Amidst the backdrop of ongoing disputes over the perceived politicization of legal actions, senior officials from the Justice Department and the FBI are making preparations for potential legal challenges. According to reports, these preparations involve engaging with legal counsel in anticipation of possible investigations by the incoming administration. This development follows claims by President-elect Donald…
Kathi Vidal, who currently serves as the director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), is poised to return to her prior role at the law firm Winston & Strawn LLP. This announcement was made on Monday, as reported by Law360. Vidal’s decision to rejoin the firm where she previously practiced highlights a…
A Texas federal court has granted Staton Techiya LLC a 30-day period to secure new legal representation in its ongoing patent dispute against Samsung Electronics Co. This order follows a motion from the current law firm, King & Spalding LLP, to withdraw from the case, citing unpaid legal fees by Techiya as the primary reason…
Kathi Vidal, former director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), is set to rejoin Winston & Strawn LLP, where she previously served as a partner. Vidal announced her departure from the USPTO ahead of an anticipated change in administration. Her return will see her working within the firm’s litigation department, splitting her…
Kathi Vidal is set to return to Winston & Strawn LLP as a partner, a move that follows her resignation as Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Vidal will officially step into her new role on December 16, joining the firm’s litigation department in both its Silicon Valley and Washington, D.C. offices….
The complex world of trademark law continues to face a new wave of challenges as impersonation scams persist, even during times of increased scrutiny. This alarming trend has brought unwanted attention to individuals who find themselves unwittingly involved in fraudulent activities. Ana Vinueza, a senior attorney at Illumina, was one such victim, encountering a perplexing…
Brown Rudnick has expanded its footprint in the competitive intellectual property landscape by welcoming three new partners to its international litigation practice in Houston. The new additions, Erick Robinson, Jayme Partridge, and Jayne Piana, bring a wealth of experience in patent and intellectual property litigation to the firm. According to the firm, Erick Robinson is…
In a statement released on her LinkedIn page, Kathi Vidal announced her resignation as the Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), effective this December. Vidal, who previously served as a partner at law firm Winston & Strawn in Silicon Valley, has been at the helm of the USPTO since April 2022….
Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton has announced the election of 10 new partners to begin their roles on January 1, 2025. These new partners will be primarily based in Atlanta and Seattle, reflecting the firm’s emphasis on key geographical areas. Of particular note, the new group of partners predominantly comprises women, with just one male among…
OpenAI Inc. has successfully maintained its hold on the “Open AI” trademark, as the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals supported a preliminary injunction that prevents technologist Guy Ravine from using the mark amid an ongoing dispute. The decision is rooted in the court’s assessment that OpenAI is likely to demonstrate its first use of the…
Laila Paszti has been appointed as a principal in Polsinelli’s technology transactions and data privacy practice, marking a strategic expansion of the firm’s capabilities in San Francisco. This appointment was announced on Tuesday, underscoring Polsinelli’s continued commitment to bolstering its expertise in areas critical to today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape. Read more from Polsinelli’s announcement….
The challenge of securing patents for artificial intelligence (AI) inventions under 35 USC § 101 often lies in overcoming rejections based on the claims being classified as “abstract ideas.” Recent developments suggest various strategies that can be employed to enhance the chances of patent approval, especially after the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) released…
The legal landscape of patent litigation continues to present compelling incentives for attorneys considering this specialized field. While patent law has always held a distinct position within the broader spectrum of intellectual property, the demands and opportunities within patent litigation offer unique attractions for legal professionals. Firstly, patent litigation maintains an inherent complexity and variety…
Renowned patent and trademark litigator, Geoff Mowatt, has joined Blake, Cassels & Graydon as a partner and co-leader of the firm’s Intellectual Property (IP) litigation group in Toronto. After spending many years at DLA Piper, Mowatt brings extensive expertise in patent and trademark litigation, particularly within the life sciences sector. His role at Blakes will…
In a significant decision for intellectual property law, the Federal Circuit has upheld a ruling from a New York federal judge declaring a patent by Realtime Tracker Inc. invalid. The patent, which pertained to the tracking of billable hours, was deemed an abstract idea and therefore not patentable. This decision represents a considerable win for…
In a decisive legal development, the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has upheld a district court’s ruling, effectively nullifying a patent held by Realtime Tracker Inc. This patent, associated with tracking billable hours, was deemed too abstract to merit patent eligibility, as determined by a New York district judge. Just days…
Attorneys from Dell and Lattice Semiconductor recently highlighted the importance of caution when dealing with artificial intelligence (AI) in legal contexts. During their presentations, a Dell in-house attorney recounted discovering errors in his daughter’s math homework introduced by AI. Meanwhile, a Lattice Semiconductor attorney was intrigued by the surprising accuracy of a translation offered by…
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit is currently deliberating on a matter concerning the potential patentability of a technological innovation related to the legal industry’s perennial challenge: tracking billable hours. The legal question arises from a dispute involving LexisNexis, which has developed a program to assist attorneys in managing their billable hours….
In a recent announcement, McDermott Will & Emery revealed that Michael Sitzman has joined the firm’s intellectual property practice as a partner in their San Francisco office. Sitzman is expected to play a significant role in augmenting McDermott’s robust capabilities within the biotechnology and pharmaceutical sectors, focusing on high-stakes biologic and drug patent litigation. This…
The United States has historically relied on research and development (R&D) tax credits to sustain its competitive edge in innovation. For decades, Section 174 of the tax code allowed companies to expense qualified R&D spending in the year the costs were incurred. However, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) of 2017 altered this landscape…
Nixon Peabody has expanded its fintech and financial services intellectual property team with the addition of James Cooke as a partner in Washington, D.C. The law firm officially announced this strategic hire on Monday, emphasizing Cooke’s extensive expertise in managing patent portfolios for financial institutions. Cooke’s practice will center on safeguarding innovations in areas such…
In a significant move for its intellectual property department, Pierson Ferdinand has announced the recruitment of Daniel Rose as a partner at its Boston office. Rose brings a wealth of expertise in sectors such as media processing and delivery, telecommunications, and cybersecurity. Additionally, his proficiency in cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence, machine learning, and blockchain…
A Minnesota federal judge has recused himself from an ongoing patent litigation between Teleflex and Medtronic after handling the case since 2019. The judge expressed his inability to proceed further following the Federal Circuit’s decision to overturn his interpretation of terms within Teleflex’s catheter patents. The judge’s decision to step down marks a significant procedural…
This past week, London’s legal landscape has been marked by a series of notable developments. The Competition and Markets Authority has initiated action against a mattress retailer accused of misleading customers with deceptive discount practices. Meanwhile, technology giants Lenovo and Motorola have launched a patent infringement claim against ZTE Corporation. In the banking sector, Lloyds…
In a reflection on the unexpected synergy between beekeeping and legal practice, David Longo of Oblon McClelland describes how tending to honeybees has provided invaluable insights into his work as a patent lawyer. He asserts that the meticulous care required in beekeeping emphasizes the importance of hands-on experience and perpetual learning, qualities equally vital in…