Try our Advanced Search for more refined results
ÃÛÌÒÊÓÆµ
-
Featured
The Biggest Copyright Rulings Of 2025: A Midyear Report
Two California judges were the first to deliver crucial rulings about what constitutes fair use in training generative artificial intelligence models — a question expected to test the boundaries of the copyright doctrine amid the emergence of the groundbreaking technology. Here is Law360's list of the biggest copyright decisions so far this year.
-
July 11, 2025
Smoke Shop's Default Lifted In Toys R Us Dilution Suit
A Connecticut federal judge on Friday set aside a default entry against a New Haven e-cigarette and cannabis accessories store accused of tarnishing Toys R Us trademarks, mooting a pending motion for judgment after the defendants retained counsel who appeared in the case.
-
July 11, 2025
UK Litigation Roundup: Here's What You Missed In London
This past week in London has seen HS2 hit with a defamation claim by two ex-employees who blew the whistle on alleged under-reporting of costs, Craig Wright and nChain face legal action brought by its former chief financial officer over a fraud scheme, and pro-footballer Axel Tuanzebe bring a clinical negligence claim against his former club Manchester United F.C. Here, Law360 looks at these and other new claims in the U.K.
-
July 10, 2025
Punitive Damages Ruling Deferred In Jack Nicklaus' Fla. Suit
A Florida state court judge deferred a decision on whether he'll overrule a previous order denying punitive damages in a defamation lawsuit brought by former professional golfer Jack Nicklaus against a company he founded and two of its officers, saying there must be enough evidence to find that reprehensible misconduct occurred.
-
July 10, 2025
$33M Sonos Appeal Has Fed. Circ. Asking: What's Up, Alsup?
A Federal Circuit panel struggled Thursday to piece together the different interpretations of what U.S. District Judge William Alsup decided before upending Sonos Inc.'s $32.5 million jury verdict against Google LLC, with one judge claiming disbelief that there could be such a "fundamental disconnect" between the companies' understandings.
-
July 10, 2025
Stewart Won't Review Newer IP Without Challenger's Promises
The acting U.S. Patent and Trademark Office director on Thursday discretionarily denied challenges to patents issued within the last four years after the alleged infringer didn't file a stipulation in parallel litigation to limit overlap.
-
July 10, 2025
Carma Says Ex-CLO, President Stole Hulk Hogan Beer Ideas
Carma HoldCo Inc. has filed a $10 million lawsuit in Illinois federal court against its former president and chief legal officer, accusing them of misappropriating its trade secrets and business plans related to "Real American" beer in a partnership with wrestler Hulk Hogan after they were terminated.
-
July 10, 2025
Fed. Circ. Backs Novartis PTAB Win Over Shilpa MS Patent
The Federal Circuit on Thursday issued a one-word order affirming a Patent Trial and Appeal Board decision invalidating claims in a Shilpa Pharma Inc. patent that it has accused Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp. of infringing with the drugmaker's multiple sclerosis drug.
-
July 10, 2025
Judge Trims IP Claims In Voice Actors' Suit Against AI Co.
A New York federal judge ruled Thursday that two voice actors accusing an artificial intelligence startup of cloning their voices for narration software without permission can proceed with their state-level claims, but their trademark and most of their copyright claims must be dismissed for now.
-
July 10, 2025
Mo' Money Mo' Problems: Biggie Smalls' Widow Sued Over IP
A record executive has sued the Notorious B.I.G.'s widow, Faith Evans, in Delaware Chancery Court, accusing the R&B singer of improperly trying to seize control of her late husband's hip-hop music catalog, which includes chart-topping hits like "Juicy" and "Mo' Money, Mo' Problems," following his mother's recent death.
-
July 10, 2025
X Can't Escape Don Lemon Suit, But Musk Can, Judge Says
X Corp. has lost its bid to ditch all of former CNN anchor Don Lemon's lawsuit claiming the social media platform reeled him into a talk show partnership and then unceremoniously canceled the deal, although its leader Elon Musk was allowed to duck out of the case.
-
July 10, 2025
Original BBQ Joint Lays Claim To TM In Fight With Franchise
The original location in a North Carolina chain of barbecue restaurants has shot back at a trademark infringement suit brought by the company that runs its sister restaurants, arguing it never lost ownership of the marks after the two entities split ways two decades ago.
-
July 10, 2025
Florida Restaurateur Can't Get Shrimp TM, Fed. Circ. Affirms
The Federal Circuit on Thursday refused to revive an author and restaurateur's bid to register a trademark for "Yucatán Shrimp" at his Florida eatery named after his crime novels, backing the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's finding that the mark would be merely descriptive.
-
July 10, 2025
AT&T's $181M Patent Loss Gets Tough Look At Fed. Circ.
