Last week’s Law360 buzz centered around several legal heavyweights and hot topics resonating within the legal industry. Renowned firms like Kirkland & Ellis and Latham & Watkins were notably active, drawing attention for their participation in high-stakes corporate deals and major litigation battles. Law360’s coverage highlighted these firms’ strategic maneuvers, which reflect broader industry trends…
U.S. Magistrate Judge Shashi Kewalramani, who recently retired, cautioned patent attorneys on the crucial matter of filing sanctions motions with prudence. Speaking at a legal forum on Friday, Judge Kewalramani likened the action to shouting “fire” in a crowded theater, emphasizing the potential consequences of misusing such legal strategies. This metaphor highlights the severe ramifications…
Retired U.S. Magistrate Judge Shashi Kewalramani issued a stern warning to patent attorneys last Friday, emphasizing the importance of approaching sanctions motions with utmost caution. Comparing frivolous filings to shouting “fire” in a crowded room, Kewalramani highlighted the potential consequences of misusing the legal system. Speaking during a panel discussion, Judge Kewalramani urged legal professionals…
This week, Netlist initiated legal action against Kingston Technology Corp. and others by filing complaints with the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) and in a California federal court. The allegations center around purported infringements of Netlist’s flash memory patents, which are pivotal to their technology portfolio. This move underscores Netlist’s ongoing strategy to fiercely protect…
A recent verdict from a Delaware federal jury has cleared Reed Semiconductor of accusations regarding patent infringement involving Monolithic Power Systems Inc. The case focused on two patents concerning advanced semiconductor technology. Despite the jury’s decision in favor of Reed, they did not invalidate the contested claims associated with the patents. This nuanced outcome underscores…
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and Moderna have reached a significant resolution in their legal skirmish over COVID-19 vaccine patents. The companies announced on Friday that they have dismissed two patent lawsuits in Delaware federal court concerning Moderna’s COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus vaccines. This dismissal follows a broader settlement that allows both companies to license patents to…
An intellectual property attorney has reached a settlement to conclude a False Claims Act lawsuit involving the pharmaceutical company Bausch. The suit accused Bausch of fraudulently obtaining a patent to block the production of a generic form of Apriso, a medication used to treat ulcerative colitis. The case highlights the complexities surrounding patent law and…
In a strategic move that underscores the competitive nature of the legal industry, David Nee, formerly of Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, has joined Kirkland & Ellis LLP, bringing along a significant group of 40 lawyers. This transition highlights Kirkland & Ellis’ continued efforts to bolster its intellectual property practice. Details of the move reveal…
In recent years, the legal landscape has witnessed a growing reliance on litigation funding, particularly by cash-strapped firms seeking to manage the significant costs associated with legal disputes. These firms are increasingly turning to third-party funders to finance litigation, a trend that some argue is reshaping the balance of financial power in the courtroom. Litigation…
As the Western District of Texas continues to evolve its approach to intellectual property litigation, U.S. District Judges Andrew Davis and Christopher Wolfe are beginning to shape their dockets with fresh perspectives on patent law. Recently appointed, both judges are keen to transparently communicate their methodologies to attorneys, as was evident from their engagement in…
Recent insights from former U.S. District Judge Alan Albright have shed light on effective approaches to patent trials. Speaking at the University of Texas School of Law, Judge Albright, who recently returned to private practice, shared his experiences from his tenure on the bench. His guidance focused on both strategic approaches and common pitfalls in…
A federal judge in New York decided that while Kartri Sales Co. did infringe patents related to hookless shower curtains, the infringement wasn’t willful. The judgment follows more than a year after the Federal Circuit overturned a $4 million verdict previously issued against them. This decision also cleared the curtain manufacturer of any infringement claims….
In a recent talk at the University of Texas School of Law, former U.S. District Judge Alan Albright offered insights from his tenure on the bench, sharing practical guidance for attorneys navigating patent trials. Having returned to private practice, Albright drew on his extensive experience presiding over patent cases in the Western District of Texas…
The ongoing legal battle between Moderna and Arbutus Biopharma took a significant turn as the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit examined a ruling that held Moderna accountable for patent infringement claims related to its COVID-19 vaccines. Central to the discussions on Thursday was whether Moderna’s activities should be deemed as being conducted…
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) faces setbacks in its mission to clear a significant backlog of patent applications due to increasing attrition among its examiners, as highlighted in a recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) report. The challenge is exacerbated by new production goals that have reportedly strained the workforce, potentially undermining efforts to…
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has reaffirmed the rulings of the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) that Google LLC did not successfully invalidate claims in three virtual reality patents they were alleged to have infringed. This decision comes as part of an ongoing dispute involving technology used in Google’s VR…
Analytical advancements in the field of biologics are increasingly redefining patent strategies for pharmaceutical companies. The recent notice published by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) highlights the shift towards utilizing analytical data over clinical data to ascertain product differences in biosimilars. This shift suggests that analytical tools are becoming central to the differentiation…
In a significant development within antitrust litigation, the Second Circuit has been cautioned against extending the boundaries of who can file antitrust lawsuits concerning fraudulently obtained patents. The case brings into focus the struggle between Bristol-Myers Squibb and its Celgene subsidiary and a coalition of health plans seeking to reinstate a class action against these…
Cisco Systems has presented a compelling argument to the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold a lower court’s decision that favored the tech giant in its ongoing legal battle with Centripetal Networks LLC concerning a $2.6 billion patent infringement claim. The case hinges on alleged patent violations by Cisco and questions whether Centripetal was given adequate…
Taction Technology Inc. has made a bold assertion against Apple Inc., arguing that the company should not be relieved from a substantial $5.7 billion jury award related to a haptic vibration technology patent dispute. The issue arose following Apple’s attempt to convince the court to nullify the damages awarded by the jury. Taction characterized Apple’s…
In a recent development, the full U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit decided not to revisit a previous ruling that dismissed an inventor’s efforts to revive her patents related to computer-locating technology. These patents were previously invalidated by the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) following challenges by tech giants Google and Microsoft….
In a significant development in the world of tech litigation, Apple Inc. is being sued by GG Technologies, a Southern California startup, over its NameDrop feature. The lawsuit, filed in a Texas federal court, alleges that Apple’s feature, which facilitates the sharing of contact information between iPhone and Apple Watch users through close proximity, infringes…
On October 1, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit provided clarity on the interplay between the indefiniteness and enablement requirements in relation to patent claims considered impossible to fulfill. This decision arose from the case that scrutinized an allegedly impossible claim limitation, further defining how courts interpret patent validity under these complex…
NFL football helmet supplier Riddell Inc. recently emerged victorious in a patent infringement lawsuit concerning its head protection equipment. The case, heard in an Illinois federal court, revolved around allegations that two lines of Riddell’s helmets violated a patent related to technology designed to dissipate energy upon impact. The resolution came swiftly as both parties…
In a recent session, the Federal Circuit expressed skepticism about a lower court’s handling of a patent dispute involving the pharmaceutical company Fresenius Kabi USA and Heron Therapeutics. The case centers on two patents related to a nausea drug, with Fresenius Kabi challenging the validity of these patents. However, the appellate judges were not entirely…