IP News
January 01, 2025
Federal Circuit: District Courts May Impose Deterrence Sanctions Even After They Had Already Awarded Attorney Fees and Costs Under 35 U.S.C. §285Federal Circuit: To Properly Claim A Negative Limitation, There Must Be SupportFederal Circuit: The Mere Beginning of a Step In a Claimed System Does Not Satisfy the Limitation
The 5 Most Influential Patent Law Cases of 2024
December 26, 2024
We’re counting down to the new year with a recap of the five most influential patent decisions from 2024. Spanning damages, design patents, infringement loopholes, issue preclusion, and prior art disqualification, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit had an active year issuing cases with a direct impact on innovation.
Secondary Liability for Copyright Infringement At the Supreme Court
December 01, 2024
In February 2024, the Fourth Circuit addressed a jury’s 2020 damages award of $1 billion finding Cox secondarily liable for its subscribers’ copyright infringement through illegal copying of copyrighted songs. Both Cox and Sony filed petitions for certiorari.
Combatting Patent Trolls
December 01, 2024
A subject of extensive debate within the U.S. patent system has been the classification of “patent trolls” — most widely defined as individuals or companies that acquire patents solely for the purpose of assertion, often in cases without any merit, but which leverage the high cost of patent litigation defense to force small settlements.
What Can IP Practitioners Expect from Trump 2.0?
December 01, 2024
President-elect Donald Trump did not make intellectual property (IP) policy a major focus of his 2024 election campaign, but his policy priorities are nearly certain to have a profound effect on the IP landscape when he takes office in January.
Subchapter V Could Be Ideal Choice for Franchisees
December 01, 2024
When franchisees choose to financially reorganize under the Bankruptcy Code, they may be the right size to choose to reorganize under Subchapter V of Chapter 11. Where the franchisor and the franchisee cannot reconcile, Subchapter V may provide the franchisee with breathing room and leverage to be revitalized.
An NDA Is Not a ‘Magic Talisman’ for Trade Secret Protection
December 01, 2024
An NDA can cover information that would not qualify as a trade secret under state or federal law, and it can provide limited contractual protection to that information. But it is not a “magic talisman” for the protection of intellectual property, and it cannot create trade secret protection where it would not otherwise exist.
IP News
December 01, 2024
A look at the latest developments in intellectual property law.