Intellectual Property

  • August 05, 2025

    USPTO Urges Fed. Circ. To End Motorola's Fintiv Appeal

    The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office stood by its acting leader's decision to shut down Motorola's challenge to various Stellar patents at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, saying all of Motorola's appellate arguments at the Federal Circuit should be rejected.

  • August 05, 2025

    Fed. Circ. Presses Brita On Bid To Revive Water Filter Patent

    A Federal Circuit panel Tuesday questioned Brita LP's effort to reverse a U.S. International Trade Commission decision that a water filter patent is invalid, suggesting the patent describes little more than an unpredictable scientific formula.

  • August 05, 2025

    Ex-USPTO Heads, Judges Oppose Anti-Patent Thicket Bill

    A pro-innovation group composed of former U.S. Patent and Trademark Office officials and former Federal Circuit judges on Tuesday asked Congress to oppose a bill introduced last month that would limit so-called patent thickets used by pharmaceutical companies to restrict the production of generic counterparts to their drugs.

  • August 05, 2025

    Fed. Circ. Panel Feeling Deja Vu In Hoverboard IP Case

    A Federal Circuit panel had little support for the owner of hoverboard design patents Tuesday, as the judges said much of its noninfringement appeal relies on concerns addressed in a prior appellate decision.

  • August 05, 2025

    Fed. Circ. Partly Revives Solar Panel Safety Patent Challenge

    The Federal Circuit on Tuesday said the Patent Trial and Appeal Board has to take another look at one of renewable energy industry trade group SunSpec Alliance's arguments in its challenge to claims of a patent on safeguards for solar panels.

  • August 05, 2025

    Stewart Won't Reconsider Her 1st Settled Expectations Denial

    The acting U.S. Patent and Trademark Office director on Tuesday stood by her first-ever decision that an older patent shouldn't have to face Patent Trial and Appeal Board scrutiny.

  • August 05, 2025

    Microsoft Reaches Injunction Deal With Canadian Firm

    Microsoft Corp. and Canadian business The Search People Enterprises Ltd. have agreed to end a dispute after reaching a deal in which the latter company is barred from infringing intellectual property related to Microsoft's software.

  • August 05, 2025

    Ex-Patent Examiner Fights USPTO Exclusion At High Court

    A former U.S. Patent and Trademark Office examiner wants the U.S. Supreme Court to review his exclusion from practicing before the agency, saying the justices should look at issues relating to a suspension he received and also federal civil rights protections.

  • August 05, 2025

    Zazzle Nabs Win After Judge Cuts Font Copyright Claim

    A California federal judge has tossed a copyright infringement claim against online retailer Zazzle over a set of fonts used on its site after previously allowing the claim to stand, finding her earlier order misstated Zazzle's argument.

  • August 05, 2025

    Drone Cos. Sue Former Exec For Alleged Trade Secret Theft

    Red Cat Holdings Inc. and its Teal Drones Inc. unit accused a former executive of sabotaging a major product development deal and using their trade secrets to launch a rival drone company to compete for government sales.

  • August 05, 2025

    Teva Settles Claims Over Delayed Generic Asthma Inhalers

    Teva Pharmaceuticals has settled a 2023 lawsuit by a coalition of union healthcare funds accusing the company of thwarting the introduction of a generic version of its QVAR inhalers to the market, according to a filing in Massachusetts federal court.

  • August 05, 2025

    Pharma Startup Claims Lupin Stole Inhaler Trade Secrets

    Pharmaceutical startup Transpire Bio has accused Lupin Pharmaceuticals and its affiliates of stealing trade secrets related to the development of generic inhalers, alleging in a Florida federal complaint that a Lupin scientist briefly took a job with Transpire and returned to Lupin with confidential information.

  • August 05, 2025

    Dorsey & Whitney IP Trio Joins Ballard Spahr In Salt Lake City

    Ballard Spahr has added three former Dorsey & Whitney LLP attorneys to its intellectual property department and patents group for its Salt Lake City office in the "Silicon Slopes," an area known as a breeding ground for innovation.

  • August 04, 2025

    Ex-Copyright Chief Seeks Emergency Injunction In Firing Suit

    The U.S. Copyright Office's fired head on Monday urged a Washington, D.C., federal court to let her continue serving the role while she appeals the court's denial of her reinstatement bid, saying the court didn't address the merits of her arguments challenging President Donald Trump's authority to terminate her.

