IP News
November 02, 2012
Highlights of the latest intellectual property news from around the country.
Policing Trademark Rights and the Problem Posed By Bullying
November 02, 2012
Overly aggressive enforcement of trademark rights by high-profile brand owners can lead to consumer backlash when such enforcement is perceived as "trademark bullying" of the "little guy." Such enforcement efforts have grown increasingly hazardous during the era of Internet blogging and social networking.
Seventh Circuit Protects Trademark Licensees in Bankruptcy Court
November 02, 2012
The Seventh Circuit has now adopted the conflicting view that ' 365(n) of the Bankruptcy Code does not affect trademark licenses in one way or another and that <i>Lubrizol Enterprises, Inc. v. Richmond Metal Finishers, Inc.</i> was incorrectly decided.
Your Genes Are Not Patent Eligible, But Your 'Isolated' Genes Are
November 02, 2012
In a closely followed case involving the patentability of DNA sequences of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, which account for most forms of inherited breast and ovarian cancer, the Federal Circuit largely followed its prior 2011 ruling and again held that isolated DNA sequences are patent-eligible subject matter.
DO YOU GIVE SAMPLES?
November 01, 2012
Every so often, in a particular area of a professional practice, somebody gets the bright idea to give samples ' to give a half hour of free advice as a way to entice a prospective client to ask for more. Two questions arise. Is it ethical? Is it good marketing?
November Issue Delayed
October 31, 2012
Dear Readers:<p>Due to the power outage caused by Hurricane Sandy, publication of <i>The Intellectual Property Strategist</i> was delayed. LJN regrets any inconvenience this may have caused.
An Analysis of Proposed Federal Cybersecurity Legislation
October 31, 2012
Michael Chertoff, the former head of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), recently remarked that "cyber threats represent one of the most seriously disruptive challenges to national security since the onset of the nuclear age 60 years ago."
Anonymous vs. Fraudulent Internet Speech
October 31, 2012
Even though the foundation of First Amendment rights has prevailed through the centuries, the anonymity and potentially unlimited mass audience of Internet speech poses difficulties for application of traditional doctrines governing speech ' whether political or not, and, it stands to reason, most instances of speech on the Internet are not political in nature.
Surviving Goliath
October 31, 2012
Despite David's victory in the Bible, the Goliaths of the world usually win. e-Commerce tells the same story, as many of the strongest retailers are equally big in the virtual world.
