Law.com Subscribers SAVE 30%

Call 855-808-4530 or email [email protected] to receive your discount on a new subscription.

At High Court, Just One IP Case That Matters

By Scott Graham
November 02, 2017

The 2017 term at the U.S. Supreme Court looks to be a quiet one for intellectual property. But with one potential bang in the middle.

The High Court has put only two IP cases on its docket thus far. Last year, it heard eight. Both of this year's cases involve the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) and will be argued Nov. 27. There aren't many other obvious IP candidates on the immediate horizon, other than a wonky extraterritoriality case that the Court has referred to the solicitor general for a recommendation. See, WesternGeco LLCv. ION Geophysical Corp., 16-1011.

But one of the two PTAB cases is potentially explosive. Petitioners in Oil States Energy Services v. Greene's Energy Group, 16-712, argue that an administrative procedure for challenging patent validity is unconstitutional. The procedure, known as inter partes review (IPR) and established five years ago by the America Invents Act (AIA), has quickly become the No. 1 venue for patent validity challenges. Some 7,500 AIA challenges have been filed to date, with more than 1,300 resulting in at least some patent claims cancelled.

This premium content is locked for Entertainment Law & Finance subscribers only

  • Stay current on the latest information, rulings, regulations, and trends
  • Includes practical, must-have information on copyrights, royalties, AI, and more
  • Tap into expert guidance from top entertainment lawyers and experts

For enterprise-wide or corporate acess, please contact Customer Service at [email protected] or 877-256-2473

Read These Next
Major Differences In UK, U.S. Copyright Laws Image

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 Image

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 Image

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 Image

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? Image

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.