Intellectual Property

  • September 03, 2024

    Simplot Wins Fry Design Patent Trial, Gets $0 In Damages

    After a seven-day trial in Idaho federal court, a jury found that McCain Foods USA Inc. willfully infringed its frozen french fry rival J.R. Simplot Co.'s design patent and that McCain Foods' own fry design patent was invalid, but also found that J.R. Simplot should not collect any damages from the infringement.

  • September 03, 2024

    3rd Circ.: Biotech Must Pay Royalties Despite Expired Patents

    A cancer drug biotechnology company must pay royalties to a research firm despite the expiration of the applicable patents, a Third Circuit panel ruled in a precedential decision Tuesday, concluding that the biotech's royalty obligation is calculated differently than the one in a U.S. Supreme Court case it cited.

  • September 03, 2024

    VLSI Asks Fed. Circ. To Nix Intel's Extraterritoriality Patent Win

    Licensing company VLSI has urged the Federal Circuit to overturn a ruling granting Intel Corp. a win in VLSI's $900 million patent fight, arguing that the trial judge wrongly concluded on summary judgment that VLSI hasn't shown that Intel's alleged chip patent infringement occurred in the U.S., among other alleged errors.

  • September 03, 2024

    Gov't Backs 9th Circ. Bid To Revive Invisalign Monopoly Case

    The U.S. Department of Justice has told the Ninth Circuit that a lower court applied the wrong standard when tossing a pair of class actions accusing the maker of Invisalign of monopolizing markets for clear dental aligners and teeth scanners.

  • September 03, 2024

    Shkreli Hands Over 15 Copies Of Wu-Tang Clan Album

    Martin Shkreli turned over 15 copies of the one-of-a-kind Wu-Tang Clan album he once owned after a New York federal judge ordered him to surrender any copies to his attorneys amid an ongoing lawsuit.

  • September 03, 2024

    USPTO Launches PTAB Clinic With Ex-Judges

    The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Tuesday rolled out a new free initiative in which former judges from the Patent Trial and Appeal Board will answer questions and offer guidance on proceedings before the board in one-on-one meetings with members of the public.

  • September 03, 2024

    Justices Urged To Revive Movie Site TM Suit Against BofA

    The Tenth Circuit employed "an analysis devoid of context whose conclusions contradicted themselves" when it found Bank of America Corp. had not infringed a movie website owner's trademark with its virtual assistant "Erica," the site owner has told the U.S. Supreme Court.

  • September 03, 2024

    Catching Up With Delaware's Chancery Court

    Last week in Delaware's court of equity, an iconic rock band got a new member, former President Donald Trump's social media company escaped a contempt ruling, and litigation grew over Illumina Inc.'s $8 billion reacquisition of cancer-testing company Grail Inc. New cases touched on intellectual property, mergers, share transfers and dump trucks. In case you missed it, here's the latest from Delaware's Court of Chancery.

  • September 03, 2024

    Hogan Lovells Tech Transactions Ace Returns To Weil In SF

    Weil Gotshal & Manges LLP is expanding its California team, announcing Tuesday it is welcoming back a technology transactions expert, most recently with Hogan Lovells, as a partner in its recently opened San Francisco office.

  • August 30, 2024

    Miami Gallery Sold Family $6M In Fake Warhols, Lawsuit Says

    A new lawsuit accuses a Miami gallery of selling over $6 million in fake Andy Warhol paintings and stringing a family of amateur art collectors along with an elaborate ruse involving the lure of "below-market prices" and "fictitious" employees from the Warhol Foundation and a New York auction house. 

  • August 30, 2024

    Full Fed. Circ. Urged To Review PTAB Estoppel Rule Case

    A Federal Circuit ruling that Patent Trial and Appeal Board decisions can render patent claims invalid in later U.S. Patent and Trademark Office proceedings is "contrary to the patent laws and congressional intent," a patent owner said Friday seeking rehearing in a case that could increase scrutiny of some patents.

  • August 30, 2024

    9th Circ. Won't Double Software Co.'s $13.5M Trade Secret Win

    The Ninth Circuit on Friday affirmed a lower court's denial of a request by software company Proofpoint Inc. for exemplary damages that could have doubled its $13.5 million trade secret theft verdict, ruling that any error the district court made in denying the damages is harmless.

  • August 30, 2024

    Judge Asks Why Hytera Didn't Seek Help To Avoid Contempt

    As Hytera Communications said Friday that its massive radio redesign was enough to show it shouldn't be held in contempt for allegedly continuing to use stolen Motorola Solutions trade secrets, an Illinois federal judge interrupted to ask why Hytera didn't ask the court for more guidance to better target its efforts. 

