The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has initiated legal proceedings against the “Mormon Stories” podcast, alleging trademark and copyright infringement. The lawsuit contends that the podcast’s use of the term “Mormon,” along with certain design elements, may lead audiences to mistakenly believe it is affiliated with or endorsed by the Church. In November…
The confection giant behind the beloved Peeps marshmallows has initiated litigation against two companies alleged to be producing marshmallows that closely mimic its signature “bunny design.” The suit, filed by Just Born Quality Confections, asserts that these companies are infringing upon its trademarked design in a way that could mislead consumers and dilute the brand’s…
In a legal battle reminiscent of an action movie itself, a California federal judge has ruled that two restored Ford Mustang Shelby models dubbed “Eleanor,” featured in the 2000 film “Gone in 60 Seconds,” do not infringe on the intellectual property rights of the film franchise’s owner. The decision, handed down amidst a lengthy dispute…
Google has petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court regarding a controversial policy by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) that relies on the age of patents when denying requests for review. This move by Google challenges what it describes as an “unprecedented and unsupported action” that oversteps the USPTO’s authority. The high stakes of this…
Virginia-based online education provider Stride Inc. has petitioned a Florida federal court to require a nearly $5.8 million reimbursement in legal fees and costs, following a contentious trademark infringement lawsuit it deems “frivolous.” Stride contends that the litigation, initiated by a Florida education subagency, was brought in bad faith, underscoring ongoing tensions in the realm…
In a recent legal development, a federal judge in California dismissed one of the seven counts in Getty Images’ lawsuit against Stability AI, focusing on allegations surrounding artificial intelligence-generated images. Despite the partial dismissal, the majority of Getty’s claims are set to proceed. These include accusations that Stability AI’s image generator unlawfully integrates portions of…
In the latest series of decisions, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Director John Squires has issued a bulk order granting five inter partes reviews (IPRs) under the America Invents Act, while denying four others. The decisions were rendered with minimal commentary, a strategy that has become increasingly common in recent practice. This approach is part…
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is experiencing a significant transition as its acting leader, Drew Hirshfeld, prepares to depart. His role in steering the agency’s patent division has been pivotal, and his imminent retirement marks an important shift. Hirshfeld, who stepped in as the acting commissioner, will be succeeded by a deputy commissioner…
A recent hearing in a Massachusetts federal court has unveiled surprising details in the ongoing trademark dispute between Birkenstock and White Mountain. The crux of the legal dilemma centers on Birkenstock’s delay in filing a trademark infringement claim, which has allegedly put its iconic brand at risk. The judge presiding over the case expressed skepticism…
In a significant ruling, a California federal judge recently restrained OpenAI from employing “IO” as a trademark for its artificial intelligence hardware products. This decision came amid a legal challenge from IYO Inc., a smaller startup, which argued that the similarity between the two brand names was likely to cause confusion among consumers. The court’s…
The Supreme Court recently held oral arguments in the case of Blanche v. Lau, a matter examining the scope of immigration officers’ discretion in classifying lawful permanent residents who have been accused, but not convicted, of crimes that may lead to deportation. The case focuses on Muk Choi Lau, a Chinese national who became a…
Norton Rose Fulbright is currently embroiled in legal proceedings after being hit with a $100 million lawsuit stemming from an alleged mishandling of a patent application. The claim was initiated by a technology company, which accuses the global law firm of negligence leading to the denial of a vital patent by the U.S. Patent and…
In a significant legal development, a federal judge dismissed the claims made by the proprietors of a trademarked blackjack game against Penn Entertainment Inc. and one of its Colorado casinos. The lawsuit involved allegations that the casino continued to use the blackjack game illegally after its licensing agreement had expired. The judge determined that the…
In a recent announcement that could significantly impact the framework of the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB), U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Director John Squires hinted at a forthcoming “comprehensive decision” regarding the discretionary factors used in reviewing PTAB challenges. The Director emphasized the importance of achieving “predictability” in PTAB proceedings to ensure clarity…
Monster Beverage Corporation has initiated a legal battle against companies importing foreign versions of its energy drinks into the United States. This move was revealed in a filing with the International Trade Commission (ITC), where Monster claims these imports are infringing on its trademarks. The energy drinks in question are labeled for overseas markets, yet…
The Onion is taking another step towards ownership of the Infowars trademark and domain, expanding its reach into the realm of satirical takes on popular conspiracy theories. According to recent reports, the receiver appointed by the state court for Infowars, a venture led by conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, has reached a licensing agreement with The…
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is currently facing calls to allow inventors to incorporate patent valuation during the patent prosecution process. This development has the potential to reshape the way intellectual property is assessed, understood, and leveraged in the commercial sphere. The proposal suggests that inventors should have the opportunity to demonstrate…
The U.S. Supreme Court recently decided against reviewing a law professor’s trademark appeal concerning the use of the name “Rapunzel.” This decision effectively upholds a ruling by the Federal Circuit that consumers do not possess the standing to challenge generic trademarks at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. This development raises important questions regarding the…
In a recent legal battle, Impossible Foods presented a defense in a California federal court against claims made by lifestyle brand Impossible X. The court is considering whether to award over $3 million in attorney fees and potentially enhance a $3.25 million jury verdict, which found that the food company willfully infringed upon the “Impossible”…
The landscape for patent disputes in the United States is shifting significantly, as recent data reflects a decline in petitions under the America Invents Act (AIA) while reexamination requests are on the rise. The trend highlights the impact of policy changes implemented by U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) Director John Squires. In the first…
OpenAI has decided to abandon its appeal in the Ninth Circuit regarding an injunction that prevented the use of the term “Cameo” for a component of its AI video generator, Sora 2. This decision comes amidst a series of legal challenges that highlight ongoing tensions over trademark usage in the rapidly evolving tech industry. The…
A Denver independent bookstore, Denver Book Society, has filed a lawsuit in Colorado federal court seeking a declaratory judgment that its use of the term “book society” does not infringe upon the trademark rights of a California-based book and wine lounge. The bookstore contends that “book society” is a generic term and cannot be trademarked….
In a recent legal dispute, Los Angeles rapper G Perico has filed a lawsuit in a California federal court against luxury fashion brand Coach. The rapper claims that Coach has infringed on his trademark by using a slogan closely resembling his “this is a blue t-shirt” brand. Perico alleges that Coach’s shirts, emblazoned with the…
In an intriguing clash of trademarks, Deer Feed Co., a Mississippi-based animal feed company, is pushing back against Blockbuster LLC’s attempt to obstruct its application to trademark “Block Buster” for deer feed supplements. The dispute hinges on Blockbuster’s claims that the iconic video rental brand, though largely defunct, could suffer from trademark infringement or dilution,…
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has decided to extend its Artificial Intelligence Search Automated Pilot Program until June 1, as it continues to evaluate the program’s effectiveness in assisting with patent examinations. Launched last year, this initiative leverages AI technology to streamline the process of searching for prior art, aiming to improve both…