Claim Preclusion
The manufacturer/customer privity hurdle in patent infringement suits can be overcome by application of the <i>Kessler</i> doctrine. This article explains.
<i>Tiffany v. eBay</i>
The recent decision in <i>Tiffany v. eBay</i> is a well-considered exploration for finding secondary e-marketplace liability for facilitating infringing sale of goods without selling a product, and for the marketplace maker to avoid infringement liability for sellers on its site.
How to Avoid the Franchise Surprise
In many states, the statutory definition of "franchise" has been, and could be, construed broadly to include relationships between brand owners and their trademark licensees, even though neither party intended to create a franchise relationship. Brand owners can only avoid the franchise surprise if they know the rules of the game.
Auction Web Site Off the Hook
At one time or another, every trademark holder must deal with infringement on the Internet. After years of chasing individual infringers, many brand owners seek relief from those who provide the means for infringement. Yet these efforts have had limited success, at least in the United States. In some jurisdictions, search engines have avoided liability for sales of trademarks as keywords, under the doctrine of non-trademark use.
Case Notes
Highlights of the latest product liability cases from around the country.
Supreme Court Speaks Again on Punitive Damages
On June 25, the U.S. Supreme Court decided <i>Exxon Shipping Co. v. Baker</i>, a ruling likely to fortify the view that an award of punitive damages should not exceed the amount of the compensatory award. To be sure, some will argue that there are, may be, or ought to be, exceptions; some will argue that the Court was only deciding federal common law in a maritime case and not the limits of state common law; and some may say there is still support for accepting punitive awards that exceed a 1:1 ratio.
The Impact of New Vehicle Technology
Part One of this article discussed the types of vehicle-related accidents to which children fall prey and described some ways technology has developed to avoid such accidents. The conclusion addresses the role of parents and caregivers in vehicle-related accidents and the new type of litigation spawned by new technology.
Uncertainties of Federal Disclosure Requirements for Employee Experts
Product liability litigation is waged through battles of the experts. Hotly contested disputes over expert testimony arise early and often, from discovery through trial and even appeal. Disputes intensify when parties use their own employees as experts because the law governing employee expert disclosure remains undeveloped.
Be a Software Contract Hero
From the attorney's perspective, the RFP is a tool for collecting the information that becomes the heart and soul of the final contract and serves as a basis for the vendor's liability. This article spells out a "best-practices" RFP process, step by step.