  • August 30, 2024

    UK Drops Antitrust Probe Into School Software Co.

    A United Kingdom school software company is no longer facing antitrust scrutiny over alleged litigation threats against schools looking to switch providers, but the firm continues to suggest that it may take action against the "misuse of its intellectual property" that it says complaints to authorities were meant to hide.

  • August 30, 2024

    Wheeling & Appealing: The Latest Must-Know Appellate Action

    Appeals courts have awakened from summertime slumber and crammed their early autumn calendars with arguments of national significance, which Law360 previews in this edition of Wheeling & Appealing. We're also recapping August's top appellate decisions, exploring new polling about U.S. Supreme Court opinions and testing your knowledge of Fifth Circuit history.

  • August 30, 2024

    Align Tech Cuts $27.5M Antitrust Deal With 1.45M Consumers

    A proposed class of nearly 1.45 million SmileDirectClub teeth-aligner buyers urged a California federal judge Thursday to preliminarily sign off on Align Technologies Inc.'s $27.5 million cash and coupon settlement to resolve antitrust claims alleging the company colluded with the now-bankrupt SmileDirecClub to illegally restrict competition.

  • August 30, 2024

    Cisco Hit With $65.7M Verdict For Infringing Paltalk Patent

    A Western District of Texas jury hit Cisco Systems with a $65.7 million verdict on Thursday for directly infringing Paltalk's patent related to hybrid audio servers, finding that Cisco infringed and failed to prove certain claims were invalid.

  • August 30, 2024

    RNC Says It Had License For Isaac Hayes' Song At Convention

    The Republican National Committee on Friday urged a Georgia federal court to deny the estate of Isaac Hayes' request to order Donald Trump and other conservative groups to stop playing the song "Hold On, I'm Coming," saying it was properly licensed.

  • August 30, 2024

    Republic Bank Tells IP Lawsuit Judge It's Bankrupt

    An embattled Pennsylvania-based bank has sought bankruptcy protection following its high-profile seizure by federal authorities as it grappled with $1.3 billion in debt, according to its latest filing in a trade secrets misappropriation suit.

  • August 30, 2024

    Manilow Says IP Biz Didn't Deliver 'Copacabana' TikTok Trend

    Singer Barry Manilow has hit British music royalties outfit Hipgnosis with a California federal court lawsuit alleging he was falsely promised a "Copacabana dance trend" on TikTok, the marketing of a "Copacabana" drink kit and over a million dollars in bonuses. 

  • August 30, 2024

    Actors Say AI Co. ElevenLabs Cloned Their Voices

    Two professional audiobook narrators have sued speech synthesis software company ElevenLabs Inc. in Delaware federal court, saying the company used generative artificial intelligence to clone their voices without consent or compensation and is now profiting by letting customers use their voice clones "Bella" and "Adam" for free.

  • August 30, 2024

    Marketing Company Fights Texas Firm's Deception Claims

    An Oklahoma City legal marketing company has acknowledged in a court filing that it uses trademarks associated with a Texas lawyer in its online keyword advertising, but it said the practice is lawful and that the Texas lawyer waited too long to complain and hasn't shown actual harm from it.

  • August 30, 2024

    Another Biz Owner Called To Appear In Judge's Patent Probe

    U.S. District Judge Colm F. Connolly has ordered the owner of another business affiliated with patent litigation funding outfit IP Edge and its affiliate Mavexar to appear before him amid his probe into possible fraud he says may have been perpetrated on the Delaware federal court in certain infringement cases.

  • August 30, 2024

    Off The Bench: NFL Lets PE In, Ex-NBA Pro Denies Agent Deal

    In this week’s Off The Bench, the NFL shakes up its ownership rules and joins the rest of the pro sports world, while a former NBA player says his agency is trying to cling to him after he moved on. In case you were sidelined this week, Law360 is here to catch you up on the sports and betting stories that had our readers talking.

  • August 30, 2024

    Nike Slammed Over Litigation Tactics In TM Atty Fees Battle

    A Pennsylvania clothing manufacturer panned Nike Inc.'s alleged "intransigence" and obstructive conduct in fighting a trademark infringement lawsuit, as the business pushed for attorneys fees in federal court following a remand from the Third Circuit.

Expert Analysis

  • Why High Court May Have Rejected IP Obviousness Appeal

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    Attorneys at Womble Bond analyze possible reasons the U.S. Supreme Court rejected Vanda Pharmaceuticals' request to review the Federal Circuit’s reasonable expectation of success standard for determining obviousness, including that the court was unpersuaded by the company's argument that Amgen v. Sanofi places a bind on drug developers.

