Intellectual Property

  • August 23, 2024

    Caterpillar Can't Nix $12.9M Jury Loss In Wirtgen IP Row

    A Delaware judge has declined to overturn a $12.9 million verdict that Caterpillar was ordered to pay machinery manufacturer Wirtgen for infringing five road-milling machine patents, rejecting Caterpillar's equitable defenses that included the patents are unenforceable because of an unreasonable delay in the patent application process.

  • August 23, 2024

    Anthropic Says Music Cos. Haven't Met Burden For Injunction

    Artificial intelligence company Anthropic has blasted a preliminary injunction request from several music publishers suing for alleged infringement of copyrighted lyrics to train Anthropic's chatbot Claude, telling a California federal court the publishers have not shown they would suffer irreparable harm before trial.

  • August 23, 2024

    AT&T Challenge To 4G Patent Is Late And Wrong, Judge Says

    An effort by AT&T to throw out one of the patents in a long-running suit over 4G LTE network services has fallen flat as a federal judge said the motion was nearly a year late and also legally wrong.

  • August 23, 2024

    Drugmakers' 'Subjective Beliefs' Obscured In Antitrust Case

    A Pennsylvania federal judge has denied a request from direct purchasers of pharmaceuticals to compel the leaders of Abbott Laboratories and other companies to express "subjective beliefs" about sham patent litigation they allegedly engaged in, dismissing the purchasers' fears that the companies would change their position on certain issues at the last minute during trial.

  • August 23, 2024

    Vaping Co. VPR Says Rival Ashh Infringing E-Cig Tech

    Florida-based e-cigarette manufacturer VPR Brands has slapped a rival with a patent infringement lawsuit, telling a Michigan federal court that its competitor has been making and selling vapes that infringe its patented "electronic inhaler" and atomizer system.

  • August 23, 2024

    Split 6th Circ. Refuses To Undo Amway's $37M Coverage Win

    The Sixth Circuit affirmed Friday that an AIG unit must pay $37 million for failing to defend and indemnify Amway and parent company Alticor in a dustup with major record companies over the use of copyrighted music in ads.

  • August 23, 2024

    Fed. Circ. Nixes $3.9M Dish Fee In Albright-Authored Decision

    The Federal Circuit has ruled that Dish Network should not have been awarded a $3.9 million fee for its successful patent suit defense against Realtime Adaptive Streaming, finding in a decision written by Texas federal judge Alan Albright that a lower court judge abused his discretion when he found the case "exceptional" based on six "red flags."

  • August 23, 2024

    Judge Won't Restrict Access To RTX Trade Secrets Trial

    Defense contractor RTX Corp. won't be able to bar non-U.S. citizens from a trade secrets trial slated to get underway Tuesday, but exhibits, such as diagrams, will not be made visible to observers in the courtroom, a Massachusetts federal judge ordered.

  • August 23, 2024

    LeBron's Tattoo Artist Can't Get New Trial In NBA 2K Case

    An Ohio federal judge declined to order a new trial after a jury rejected claims that 2K Games Inc. and Take-Two Interactive Software Inc.'s rendering of LeBron James in their NBA 2K video game series infringed a tattoo artist's copyrights.

  • August 23, 2024

    The Biggest Texas Trial Rulings Of 2024: Midyear Report

    Trial courts in Texas saw a series of high-dollar verdicts for plaintiffs in suits over patent infringement and personal injuries, but appellate courts tempered some plaintiffs' successes, backing a large retail employer in a harassment suit and tossing a verdict based on a lawyer's remarks. Here's a look at some of the biggest trial decisions in Texas in the first half of 2024.

  • August 23, 2024

    HVAC Co. Nets $3 Damages Award Against Sanctioned Ex-VP

    A heating, ventilation and air-conditioning company that won its trade secrets suit against a former vice president by default will get just $3 in damages after the North Carolina Business Court found it failed to prove any lost profits or malicious intent sufficient to support the requested seven-figure award.

  • August 23, 2024

    Patent Case Against USPTO Mimics Failed Suit, Feds Say

    The federal government has moved to toss a suit alleging that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's website infringes patents covering the idea of two-factor authorization, arguing that a patent in the same "family" was thrown out in 2016 by a different court that said it contained "nothing inventive."

  • August 23, 2024

    Ex-Womble Bond IP Partners Join New Model Firm In NY

    Two former Womble Bond Dickinson intellectual property partners have moved to new model law firm Potomac Law Group's intellectual property practice, according to the firm's announcement.

  • August 23, 2024

    Punchbowl News Gets Win In TM Spat With Punchbowl Inc.

