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Will the Supreme Court Remove <i>Brulotte</i>'s Shadow Over Patent Licensing?
Part One, last month, set the stage for a possible overruling by the U.S. Supreme Court of its 1964 ruling in Brulotte v. Thys Co. that the collection of royalties after a patent's expiration constitutes per se patent misuse by looking at the case's critics and its impact on licensing over the last 50 years. In Part Two, the authors continue that discussion and look at the arguments made to the Supreme Court for and against overruling the case.
Hybrid Licenses
Courts have also struggled in dealing with post-expiration royalty provisions in so-called “hybrid” licenses ' package licenses for issued patent rights and non-patent rights, such as trade secrets and know-how. The Eleventh Circuit, for instance, has held that a hybrid license constitutes misuse under Brulotte where: 1) the rights granted under the license agreement applied equally before and after the patents' expiration; and 2) the agreement required the licensee to pay royalties at the same rate and on the same basis both before and after the patents' expiration. See, Pitney Bowes, Inc. v. Mestre, 701 F.2d 1365, 1373 (11th Cir. 1983).
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Major Differences In UK, U.S. Copyright Laws
This article highlights how copyright law in the United Kingdom differs from U.S. copyright law, and points out differences that may be crucial to entertainment and media businesses familiar with U.S law that are interested in operating in the United Kingdom or under UK law. The article also briefly addresses contrasts in UK and U.S. trademark law.
The Article 8 Opt In
The Article 8 opt-in election adds an additional layer of complexity to the already labyrinthine rules governing perfection of security interests under the UCC. A lender that is unaware of the nuances created by the opt in (may find its security interest vulnerable to being primed by another party that has taken steps to perfect in a superior manner under the circumstances.
Strategy vs. Tactics: Two Sides of a Difficult Coin
With each successive large-scale cyber attack, it is slowly becoming clear that ransomware attacks are targeting the critical infrastructure of the most powerful country on the planet. Understanding the strategy, and tactics of our opponents, as well as the strategy and the tactics we implement as a response are vital to victory.
Removing Restrictive Covenants In New York
In Rockwell v. Despart, the New York Supreme Court, Third Department, recently revisited a recurring question: When may a landowner seek judicial removal of a covenant restricting use of her land?
Legal Possession: What Does It Mean?
Possession of real property is a matter of physical fact. Having the right or legal entitlement to possession is not "possession," possession is "the fact of having or holding property in one's power." That power means having physical dominion and control over the property.