  • Opinion

    Viral Deepfakes Of Taylor Swift Highlight Need For Regulation

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    As the nation grapples with addressing risk from artificial intelligence use, the recent circulation of AI-generated pornographic images of Taylor Swift on the social platform X highlights the need for federal legislation to protect nonconsenting subjects of deepfake pornography, say Nicole Brenner and Susie Ruiz-Lichter at Squire Patton.

  • A Guide To Using The DTSA For Misappropriation Recourse

    Excerpt from Practical Guidance
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    Nicholas Armington at Mintz explains the ins and outs of drafting a misappropriation complaint under the Defend Trade Secrets Act, and how and why companies should think strategically about federal and state law when filing a claim.

  • How Cos. Can Protect IP In Light Of FTC Noncompete Rule

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    While several groups are challenging the Federal Trade Commission’s recently approved rule banning noncompetition agreements, employers should begin planning other ways to protect their valuable trade secrets, confidential information and other intellectual property, says Thomas Duston at Marshall Gerstein.

  • The Fed. Circ. In April: Hurdles Remain For Generics

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    The Federal Circuit’s recent Salix v. Norwich ruling — where Salix's brand-name drug's patents were invalidated — is a reminder to patent practitioners that invalidating a competitor's patents may not guarantee abbreviated new drug application approval, say Sean Murray and Jeremiah Helm at Knobbe Martens.

  • Don't Use The Same Template For Every Client Alert

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    As the old marketing adage goes, consistency is key, but law firm style guides need consistency that contemplates variety when it comes to client alert formats, allowing attorneys to tailor alerts to best fit the audience and subject matter, says Jessica Kaplan at Legally Penned.

  • Series

    Walking With My Dog Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Thanks to my dog Birdie, I've learned that carving out an activity different from the practice of law — like daily outdoor walks that allow you to interact with new people — can contribute to professional success by boosting creativity and mental acuity, as well as expanding your social network, says Sarah Petrie at the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office.

  • The Secret Sauce For Trademarking Viral Food Products

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    Three recent high-profile trademark disputes in the food industry illustrate the importance of protecting brands early — especially for any company aiming for viral fame — and underscore the value of intent-to-use applications, say Elliot Gee and Matthew Dowd at Dowd Scheffel.

  • Chanel TM Ruling Shows Resellers Must Tread Carefully

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    The Southern District of New York's recent jury verdict in Chanel v. What Goes Around Comes Around, in which Chanel brought trademark infringement and false association claims, serves as a reminder that businesses must routinely ensure their practices are protected by the first sale and fair use doctrines, say Stephen Barrett and Gabriela Rios at Wilson Elser.

  • Think Like A Lawyer: Follow The Iron Rule Of Trial Logic

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    Many diligent and eager attorneys include every good fact, point and rule in their trial narratives — spurred by the gnawing fear they’ll be second-guessed for leaving something out — but this approach ignores a fundamental principle of successful trial lawyering, says Luke Andrews at Poole Huffman.

  • Fed. Circ. Ruling Shows Difficulty Of Proving Deceptive Intent

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    The Federal Circuit’s recent Freshub v. Amazon decision demonstrates how proving the deceptive intent requirement for inequitable conduct can be challenging, even when there is a five-year delay after abandonment before revival, say attorneys at BCLP.

  • The Art Of Asking: Leveraging Your Contacts For Referrals

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    Though attorneys may hesitate to ask for referral recommendations to generate new business, research shows that people want to help others they know, like and trust, so consider who in your network you should approach and how to make the ask, says Rebecca Hnatowski at Edwards Advisory.

  • Breaking Down The EPO's Revised Practice Guidelines

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    The European Patent Office's updated guidelines for examination recently took effect and include significant changes related to the priority right presumption, the concept of plausibility and artificial intelligence, providing invaluable insight on obtaining patents from the office, say lawyers at Finnegan.

  • Trending At The PTAB: Permissible New Reply Arguments

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    In the time since the Federal Circuit’s Axonics ruling, the Patent Trial and Appeal Board has allowed petitioners to raise new unpatentability grounds in response to unforeseeable claim constructions in petitions, and reiterated that a petition need not anticipate every argument that may be raised in the response, say Joseph Myles and Timothy May at Finnegan.

  • Exploring A New Era Of IP Law Amid The Rise Of Generative AI

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    Attorneys at Hogan Lovells explore the effects of generative artificial intelligence in three areas of intellectual property, recent updates and emerging trends, and its significance on the IP landscape now and moving forward.

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