Combatting Patent Trolls
December 01, 2024
A subject of extensive debate within the U.S. patent system has been the classification of “patent trolls” — most widely defined as individuals or companies that acquire patents solely for the purpose of assertion, often in cases without any merit, but which leverage the high cost of patent litigation defense to force small settlements.
What Can IP Practitioners Expect from Trump 2.0?
December 01, 2024
President-elect Donald Trump did not make intellectual property (IP) policy a major focus of his 2024 election campaign, but his policy priorities are nearly certain to have a profound effect on the IP landscape when he takes office in January.
Subchapter V Could Be Ideal Choice for Franchisees
December 01, 2024
When franchisees choose to financially reorganize under the Bankruptcy Code, they may be the right size to choose to reorganize under Subchapter V of Chapter 11. Where the franchisor and the franchisee cannot reconcile, Subchapter V may provide the franchisee with breathing room and leverage to be revitalized.
An NDA Is Not a ‘Magic Talisman’ for Trade Secret Protection
December 01, 2024
An NDA can cover information that would not qualify as a trade secret under state or federal law, and it can provide limited contractual protection to that information. But it is not a “magic talisman” for the protection of intellectual property, and it cannot create trade secret protection where it would not otherwise exist.
IP News
December 01, 2024
A look at the latest developments in intellectual property law.
Artist Challenges Copyright Office Refusal to Register Award-Winning AI-Assisted Work
November 01, 2024
Copyright law has long struggled to keep pace with advances in technology, and the debate around the copyrightability of AI-assisted works is no exception. At issue is the human authorship requirement: the principle that a work must have a human author to be eligible for copyright protection. While the Copyright Office has previously cited this "bedrock requirement of copyright" to reject registrations, recent decisions have focused on the role of human authorship in the context of AI.
The Federal Circuit Clarifies Who Can Be an Expert In Patent Cases
November 01, 2024
In September 2024, the Federal Circuit clarified the necessary qualifications for a technical expert to testify in a patent lawsuit, holding that while an expert must possess ordinary skill in the art, they need not have possessed such skill "at the time of the alleged invention."
Knockoffs: Are They Always Infringing?
November 01, 2024
When something is referred to as a "knockoff" it typically implies that the knockoff product is similar in appearance to an earlier product and is unlawful. But that is not always the case. Indeed, there can be infringing knockoffs and noninfringing knockoffs. It depends on the facts and circumstances. To appreciate the difference, a look into the general rules and some specific cases is needed.
