The acting U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) director recently reaffirmed her decision to prevent an older patent from facing Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) scrutiny, setting a notable precedent in patent law. The decision, pertaining to settled expectations, was confirmed on Tuesday, according to a detailed report on Law360. This decision has captured…
In a compelling legal development, a former examiner at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is seeking the U.S. Supreme Court’s intervention in a case concerning his exclusion from practicing before the agency. The former examiner argues that the justices should address both his suspension and broader federal civil rights protections. This case could…
Teva Pharmaceuticals has reached a settlement in a lawsuit filed by a coalition of union healthcare funds. This legal action, initiated in 2023, accused Teva of delaying the introduction of a generic version of its asthma treatment, QVAR inhalers, according to court filings in Massachusetts federal court. The specifics of the settlement remain confidential, but…
Ballard Spahr is enhancing its intellectual property capabilities by welcoming three lawyers formerly with Dorsey & Whitney LLP to its Salt Lake City office. This move underscores the firm’s strategy to strengthen its presence in the “Silicon Slopes,” an area increasingly recognized for its dynamic tech innovation. The addition reflects a broader trend of law…
A Delaware federal judge has recently imposed sanctions on the president of a company embroiled in a patent litigation case against Mueller Systems. The company, Liquid Measurement Systems Inc., accused Mueller Systems of infringing on its patents related to utility water meter technology. As the litigation unfolded, the court took the unusual step of barring…
U.S. Circuit Judge Pauline Newman, aged 98, is contesting the Federal Circuit’s recent decision to extend her suspension, arguing that her colleagues aim to permanently remove her from the bench. Her attorney, Greg Dolin, conveyed this position to the D.C. Circuit on Monday. The Federal Circuit’s Judicial Council initially suspended Judge Newman in September 2023,…
In a significant turn, U.S. District Judge Alan Albright of the Western District of Texas has canceled a trial slated for the ongoing patent dispute between Fintiv Inc. and Apple Inc. This decision follows the partial clearing of Apple on certain patent infringement claims brought by Fintiv, which had alleged that Apple’s mobile wallet technology…
Seyfarth Shaw LLP has strategically enhanced its intellectual property team by welcoming a seasoned patent attorney from BakerHostetler to its Atlanta office. This move aims to strengthen Seyfarth’s capacity to tackle complex cases in burgeoning fields such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and telecommunication technology. The new addition reflects the firm’s commitment to expanding its…
In a significant legal move, Moderna has requested a Delaware federal judge to dismiss a $5 billion patent lawsuit brought by a competing mRNA developer concerning the company’s COVID-19 vaccines. Moderna asserts that it is shielded from such claims due to its production of the vaccines for the federal government, under the protection of a…
Sue Wang, a partner at Sidley Austin LLP, has established herself as a formidable presence in the field of intellectual property litigation, particularly within the life sciences sector. Her legal acumen has been instrumental in securing significant victories for major pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. Wang’s representation of Amgen Inc. in complex patent disputes underscores her…
The Utah Mammoth, the National Hockey League’s newest franchise, has initiated legal action against a bag manufacturer with a similar name to resolve a trademark dispute. The team contends that the respective trademarks are sufficiently distinct to prevent consumer confusion. After relocating from Arizona in April 2024, the franchise embarked on a comprehensive rebranding process….
Boston-based law firm Nutter McClennen & Fish LLP has expanded its national presence by opening offices in California and Hawaii through strategic combinations with trusts and estates boutiques. This expansion also includes the addition of attorneys in New York, marking the firm’s most significant growth in its 146-year history. In California, Nutter has integrated the…
The first half of 2025 has seen significant legal developments across the federal circuit courts, setting the stage for crucial oral arguments scheduled for August. Among these, a particularly intense battle between Edible Arrangements and 1-800-Flowers is poised to unfold, with substantial attorney fees at stake. This conflict underscores the ongoing competition in the gift…
In a significant development, Acting U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Director Coke Morgan Stewart recently issued decisions on 50 petitions for inter partes review at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. The results largely favored intellectual property owners, with Stewart dismissing most of these petitions. This trend potentially reflects a shift in the USPTO’s approach…
In a significant courtroom outcome, a federal jury in Delaware has cleared HyphaMetrics, a media measurement company, of allegations that it infringed on two patents held by Nielsen. These patents, crucial to Nielsen’s operations, were related to image processing and the identification of media devices. The verdict, delivered on Friday, marks a pivotal point in…
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has implemented new regulations tightening the requirements for patent challengers to specify where all elements of a contested patent are present in prior art. This adjustment seeks to close loopholes that patent challengers at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) previously exploited. With the updated rules,…
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has vacated a preliminary injunction that had previously prohibited a company from marketing its insecticide product, citing issues in claim construction and patent validity assessment undertaken by the lower court. This ruling arises amidst a contentious patent infringement battle in the agricultural sector. On Friday, the…
The Federal Circuit’s decision to reject Groupon’s en banc review request has stirred discussions within intellectual property circles. On Friday, the court decided to uphold a previous panel decision, which permits a patent lawsuit against Groupon to proceed. This decision comes despite the fact that similar claims were invalidated during an inter partes review (IPR)…
In a recent decision that impacts both legal professionals and the tech industry, the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit denied Fintiv Inc.’s request to delay impending litigation against Apple. The trial concerns a patent dispute over technology related to storing virtual credit cards on mobile devices for contactless payments, a critically…
The Delaware Court of Chancery has ruled that Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., a major insurance brokerage and risk management firm, owes $50 million in an earnout dispute related to a merger agreement. The judgment pertains to a contract breached by a Gallagher subsidiary, resulting in an outstanding amount owed to a patent insurance and…
The Federal Circuit recently affirmed several decisions by the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB), invalidating claims from four patents held by Israeli technology company Bright Data. These patents focused on systems designed to enhance network communication speed. This ruling underscores an ongoing trend where numerous patents, particularly in the tech sphere, are being scrutinized…
The ongoing debate over patent eligibility under Section 101 of the U.S. Patent Act remains unresolved as the Supreme Court recently declined to revisit the governing framework. This decision leaves the 2014 ruling in Alice Corp. v. CLS Bank International as the guiding precedent, a ruling that has significantly shaped the landscape of patent law…
In a significant decision, the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) has invalidated a patent held by an automotive technology supplier, which centered on the use of USB interfaces in vehicles. This ruling followed arguments presented by Microchip Technologies, asserting that the patent claim was obvious and lacked the innovation needed for patent protection, according…
In a recent development, a federal judge in Texas rejected an attempt by American Airlines to pause two claims in a patent infringement lawsuit concerning its in-flight Wi-Fi technology. The dispute revolves around American Airlines’ alleged unauthorized use of hardware facilitating internet connectivity during flights. The judge’s decision, reported by Law360, arose from the airline’s…
The Federal Circuit’s August docket features several significant cases that could influence patent law and corporate litigation. Among these, three stand out for their potential impact on industry practices and legal precedents. Brita’s Appeal in Water Filter Patent Dispute Brita is seeking to overturn a decision by the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) that dismissed…