    A California federal judge has ruled there is no likelihood of confusion between a publication called Punchbowl News and a greeting card and event planning company named Punchbowl Inc., justifying the dismissal of the latter's trademark infringement claims, according to a summary judgment order.

  • August 23, 2024

    Delaware Lets Ventis Move Pacira's False Ad Suit To Calif.

    Ventis Pharma Inc., a pharmaceutical company developing nonopioid anesthetics, got a federal court's approval Friday to move a false advertising lawsuit filed by competitor Pacira BioSciences Inc. from Delaware to California, where Ventis is based.

  • August 23, 2024

    Talent Management Co. Sues Rival Over Instagram Model's TM

    A talent management firm has accused a U.K. rival of using the trademarked name of one of its Instagram models as fake bait to lure others into signing management contracts.

  • August 23, 2024

    UK Litigation Roundup: Here's What You Missed In London

    The past week in London has seen Google sue several Russian media outlets in response to challenges to the tech giant's response to international sanctions, easyGroup bring an intellectual property claim against delivery company Easycargo, and e-money business Nyavo challenge action by the Financial Conduct Authority.

  • August 23, 2024

    Firms Seek $20M Fee After $58M Deal In Shire Antitrust Suit

    A group of nine firms led by Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP asked a Massachusetts federal judge to sign off on $20 million in fees and expenses after securing a $58 million settlement with drugmaker Shire PLC in a yearslong antitrust class action.

  • August 22, 2024

    Authors Can't Use Discord Chats In Meta AI Copyright Suit

    A California federal judge Thursday granted Meta Platforms Inc.'s request for an order shielding a former part-time researcher's communications on Discord from discovery requests in authors' proposed class copyright action over Meta's artificial intelligence product, holding that the communications pertain to legal advice.

  • August 22, 2024

    Patent Injunction Bill Has Potential To Reshape Disputes

    Proposed legislation to create a presumption that courts would issue an injunction when patent infringement is found could empower patent owners and change the dynamics of disputes if enacted, though experts said the measure's impact would depend on how courts interpret it.

  • August 22, 2024

    Del. Jury Says No Infringement, Axes Data Storage IP Claims

    A Delaware federal jury found Thursday that Scale Computing Inc. did not infringe DataCore Software Corp.'s data storage patent and determined that the asserted claims are invalid as anticipated.

  • August 22, 2024

    Influencer-Backed Wine Glass Co. Sues Over Trade Dress

    A small startup that sells colorful wine glasses is suing other companies that sell similar glasses in Colorado federal court, calling those companies "counterfeiters" that are trying to capitalize on the startup's popularity stemming from the endorsement of a popular TikTok influencer.

  • August 22, 2024

    Williams-Sonoma Infringes Fabric TMs, Michigan Co. Claims

    A supplier of moisture-resistant textiles and fabric treatments sued Williams-Sonoma Inc. in Michigan federal court Thursday, alleging the retailer is infringing three trademarks with its Pottery Barn furniture.

  • August 22, 2024

    Prince Lobel Adds Boston IP Partner From Mintz

    The newest member of Prince Lobel Tye LLP's intellectual property team is a former professional soccer player who now channels his competitive energy into patent and trade secrets litigation, joining the firm after 11 years at Mintz Levin Cohn Ferris Glovsky and Popeo PC with a mandate to build up Prince Lobel's trade secrets practice.

  • August 22, 2024

    Ex-MiMedx Sales Rep Says Fraud Schemes Pushed Her Out

    A former employee of controversial biotech firm MiMedx who was sued for joining a competitor earlier this year hit the company back with a counterclaim Tuesday charging that she was forced out for refusing to go along with the company's alleged flouting of U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulations and rampant overbilling schemes.

Expert Analysis

  • Fed. Circ. Defines Foreign IP Damages, Raises New Questions

    Author Photo

    In Brumfield v. IBG, the Federal Circuit recently clarified which standard determines the extraterritoriality of the patent statute after the U.S. Supreme Court's WesternGeco decision, opening a new avenue of damages for foreign activities resulting from certain domestic activities while also creating some thorny questions, say Amol Parikh and Ian Howard at McDermott.

  • Series

    Being An Equestrian Makes Me A Better Lawyer

    Author Photo

    Beyond getting experience thinking on my feet and tackling stressful situations, the skills I've gained from horseback riding have considerable overlap with the skills used to practice law, particularly in terms of team building, continuing education, and making an effort to reset and recharge, says Kerry Irwin at Moore & Van Allen.

  • Teach Your Party Representative The Art Of Nonverbal Cues

    Author Photo

    As illustrated by recent reports about President Donald Trump’s nonverbal communication in court, jurors notice what’s happening at counsel table, which may color their perceptions of the case as a whole, so trial attorneys should teach party representatives to self-monitor their nonverbal behaviors, says Clint Townson at Townson Consulting.

