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…
The legal landscape in London has been particularly dynamic this past week, with several high-profile cases making headlines. A prominent legal battle involves Aston Martin’s appeal in an ongoing dispute with Chinese carmaker Geely. The conflict revolves around the use of a winged logo, which Geely is employing for its fleet of London black cabs….
On Wednesday, the U.S. Supreme Court will delve into an important and complex issue regarding the rights of lawful permanent residents accused of criminal activity in the case Blanche v. Lau. This hearing will address the crucial question of how immigration law should balance procedural rigor against operational practicality when it comes to potential deportation….
The dynamic landscape of patent validity challenges is witnessing a notable shift, as stakeholders increasingly consider ex parte reexaminations. For many years, inter partes review (IPR) has dominated this arena, preferred for its adversarial nature and the opportunity it offers challengers to participate actively in the process. Nevertheless, ex parte reexaminations are beginning to gain…
A California federal jury has ruled that Hyundai Technology, a small U.S. computer company, must pay $2.5 million to Korean automaker Hyundai Motor Co. This decision comes after allegations that Hyundai Technology improperly leveraged the automotive giant’s trademark, creating consumer confusion by “piggybacking” on Hyundai’s established brand identity. The case highlights the ongoing challenges companies…
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has announced the termination of its COVID-19 Prioritized Examination Pilot Program, originally established to expedite the patent approval process for innovations aimed at combating the pandemic. Launched five years ago, this initiative focused on fast-tracking ex parte appeals of rejections on patent applications. Its conclusion marks a significant…
In a strategic move to bolster its global intellectual property (IP) management capabilities, Alt Legal, the cloud-based trademark docketing and management platform, has completed its acquisition of WebTMS, a UK-based IP portfolio management software provider. This acquisition marks Alt Legal’s sixth, expanding its reach beyond the United States and cementing a physical presence in the…
In a recent development in the bankruptcy proceedings of the company behind Bang Energy drinks, a liquidating trust has petitioned a Florida federal bankruptcy judge to find the former CEO liable for breaching his fiduciary duty. The trust alleges that the executive’s actions, particularly his violation of a trademark settlement that resulted in a multimillion-dollar…
In a closely watched case, an Illinois federal judge has given final approval to a $7.1 million settlement between Grubhub and more than 7,000 restaurants. These establishments alleged that the food delivery service unlawfully used their trademarks to compete against rivals such as DoorDash and Uber Eats. Details of the settlement were confirmed on April…
The Federal Circuit has upheld a decision rejecting multiple claims from a patent application concerning a golf club head by Cobra Golf. The court’s decision supports findings by federal patent officials who deemed several claims in the application to be obvious. This case highlights ongoing challenges in patent law, particularly regarding the assessment of obviousness,…
In an intriguing development at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Director John Squires has made a decisive move by rejecting 10 petitions for patent reviews under the America Invents Act. However, two petitions, including a notable challenge from Google against a patent owned by Headwater Research LLC, have been approved. This decision adds another…
Progyny Inc., a prominent player in fertility benefits management, faces a new legal challenge in Pennsylvania. ProgenyHealth LLC has filed a trademark lawsuit, arguing that Progyny’s expansion into pregnancy and postpartum care under its existing trademark could cause confusion in the marketplace. The dispute hinges on the phonetic and visual similarities between the “Progyny” and…