Seveth Circuit Upholds Cracker Barrel Injunction
December 31, 2013
When Cracker Barrel decided to introduce its non-cheese products into grocery stores (starting with packaged spiral ham) under a logo with "Cracker Barrel" appearing more prominently than "Old Country Store," Kraft sued for trademark infringement and sought a preliminary injunction.
IP News
December 30, 2013
Federal Circuit Affirms Dismissal of Customer's Third-Party-Beneficiary Claim under First-to-File<br>Supreme Court Applies Atlantic Marine Standard to Forum Dispute in Patent Case<br>Claimed Inventions Falling within Prior Art Ranges Require Secondary Considerations to Show Nonobviousness
Establishing Copyright Damages When Party Moves for Summary Judgment
November 30, 2013
Section 504(b) of the Copyright Act allows a copyright owner to obtain both the owner's actual damages as well as an infringer's profits attributable to the infringed work that weren't included in the actual damages award. What are the burdens of proof when a copyright infringement plaintiff seeks this recovery after a pre-trial summary judgment motion has been filed? How does an expert's report work into this?
Checking in on the New gTLD Objection Processes
November 30, 2013
ICANN has been busy reviewing applications for new generic top-level domain name registries (new gTLDs), and the first four new gTLDs were delegated to the Root Zone on Oct. 23, 2013.
IP News
November 30, 2013
New Patent Litigation Reform Bills Introduced <br>U.S. Supreme Court Hears Oral Argument on Burden Of Proof for Licensee-DJ Plaintiff<br>A Split Federal Circuit Denies En Banc Rehearing In Case Involving Finality Of a Judicial Decision<br>Federal Circuit Explains Exhaustion of Method Patents
Expanding Defenses To Inducing Infringement
November 30, 2013
On Oct. 25, 2013, the Federal Circuit, by a vote of six-to-five, denied rehearing <i>en banc</i> in <i>Commil USA, LLC v. Cisco Sys., Inc.,</i> (<i>Commil II</i>). That decision left intact the panel's holding, in a case of first impression, that an alleged indirect infringer's "good-faith belief of invalidity may negate the requisite intent for induced infringement."
When Is Equity Value Really Zero?
November 26, 2013
Matrimonial attorneys are often confronted with a listed equity asset that, at least according to the client, "isn't worth anything." So how do we approach this dilemma?
IP News
November 02, 2013
Federal Circuit Upholds Permanent Injunction in 'Design Win' Market <br>Federal Circuit Upholds Inequitable Conduct Ruling<br>EFF Files for <i>Inter Partes</i> Review of Podcasting Patent
It's a Licensee Eats Licensee World
November 02, 2013
These days, it is commonplace for companies to license multiple parties in various distinct geographical areas to use the same trademark. Because different licensees may be competitors of one another in different product lines, the question often arises as to whether one licensee may challenge another's right to use a licensed mark and, if so, where.
<i>TecSec v. IBM</i>: The (Not-So) Reaching Impact of Rule 36 Affirmances
November 02, 2013
In <i>TecSec, Inc. v. IBM Corp., et al.</i>, the Federal Circuit explained the effect of Federal Circuit Rule 36, under which the Federal Circuit may "enter a judgment of affirmance without opinion" if certain conditions are met. Fed. Cir. R. 36. The decision highlights the impact of a Rule 36 affirmance on related issues in subsequent litigation, particularly where the Federal Circuit summarily affirms a district court decision that is based on multiple, independent grounds.
