Think Carefully When Filing Continuation Applications
May 29, 2009
Recent decisions have assaulted continuations on several fronts. Because of a new requirement to rescind claim scope disclaimers, it will be easier to avoid infringement of continuations, and because of strengthening enablement and written description requirements, more continuations will be invalidated on those grounds and on prior art grounds when priority claims are more easily broken. Consequently, care should be taken in the preparation and prosecution of any patent application claiming priority to another application.
TS Tech's Impact on Transfer Decisions
May 29, 2009
<i>In re TS Tech</i> and, to a lesser extent for patent cases, <i>In re Volkswagen of Am., Inc.</i>, have changed the landscape of ' 1404(a) cases in the Fifth Circuit. Patent cases that once would not have been transferred out of the Fifth Circuit may now be transferred based on <i>TS Tech.</i>
IP News
May 29, 2009
Highlights of the latest intellectual property cases from around the country.
Patent Opinions, Willfulness and Inducement
May 29, 2009
Recent decisions have begun to fill in the gaps left by <i>In re Seagate Technology, LLC.</i> They suggest that a competent opinion is still an effective defense to a willfulness charge, and that a jury may consider a defendant's failure to obtain an opinion when determining the defendant's intent for purposes of willfulness and inducement. Also, legitimate trial defenses may be sufficient to establish that a defendant's actions at the time of infringement were not "objectively reckless.
TO LAWYERS SWITCHING PRACTICE AREAS - NOT SO FAST!
May 28, 2009
TO LAWYERS SWITCHING PRACTICE AREAS - NOT SO FAST! No one has been immune from our sluggish economy. Lawyers are seeing pinkslips and downsizing. It makes sense that lawyers with a healthy survival instinct are switching to bugeoning practice areas like bankruptcy, employment and securities. What is more, attorneys who have experience managing complex cases can translate that skill set to other applications. But does that mean that all your law selling resources should be rerouted…
Case Briefs
May 28, 2009
Highlights of the latest insurance cases from around the country.
The Cooperation Clause
May 28, 2009
An insured's alleged failure to cooperate will not often be a successful defense to coverage. Furthermore, even if the claim may have some merit, there must be substantial prejudice, something that an insurer typically cannot prove while the underlying lawsuit is pending.
e-Commerce Activity Makes Gains, Though Still Down Since Economy Crunch
May 28, 2009
Rock-solid numbers on economic activity are tough to come by, but if the U.S. Census Bureau's preliminary estimates of retail e-commerce sales can be considered the closest thing to rock-solid numbers, then the nation's economy may be starting the long recovery economists said would come.
Social Media Policies
May 28, 2009
Being engaged in social networks has enormous value for your firm. Achieving those benefits, however, requires participation by members of your firm. Best practices can be applied firm-wide that help achieve your business goals and protect the firm. For starters, that means understanding the legal ramifications of online engagement and the fuzzier, but no less important, implications of the use of the virtual microphone or TV station to enhance your firm's reputation. The first thing you must do is create a social media policy ' or modify an existing policy that is free and available for you to borrow.