A Federal Circuit panel had hard questions for an attorney looking to safeguard Finesse Wireless' $181 million verdict against AT&T and Nokia for infringing a pair of radio interference patents, with one judge in particular seemingly taking issue Thursday with the infringement findings.Â
-
July 10, 2025
College Apparel Co. Seeks New Trial In Penn State TM Case
A print-on-demand company that was permanently barred from using The Pennsylvania State University's name or logos asked a federal judge for a new trademark infringement trial, saying the verdict form at the first trial was confusing to the jury and the university's evidence had not shown it used the marks illegally.
-
July 10, 2025
Calif. Vape Co. Drops Claims Over Allegedly Counterfeit G Pen
California-based GS Holistic LLC has reached a deal with a Michigan smoke shop that will end claims the retailer was selling counterfeit versions of its G Pen e-cigarettes without authorization at a fraction of the price, according to a notice issued by a federal judge.
-
July 10, 2025
Fed. Circ. Judges Get Tough With Phillips 66 In Retrial Spat
The Federal Circuit tangled with Phillips 66 on Wednesday over the "talismanic significance" of a lower court judge declaring the oil and gas giant had made prejudicial arguments in an infringement case over oil refinery patents.
-
July 10, 2025
11th Circ. Revives Case Over $3.1M Glassware Verdict Debt
The Eleventh Circuit has revived a case over $3.1 million in debt resulting from a jury verdict finding that two glass companies had copied the designs of another business, saying a lower court was wrong to find that the infringing companies' bankruptcy had wiped the debt out.
-
July 10, 2025
Jazz Looks To Block Avadel From Asking For Sleep Drug OK
Jazz Pharmaceuticals wants a Delaware federal judge to block Avadel CNS Pharmaceuticals from seeking U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval for its Lumryz drug to treat the sleep disorder idiopathic hypersomnia, after the Federal Circuit sent the case back to the lower court.
-
July 10, 2025
Sony, Baseball Coach Settle TM Suit Over Video Game
The Future Stars Series baseball training program has settled a lawsuit with Sony that accused the media giant of stealing its name and using it for an MLB video game.
-
July 10, 2025
Judge Clears Karol G, Dutch DJ Of Song Ripoff Allegations
A Florida federal judge has tossed claims from flautist and composer René Lorente alleging Colombian singer Karol G and Dutch DJ Tiësto's song "Don't Be Shy" copied elements of one of his songs, doubting the testimony of Lorente's expert witness.
-
July 10, 2025
Airline Mogul Resolves Hacking Case Against NC Investigator
Aviation executive Farhad Azima has resolved his long-running lawsuit accusing a North Carolina private investigator of leaking his emails as part of an international hacking conspiracy, according to a joint motion dropping the case filed in federal court.
-
July 10, 2025
Nutter Atty Promoted To Firm's GC Role
Nutter McClennen & Fish LLP has picked its assistant firm counsel, who previously worked at Ropes & Gray LLP, as its new general counsel, the firm announced Tuesday.
-
July 09, 2025
Alaska Airlines Seeks Delta Discovery For TM Feud In UK
Alaska Airlines asked a Georgia federal judge to allow it to take discovery from Delta Airlines on Wednesday for use in a U.K. court case against Virgin Group, which Alaska said is trying to charge it millions of dollars so that Alaska's rivals can use the Virgin brand.
-
July 09, 2025
J&J Unit Owes $76.6M For Ending AI Tissue Imaging Deal
A New York federal judge held Tuesday that Johnson & Johnson's Ethicon unit owes ChemImage Corp. $76.6 million after unilaterally ending their deal to develop in-surgery artificial intelligence imaging techniques, adopting a 17% discount rate on intellectual property impairment damages proposed by ChemImage as opposed to Ethicon's proposed 40% rate.
-
July 09, 2025
USPTO Defends Termination Of Art Project Patent App
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Wednesday defended its decision to sanction an art kit company that hired a patent services business that used a licensed practitioner's signature in a patent application without permission, saying it had the authority to terminate the application.
Editor's Picks
-
2024 Patent Litigation: A Year In Review
The Eastern District of Texas held onto its newly regained title as the busiest patent venue in the U.S., with nearly three times as many cases in 2024 as the once-dominant Western District of Texas. In addition, Patent Trial and Appeal Board filings bounced back after falling to a record low in 2023.
-
My So-Called Retirement: Some IP Lawyers Just Can't Quit
When patent partner Terry Rea set out to retire, the onetime acting director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office had her eyes on the independence that retirement promises — flexible hours, fewer deadlines and less stress over having lots of people counting on you.
-
Trade Secrets Emerge As Path For Cos. To Protect AI Works
Classifying creations of artificial intelligence tools as trade secrets has become a viable alternative to copyrights and patents — a shift that is presenting businesses using AI with a range of strategies and risks they must consider to protect their innovations.