  • August 04, 2025

    Sandwich Seller Owes $32K For Breaching Noncompete Pact

    A Pennsylvania federal judge on Monday found in favor of the owners of a sandwich fundraising and catering company who accused its former owner of breaching multiple noncompete and confidentiality agreements by launching a rival business and stealing recipes and customer information.

  • August 04, 2025

    'Dadbod' Apparel Brand Sues To Cancel Rival's 'GirlDad' TM

    Activewear brand DadBod Apparel LLC has filed suit in Ohio federal court seeking to cancel another company's registered "GirlDad" trademark, saying the company fraudulently used the mark to thwart DadBod's sales of gear bearing the slogan, "Support Your Local Girl Dad."

  • August 04, 2025

    Axos Wins $40M In Trade Secrets Case Against Calif. Rival

    A California federal court has ordered Nano Banc and several former employees and executives to pay $40 million to rival Axos Bank after they were found liable for trade secret misappropriation and other claims.

  • August 04, 2025

    Inventor Sanctioned In Water Meter Patent Case

    A Delaware federal judge has sanctioned an attorney and president of a company that sued utility meter reading company Mueller Systems for patent infringement, blocking him from reading any material in the case designated for attorneys' eyes only.

  • August 04, 2025

    Judge Newman Contests Suspension Renewal At DC Circ.

    The Federal Circuit's recent recommendation to continue U.S. Circuit Judge Pauline Newman's suspension makes clear her colleagues are looking to permanently remove her, the judge's attorney told the D.C. Circuit Monday.

  • August 04, 2025

    Trial Called Off After Judge Partly Clears Apple In Fintiv Row

    Western District of Texas Judge Alan Albright called off a trial scheduled for Monday in Fintiv Inc.'s long-running mobile wallet patent case against Apple Inc., after he cleared Apple of infringing some claims and Fintiv opted to appeal rather than putting the remaining claims before a jury.

  • August 04, 2025

    'Cardiac Pack' Says Ohio NIL Ruling Doesn't Apply To NC Suit

    The end of a name, image and likeness lawsuit in Ohio has little bearing on a suit filed against the National Collegiate Athletic Association in the Tar Heel State, a group of former collegiate basketball players have told the North Carolina Business Court. 

  • August 04, 2025

    Jimmy Page, Songwriter Resolve 'Dazed And Confused' Suit

    A settlement has been reached in a lawsuit brought by an American songwriter who accused Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page of infringing his copyright on "Dazed and Confused" and improperly collecting licensing fees after the song was used in the documentary "Becoming Led Zeppelin."

  • August 04, 2025

    Apple Wins Challenge To Denial Of AR Software Trademarks

    A Virginia federal judge has granted Apple's bid to undo a Trademark Trial and Appeal Board decision denying the tech giant's attempt to register trademarks related to augmented reality software, saying the would-be marks have acquired enough secondary meaning.

  • August 04, 2025

    Apple Hits 'Apple Cinemas' With TM Suit Amid Expansion

    Apple Inc. has sued a movie theater chain called Apple Cinemas in Massachusetts federal court over trademark infringement claims, saying the cinema brand has expanded to the tech giant's backyard by opening in a historic theater location in San Francisco.

  • August 04, 2025

    Catching Up With Delaware's Chancery Court

    Last week at the Delaware Court of Chancery, insurance brokerage and risk management giant Marsh & McLennan Cos. sought injunctive relief in a new suit accusing U.S. affiliates of London-based Howden Holdings Ltd. of a poaching scheme that involved over 100 M&M employees resigning on July 21. 

Expert Analysis

  • 4 Ways To Leverage A Jury's Underdog Perceptions

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    Counsel should consider how common factors that speak to their client's size, power, past challenges and alignment with jurors can be presented to try and paint their client as a sympathetic underdog, says Ken Broda-Bahm at Persuasion Strategies.

  • 4 Legislative Proposals Reflect Growing Scrutiny Of Pharma IP

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    Bipartisan legislative momentum in Congress, including a recent package of bills targeting exclusivity strategies that delay generic and biosimilar competition, signals growing scrutiny of life sciences intellectual property strategies, so biologics companies and investors must pay attention to new strategic, compliance and litigation risks, says Olga Berson at Thompson Coburn.

