IP News
March 01, 2018
Federal Circuit Vacates Noninfringement Decision Finding a Genuine Dispute as to Divided Infringement<br>Patent Trial and Appeal Board Holds Sovereign Immunity No Defense to IPR Petition Brought by Accused Infringer
Trademark Board's Precedential Ruling on Use in Commerce
February 01, 2018
In a nearly 50-page precedential opinion in a ruling of great significance to the entertainment industry, a TTAB panel of judges recently underscored the need to prove actual use in commerce in order to register a trademark, regardless of how low the standard for use under the Lanham Act has recently become.
Federal Circuit Holds Scandalous or Immoral Marks Entitled to Registration
February 01, 2018
<b><i>Refusal Is an Unconstitutional Violation of Free Speech</b></i><p>On Dec. 15, 2017, a unanimous Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit held that despite Appellant's mark comprising “immoral or scandalous” matter, the PTO could no longer refuse federal registration of such marks on the grounds that this refusal violated the free speech clause of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
IP News
February 01, 2018
Judges Newman and Reyna Argue that Litigation Misconduct does not Demonstrate Intent to Deceive the PTO<br>Federal Circuit Affirms Board's Decisions in IPRs Finding a Video Conferencing Patent Not Anticipated or Obvious<br>Federal Circuit Affirms No Intent to Deceive for Inequitable Conduct Claim Where Inventors Should Have Documented Findings to the USPTO
TTAB: Trademark Use Must be Proven
January 01, 2018
<b><i>Board Says It Doesn't Matter Whether Use Is By a Trademark Owner Or a Third Party</b></i><p>In a nearly 50-page precedential opinion, the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) panel of Judges Adlin, Heasely, and Lynch, underscored the need to prove actual use in commerce in order to register a trademark, regardless of how low the standard for use under the Lanham Act has recently become. <i>Tao Licensing, LLC, v. Bender Consulting d/b/a Asia Pacific Beverages.</i>
Supreme Court Doesn't Sound Ready to Kill Off PTAB
January 01, 2018
<b><i>There Was No Clear Majority at Oral Argument Signaling the Death of</i> Inter Partes <i>Review</b></i><p>November 27 was supposed to be the big Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) showdown at the U.S. Supreme Court. After two hours of questioning, it seemed more like a big bust.
IP News
January 01, 2018
Federal Circuit Affirms Finding That Rembrandt's Patent Is Not Infringed by Apple's Accused Products<br>District Court Transfers Case after Federal Circuit Ordered It to Reconsider Party's Venue Objections In Light of <i>TC Heartland</i><brPTAB Decision Invalidating AIP Internet Network Patent Affirmed on Appeal