IP News
March 29, 2011
Highlights of the latest intellectual property news from around the country.
Downstream Liability in Trade Secret Litigation After Silvaco
March 29, 2011
Last year, for the first time, the issue of downstream liability surfaced in the law of trade secret misappropriation. In 2010, a California appellate court held in <i>Silvaco Data Sys. v. Intel Corp.</i> that a software licensee did not know or acquire the secret source code the manufacturer used to make the product and, as a matter of law, it could not be liable for trade secret misappropriation.
Centocor v. Abbott Labs: Must You Only Preach What You Practice?
March 29, 2011
The Federal Circuit's decision on Feb. 23, 2011 in <i>Centocor Ortho Biotech., Inc. v. Abbott Labs.</i>, vacated a $1.67 billion verdict based on invalidity for insufficient written description. The case provides an example of when technology can be so complicated or unpredictable that the specification does not adequately explain how to practice the claimed invention.
IP News
February 28, 2011
Highlights of the latest intelletual property news from around the country.
First Sale Doctrine Gets Multiple Views in Ninth Circuit
February 28, 2011
Recently, there has been a spate of Ninth Circuit rulings on the first sale doctrine ' all of which have implications for the entertainment industry ' from application of '109(a) to computer software buyers, to imported goods, and to promotional CDs that record companies send to disc jockeys and music critics.
Privacy Policies and Data Collection
February 28, 2011
The conflict between marketers' targeted use of personally identifiable information and respect for consumers' personal privacy will be at the forefront of regulatory efforts this year.
The Perils of Naked Licensing
February 28, 2011
A recent Ninth Circuit decision involving a not-for-profit entity dedicated to "freecycling" (<i>i.e.</i>, a recycling practice of finding new uses for unwanted items) serves as a reminder to trademark owners about the pitfalls of failing to exercise sufficient quality control over licensees.
Managing Employees on Social Media
February 27, 2011
With social media here to stay and smart mobile devices abounding in offices, employers need to accept that they cannot legally or practically shut down the conversation. Here's what to do.