  • Why Hiring Former Jurors As Consultants Can Be Risky

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    The defense team's decision to hire former juror Victoria George in the high-profile retrial of Karen Read shines a spotlight on this controversial strategy, which raises important legal, ethical and tactical questions despite not being explicitly prohibited, says Nikoleta Despodova at ND Litigation.

  • Series

    Adapting To Private Practice: From NY Fed To BigLaw

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    While the move to private practice brings a learning curve, it also brings chances to learn new skills and grow your network, requiring a clear understanding of how your skills can complement and contribute to a firm's existing practice, and where you can add new value, says Meghann Donahue at Covington.

  • What Businesses Need To Know About EU Design Law Reform

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    Recent reforms to European Union design protection law will broaden the scope of what constitutes protected designs and products, likely creating new opportunities and considerations for businesses operating within the EU or those engaging with its markets, say lawyers at Foley & Lardner.

  • Berry Ruling Shows Why Plant IP Suits Can Be Thorny

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    A California federal court's recent decision in Driscoll's v. California Berry Cultivars illustrates that while a path exists for asserting U.S. plant patent rights against extraterritorial breeders, it can be difficult to prove infringement based on importation of plant parts, say Travis Bliss and Stephany Small at Panitch Schwarze.

  • 7 Considerations For Conducting Drug Clinical Trials Abroad

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    With continuing cuts to U.S. Food and Drug Administration staffing motivating some pharmaceutical companies to consider developing drugs abroad, it's important to understand the additional risks and compliance requirements associated with conducting clinical studies in other countries, say attorneys at Morgan Lewis.

  • Top 3 Litigation Finance Deal-Killers, And How To Avoid Them

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    Like all transactions, litigation finance deals can sometimes collapse, but understanding the most common reasons for failure, including a lack of trust or a misunderstanding of deal terms, can help both parties avoid problems, say Rebecca Berrebi at Avenue 33 and Boris Ziser at Schulte Roth.

  • Best Practices For Companies Integrating Existing IP With AI

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    Some copyright owners are exploring how they can make new content by combining their existing intellectual property assets with generative artificial intelligence, and although these initiatives can serve multiple business goals, those considering such practices should be aware they are entering largely uncharted waters, says Josh Weigensberg at Pryor Cashman.

  • How Attys Can Use A Therapy Model To Help Triggered Clients

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    Attorneys can lean on key principles from a psychotherapeutic paradigm known as the "Internal Family Systems" model to help manage triggered clients and get settlement negotiations back on track, says Jennifer Gibbs at Zelle.

  • How Athletes Can Protect Their Signature Celebrations As IP

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    As copyright and trademark law adapts to short-form choreography and dynamic media, athletes and their business partners have new tools to protect the intellectual property embedded in their unique dances, poses and celebrations, say attorneys at Debevoise.

  • Opinion

    Third-Party Funding Transparency Is Key In Patent Suits

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    Third-party litigation funding is a growing industry that could benefit from enhanced disclosure standards to ensure transparency, as challenges in obtaining discovery of such funding can complicate patent litigation against nonpracticing entities, say attorneys at Skadden.

  • How Attorneys Can Make The Most Of A Deposition Transcript

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    With recent amendments to federal evidence rules now in effect, it’s more important than ever to make sure that deposition transcripts are clear and precise, and a few key strategies can help attorneys get the most out of a transcript before, during and after a deposition, says Allison Rocker at Baker McKenzie.

  • 3 Steps For In-House Counsel To Assess Litigation Claims

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    Before a potential economic downturn, in-house attorneys should investigate whether their company is sitting on hidden litigation claims that could unlock large recoveries to help the business withstand tough times, says Will Burgess at Hilgers Graben.

  • Vape IP Ruling Shows Stark Contrast Between ITC And Courts

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    The U.S. International Trade Commission's recent termination of a Section 337 investigation of vaporizer devices highlights the fact that — unlike in federal courts — all complaints terminated by the ITC may be refiled, though there are some ways for respondents to protest, says P. Andrew Riley at Mei & Mark.

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