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Features

The Suspension Bridge Effect: Why Trademark Attorneys Must Protect Entire Brand Systems, Not Just Individual Marks Image

The Suspension Bridge Effect: Why Trademark Attorneys Must Protect Entire Brand Systems, Not Just Individual Marks

Allen Adamson

In brand protection, as in bridge engineering, the strength of brand differentiation (trademark distinctiveness) depends on the integrity of each supporting cable. When one snaps, the question is not only whether you can fix that component, but also whether the whole structure will hold together long enough for the repair crew to arrive.

Features

Leveraging Patent Office Examples for AI Enabled Innovation In Any Industry Image

Leveraging Patent Office Examples for AI Enabled Innovation In Any Industry

Jim Soong

In Ex parte Michalek, the PTAB evaluated an invention involving medical health technology and artificial intelligence. While this case involved medical health technology, the implicated issues inform patent strategies for AI enabled inventions across all industries.

Features

Protecting Your Patent: How a Vet-Owned AI Company Safeguarded Its IP Image

Protecting Your Patent: How a Vet-Owned AI Company Safeguarded Its IP

Jon Brewton & Chris Rohrbach & Eric Costantini & John Scott

Military-owned businesses often possess unique technological advantages derived from years of research, development, and practical application. One veteran-owned company’s journey — combined with a patent attorney’s experience preparing and filing patent applications — provides valuable insight into what veterans should do to safeguard their intellectual property.

Columns & Departments

IP News Image

IP News

Howard J. Shire & Di’Vennci K. Lucas

In a recent decision, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit addressed application and analysis of the fair use doctrine under copyright law, and reversed the district court’s finding of fair use. In an unusual situation, the lower court had dismissed the complaint sua sponte, although the defendant’s time to respond to the complaint had expired.

Features

Divided Over Damages: Courts Split On Whether Failure to Mark Precludes All, or Only Some, Pre-Suit Damages Image

Divided Over Damages: Courts Split On Whether Failure to Mark Precludes All, or Only Some, Pre-Suit Damages

Cason Cole & Mark Liang

Only a few district courts have addressed the failure to mark in recent years — but they’ve reached directly opposing conclusions. This article analyzes the conflicting authorities and their reasoning, and it provides guidance to litigants on best practices given the conflict between district courts.

Features

Tea Leaves Tell Tales: Jury Awards $2.36 Million for Bigelow’s “Manufactured in the USA 100%” Label Image

Tea Leaves Tell Tales: Jury Awards $2.36 Million for Bigelow’s “Manufactured in the USA 100%” Label

Bryan Wolin & Chandler Martin

On April 8, a California jury found that R.C. Bigelow, Inc., the well-known manufacturer of Bigelow teas, intentionally or recklessly misled consumers by claiming that some of its teabags were “Manufactured in the USA.” The price for this mislabeling was steep, with the jury awarding the class action plaintiffs $2.36 million.

Features

Second Circuit Ruling on Copyright Fair Use Defense and Infringement Lawsuit Default Judgments Image

Second Circuit Ruling on Copyright Fair Use Defense and Infringement Lawsuit Default Judgments

Stan Soocher

In copyright litigation, an infringement defendant may claim fair use as an affirmative defense. But the Second Circuit recently ruled that a district court, on its own initiative, could raise a fair use defense for a defendant that hadn’t appeared in the case.

Features

The Curious Persistence of the Six-Factor Trade Secret Test, Part 2 Image

The Curious Persistence of the Six-Factor Trade Secret Test, Part 2

Richard Rothman

This two-part article discusses the requirements for information to be considered a trade secret under U.S. law, focusing on courts’ continued use of the six-factor test outlined in the Restatement of Torts. Part One covered the evolving tests for establishing a trade secret, while Part Two examines the compatibility of those tests and potential considerations for litigators and legislators.

Features

Patent Policing: Federal Circuit Upholds District Courts’ Inherent Authority to Sanction Party Conduct Image

Patent Policing: Federal Circuit Upholds District Courts’ Inherent Authority to Sanction Party Conduct

Jeff Lesovitz & Katie Schuyler

In recent decisions, the Federal Circuit affirmed the inherent powers of district courts to investigate and address potential party misconduct in patent litigations, including suspected fraud and bad faith conduct. This article delves into these key cases that upheld district courts’ policing by standing orders or sanctions and underscore the importance of transparency and proper conduct in patent litigation.

Features

Swearing Behind: Overcoming Asserted Prior Art in PTAB Proceedings, Part 2 Image

Swearing Behind: Overcoming Asserted Prior Art in PTAB Proceedings, Part 2

Emily J. Roberts, Ph.D. & Adam R. Brausa

This two-part article discusses the various legal and evidentiary requirements for antedating and removing prior art that patent owners should consider when their pre-AIA patents are challenged based on a prior art publication or activity that is not otherwise subject to a statutory bar. Part One led off with a discussion of the legal requirements for antedating prior art by establishing an earlier invention via: 1) conception and diligent reduction to practice; and 2) actual reduction to practice. Part Two discusses the legal requirements for removing prior art that discloses an inventor’s own work and the evidentiary requirements for swearing behind prior art.

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