On May 2, a federal jury in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia ruled in favor of Columbia University in a patent-infringement lawsuit against NortonLifeLock Inc. The university sued the company, previously known as Symantec, in 2013 for...
How patent litigation and appeals work
Patents are essential, but they are most potent when the holder is willing to protect them. This may include high-stakes jury trials, bench trials and perhaps a subsequent appeal to the Circuit Court. The results can involve permanent injunctions, financial damages,...
What is an inter-partes review?
Inter partes review (IPR) is a trial proceeding conducted before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board's (PTAB) the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) board of review. The purpose is to determine the validity of a US patent and the viability of one or more...
2020: Economy down, patent litigation up
Economic downturns like the one the pandemic produced last year tend to produce certain effects, such as rising unemployment, a decrease in gross domestic product, a drop in gasoline prices due to reduced demand, a tightening of credit and an increase in patent...
Tragically Hip files trademark infringement suit over 100th Meridian beer
Because The Tragically Hip long ago secured its place among Canada’s musical legends, the band has a legacy to protect. It appears that that is exactly what the group originally from Kingston, Ontario, is trying to do with its lawsuit alleging trademark infringement...
Name game: the intersection of craft brewing and IP
In the 1950s, artists such as Chuck Berry and Little Richard fused blues, gospel and country music to create a raw new form of music called rock ‘n’ roll. Kindred spirits of rebellion and innovation are evident in the craft breweries that are taking on an alcohol...
What is fair use?
As you conduct business, you must pay attention to the trade secrets that set your business products and services apart from those of competitors in the marketplace. You may be on either side of a potential controversy over intellectual property such as the following:...
Adidas loses trademark fight with Belgian shoe company
German sportswear company Adidas lost another trademark battle. According to a recent report, an EU court labeled its three-stripe design as "not distinct enough." This comes after a long-running legal dispute between Adidas and Belgian sportswear company, Shoe...
How new businesses fail to protect their IP
Your intellectual property (IP) lies at the heart of your new business. Without it, your business won’t stand out in the market and you will have nothing to differentiate yourself from your competitors. With IP so vitally important, why do so many new businesses fail...
Can someone use my trademark in a domain name?
Internet domain names are at the center of many legal battles. Fully understanding how someone can use a trademark as or part of a domain name is imperative for anyone running a business with a webpage. A trademark is any word, name, symbol, or combination of those...