Expert Analysis
-
Opinion
New USPTO Leadership Must Address Low-Quality Patents
With John Squires in line to become the new director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the agency has an opportunity to refocus its mission on prioritizing quality in patent examination and taking a harsher stance against low-quality patents and patent trolls, says Jill Crosby at Engine Advocacy & Foundation.
-
Opinion
High Court Must Overrule Outdated Patent Eligibility Doctrine
A certiorari petition should directly ask the U.S. Supreme Court to correct its 1972 patent decision in Gottschalk v. Benson, the critical point where patent eligibility law veered from the statutory text toward judicial policymaking, says Robert Greenspoon at Dunlap Bennett.
-
Series
Playing The Violin Makes Me A Better Lawyer
Playing violin in a string quartet reminds me that flexibility, ambition, strong listening skills, thoughtful leadership and intentional collaboration are all keys to a successful legal practice, says Julie Park at MoFo.
-
DOJ Enforcement Trends To Watch In 2nd Half Of 2025
Recent investigations, settlements and a declination to prosecute suggest that controlling the flow of goods into and out of the country, and redressing what the administration sees as reverse discrimination, are likely to be at the forefront of the U.S. Department of Justice's enforcement agenda the rest of this year, say attorneys at Baker Botts.
-
The State Of AI Adoption In The Patent Field
The use of generative artificial intelligence in patent-related practices has lagged behind early predictions, which may be explained by a number of core concerns that organizations must address before seriously considering adoption, say attorney Michael Drapkin and leadership coach Michael Colacchio.
-
Purdue Case Could Transform Patent Obviousness Analyses
If accepted for review by the U.S. Supreme Court, Purdue Pharma v. Accord Healthcare — concerning whether Purdue's abuse-deterrent opioid formulation patents were invalid as obvious — could significantly shift how courts weigh secondary considerations in patent obviousness analyses, say attorneys at Lathrop.
-
'Top Gun' And 'Together' IP Suits Spotlight Similarity Issues
The outcome of recent lawsuits revolving around the films "Top Gun: Maverick" and "Together" may set meaningful precedents for how courts analyze substantial similarity in creative works, say attorneys at Greenspoon Marder.
-
Series
Law School's Missed Lessons: Practicing Self-Care
Law schools don’t teach the mental, physical and emotional health maintenance tools necessary to deal with the profession's many demands, but practicing self-care is an important key to success that can help to improve focus, manage stress and reduce burnout, says Rachel Leonard​​​​​​​ at MG+M.
-
ABA Opinion Makes It A Bit Easier To Drop A 'Hot Potato'
The American Bar Association's recent ethics opinion clarifies when attorneys may terminate clients without good cause, though courts may still disqualify a lawyer who drops a client like a hot potato, so sending a closeout letter is always a best practice, say attorneys at Thompson Hine.
-
IRhythm IPR Denial Raises Key PTAB Discretion Questions
By giving the passage of time a dispositive role in denying institution of five inter partes review petitions filed by iRhythm Technologies, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has upended the strategic considerations for filing and defending against IPRs, disclosing prior art during prosecution, and engaging in licensing negotiations, say attorneys at Dentons.
-
Dupes Boom Spurs IP Risks, Opportunities For Investors
The rising popularity of dupe products has created a dynamic marketplace where both dupes-based businesses and established branded companies can thrive, but investors must consider a host of legal implications, especially when the dupes straddle a fine line between imitation and intellectual property infringement, say attorneys at Ropes & Gray.
-
Opinion
IPR Denial In IRhythm Should Not Set A Blanket Rule
Though the Patent Trial and Appeal Board's discretionary denial in iRhythm v. Welch Allyn last month raised concerns that mere knowledge of a patent could bar inter partes review institution, a closer look at the facts and reasoning reveals why this case's holdings should not be reflexively applied to all petitioners, says David McCombs at Haynes Boone.
-
Series
My Opera And Baseball Careers Make Me A Better Lawyer
Though participating in opera and the world of professional baseball often pulls me away from the office, my avocations improve my legal career by helping me perform under scrutiny, prioritize team success, and maintain joy and perspective at work, says Adam Unger at Herrick Feinstein.
-
Opinion
Subject Matter Eligibility Test Should Return To Preemption
Subject matter eligibility has posed challenges for patentees due to courts' arbitrary and confusing reasoning, but adopting a two-part preemption test could align the applicant, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the courts, says Manav Das at McDonnell Boehnen.
-
8 Ways Lawyers Can Protect The Rule Of Law In Their Work
Whether they are concerned with judicial independence, regulatory predictability or client confidence, lawyers can take specific meaningful actions on their own when traditional structures are too slow or too compromised to respond, says Angeli Patel at the Berkeley Center of Law and Business.