Details of the case are evolving…

This past week in London was filled with noteworthy legal action. Notably, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is being sued by David Kezerashvili, a former Georgian defense minister. This case, along with a defamation claim filed by Russian businessman Ildar Sharipov against the Liverpool Echo’s publisher, has brought significant attention from the international legal community….

Charter Communications Inc. is presently contesting the attempts of the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) to convince a Texas federal court to open sealed filings in a patent dispute against Charter related to data transmission. This issue emerged from a settlement reached in late 2023. The EFF, a prominent digital rights non-profit, has been focusing its…

On Tuesday, luxury fashion brand Coach Inc. launched a legal case against global apparel giant The Gap Inc. for purported trademark infringement. The case, filed in a California federal court, accuses Gap of illegitimate advertising and sale of a collection of Old Navy T-shirts bearing the term “Coach.” Coach Inc. regards this as an attempt…

In a recent legal development, Hytera Communications continues to face a daily $1 million fine and other sanctions for defying an anti-suit injunction imposed by an Illinois federal judge. The penalty was sustained as the court ordered Hytera to file a fourth, more ‘meaningful’ request in China in order to suspend a lawsuit the company…

The Ninth Circuit on Thursday disregarded an attempt to invigorate allegations made by a shortseller against Tesla Inc. CEO, Elon Musk. The claimant had accused Musk of leveraging social networks to synthetically drive up Tesla’s share prices. Despite the plaintiff’s assertions, the Ninth Circuit ruled that the litigant wasn’t unjustly influenced by a district judge’s…

The Federal Circuit has called on New York Attorney General Letitia James to provide input on a patent dispute over a multiple sclerosis (MS) drug. The appeal to James arises out of a challenge undertaken by Acorda Therapeutics. The company’s opposition to an existing arbitral award appears to raise questions regarding the constitutionality of New…

Athletes pursuing a legal case against the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) over restrictions on the use of their names, images and likenesses (NIL), are now seeking a summary judgment. The athletes argue that these restrictions stifle competition without providing any legitimate justification. Notably, the athletes’ legal team points out that the NCAA’s own actions…

In an interesting turn of events, a Texas federal judge has recently stayed all deadlines in a suit filed by Fall Line Patents LLC. The company had previously accused popular brands – Arby’s Restaurant Group Inc., Sonic Franchising LLC and Dunkin Brands Inc. – of infringing its mystery shopper patent via their respective mobile applications….

Members of the iconic ’70s rock band KISS have announced the sale of their intellectual property to a private equity firm owned by the guitarist of another legendary band, ABBA. This move comes less than a year following their last performance. The new owners have already declared a host of ambitious initiatives surrounding the band’s…