Features

Federal Circuit Holds Scandalous or Immoral Marks Entitled to Registration
<b><i>Refusal Is an Unconstitutional Violation of Free Speech</b></i><p>On Dec. 15, 2017, a unanimous Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit held that despite Appellant's mark comprising “immoral or scandalous” matter, the PTO could no longer refuse federal registration of such marks on the grounds that this refusal violated the free speech clause of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
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In the Courts
Royal Dutch Shell and Eni Head to Trial over Nigeria Corruption Allegations
Features

Bankruptcy Court Authorizes Rejection of Employment Separation Agreements
The Bankruptcy Code can be an effective tool for reducing liabilities and enhancing asset value for the benefit of creditors. One of the more important…
Features

The Sixth Circuit Creates a New Standard for Unmasking an Anonymous Copyright Infringer Post-Judgment
On Nov. 28, 2017, the Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit issued its opinion in <i>Signature Mgmt. Team, LLC v. Doe</i>. The case involved a John Doe defendant's effort to remain anonymous even after having been adjudicated liable for copyright infringement of plaintiff's business training manual.
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Bit Parts
Eleventh Circuit Affirms Permanent Injunction Against Former Commodores' Member over Use of Group's Name<br>Federal Court Ruling in Trademark Battle over “Row”<br>Political Uses of Photos of Artists Ruled Transformative Fair Uses of Copyrights
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Real Property Law
Failure to Disclose Gas Tanks Does Not Constitute Contract Breach<br>Divestiture Agreement<br>Unrecorded Mortgage<br>CEMA Suffices
Features

Bankruptcy in a House of Worship
<b><i>A Public Relations Case Study</b></i><p>It's a story as old as time: A matter of the heart becomes a matter of revenge, power, and money for a scorned lover. Regardless of the reason, when an organization is pushed into bankruptcy, it requires an attention to detail, creativity, and compassion for how scary the term “bankruptcy” is for most people.
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IP News
Judges Newman and Reyna Argue that Litigation Misconduct does not Demonstrate Intent to Deceive the PTO<br>Federal Circuit Affirms Board's Decisions in IPRs Finding a Video Conferencing Patent Not Anticipated or Obvious<br>Federal Circuit Affirms No Intent to Deceive for Inequitable Conduct Claim Where Inventors Should Have Documented Findings to the USPTO
Columns & Departments
Business Crimes Hotline
Keppel Settles Bribery Charges in the U.S., Singapore, and Brazil
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