  • Fintiv Denials Are On The Rise At PTAB

    Author Photo

    Following last year's CommScope v. Dali decision, the Patent Trial and Appeal Board is increasingly using Fintiv factors to discretionarily deny inter partes review petitions — and attorneys ignore it at their peril, say Josepher Li and Michelle Armond at Armond Wilson.

  • 4 Ways To Refresh Your Law Firm's Marketing Strategy

    Author Photo

    With many BigLaw firms relying on an increasingly obsolete marketing approach that prioritizes stiff professionalism over authentic connection, adopting a few key communications strategies to better connect with today's clients and prospects can make all the difference, say Eric Pacifici and Kevin Henderson at SMB Law.

  • What Law Firms Should Know Amid Rise In DQ Motions

    Author Photo

    As disqualification motions proliferate, law firms need to be aware of the types of conflicts that most often lead to disqualification, the types of attorneys who may be affected and how to reduce their exposure to these motions, says Matthew Henderson at Hinshaw.

  • What Have We Learned In The Year Since Warhol?

    Author Photo

    In the almost year since the U.S. Supreme Court decided Andy Warhol Foundation v. Goldsmith, which was widely seen as potentially chilling to creative endeavors, seven subsequent decisions — while illuminating to some extent — do not indicate any trend toward a radical departure from prior precedents in fair use cases, says ​​​​​​​Jose Sariego at Bilzin Sumberg.

  • Practical Pointers After Fed. Circ. Double-Patenting Decision

    Author Photo

    With the Federal Circuit recently denying a full court review of In re: Cellect, a decision regarding obviousness-type double-patenting, affected patent family holders should evaluate their rights through both patent prosecution and future litigation lenses to minimize risks, say Austin Lorch and Jeff Wolfson at Haynes Boone.

  • Clemson's ACC Exit Fee Suit May Have Major Consequences

    Author Photo

    Clemson University's recent suit in South Carolina state court against the Atlantic Coast Conference, which challenges the ACC's $140 million exit fee and its ownership of member schools' media rights, would likely have enormous ramifications for ACC members in the event of a definitive court ruling, say William Sullivan and Alex Anderson at Pillsbury.

  • How Duty Of Candor Figures In USPTO AI Ethics Guidance

    Author Photo

    The duty of candor and good faith is an important part of the artificial intelligence ethics guidance issued last week by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and serious consequences can visit patent and trademark applicants who violate that duty, not just their attorneys and agents, says Michael Cicero at Taylor English.

  • Patent Lessons From 8 Federal Circuit Reversals In March

    Author Photo

    A number of Federal Circuit patent decisions last month reversed or vacated underlying rulings, providing guidance regarding the definiteness of a claim that include multiple limitations of different scopes, the importance of adequate jury instruction, the proper scope of the precedent, and more, say Denise De Mory and Li Guo at Bunsow De Mory.

  • Tenn. Law Protecting Artists From AI Raises Novel Issues

    Author Photo

    Tennessee recently enacted a law that extends the right of publicity protection to individuals' voices in an attempt to control the proliferation of artificial intelligence in the music industry, presenting fascinating questions about the First Amendment, the fair use doctrine and more, say attorneys at Davis Wright.

  • A Look At Ex Parte Seizures 8 Years Post-DTSA

    Author Photo

    In the eight years since the Defend Trade Secrets Act was enacted, not much has changed for jurisprudence on ex parte seizures, but a few seminal rulings show that there still isn’t a bright line on what qualifies as extraordinary circumstances warranting a seizure, say attorneys at Finnegan.

  • Series

    Whitewater Kayaking Makes Me A Better Lawyer

    Author Photo

    Whether it's seeing clients and their issues from a new perspective, or staying nimble in a moment of intense challenge, the lessons learned from whitewater kayaking transcend the rapids of a river and prepare attorneys for the courtroom and beyond, says Matthew Kent at Alston & Bird.

  • 10 Years After Alice, Predictability Debate Lingers

    Author Photo

    A decade after the U.S. Supreme Court’s Alice ruling, critics continue to argue that the subject matter eligibility framework it established yields inconsistent results, but that contention is disproved by affirmance data from the Federal Circuit, district courts and the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, say Dennis Abdelnour and David Thomas at Honigman.

Want to publish in Law360?


Submit an idea

Have a news tip?


Contact us here
Can't find the article you're looking for? Click here to search the Intellectual Property archive.
Hello! I'm Law360's automated support bot.

How can I help you today?

For example, you can type:
  • I forgot my password
  • I took a free trial but didn't get a verification email
  • How do I sign up for a newsletter?
Ask a question!