Patents
Another swing of the pendulum in India appears to lower the patentability bar to computer-related inventions
For all the talk of the US ‘pendulum’ moving away from and then slightly back toward software patents, India has seen its share of swings as well
http://www.iam-media.com/blog/Detail.aspx?g=b51b6d5f-af53-4c56-bc13-75341f710795
IP counsels on the fence over unitary patent: RWS inovia
This is the finding of a report by RWS inovia, a patent filing, IP translation and patent search service provider, released on Wednesday, June 28
http://www.worldipreview.com/news/ip-counsels-on-the-fence-over-unitary-patent-rws-inovia-14272
EPO staff strike again
According to a document seen by WIPR, the Central Staff Committee (CSC) and local staff committees across the EPO’s sites informed EPO president Benoît Battistelli of the strike on May 22
http://www.worldipreview.com/news/epo-staff-hold-strike-to-protest-reform-plans-14273
A step too far: Apple sued for patent infringement over fitness apps
The case was filed at the US District Court for the Eastern District of Texas on Sunday, June 30
http://www.worldipreview.com/news/a-step-too-far-apple-sued-for-patent-infringement-over-fitness-apps-14276
Taiwan chipmaker’s patent claims against Toshiba spark rumoured takeover interest
A Taiwanese chipmaker’s first offensive patent assertion campaign in the US has taken aim at Toshiba, whose semiconductor unit is currently the subject of a fierce takeover contest
http://www.iam-media.com/blog/Detail.aspx?g=bd458c6b-54e9-4dfd-9ae4-18c4ac68550b
Bike patent figures revealed as Tour de France continues
The cycling industry is expected to be worth over $45 billion by 2024, according to Persistence Market Research, and it appears patent owners in Europe don’t want to miss out
http://www.worldipreview.com/news/bike-patent-figures-revealed-as-tour-de-france-continues-14282
NSA updates patent portfolio for licensing
According to the NSA, a US government agency, the TTP creates partnerships between the agency and industry to ensure that the NSA’s investments in research find additional uses that will benefit the US economy
http://www.worldipreview.com/news/nsa-updates-patent-portfolio-for-licensing-14284
Brazil’s Anvisa Enjoys Industry Support Despite Regulatory Changes, Low Funding
Brazil’s regulatory agency must now approve drug applications in specified timeframes, despite lack of resources; industry nevertheless sees a bright future for Anvisa and other agencies in region
https://pink.pharmamedtechbi.com/PS121017/Brazils-Anvisa-Enjoys-Industry-Support-Despite-Regulatory-Changes-Low-Funding
Indian Patent Office updates guidelines on computer-related inventions
Released on Friday, June 30, the 18-page document (PDF) outlines various regulations and explanations regarding CRI patent laws
http://www.worldipreview.com/news/indian-patent-office-updates-guidelines-on-computer-related-inventions-14286
Nokia enters patent agreement with Xiaomi
According to a statement released today, Xiaomi will acquire patents from Nokia as part of the transaction
http://www.worldipreview.com/news/nokia-enters-patent-agreement-with-xiaomi-14289
European Patent Office outlines policy brief on climate change
Published on Monday, July 3, the policy brief aims to “encourage an informed debate on climate change mitigation technologies, with findings based on the most recent data sources”
http://www.worldipreview.com/news/european-patent-office-outlines-policy-brief-on-climate-change-14294
Newegg wins attorneys’ fees in camera patent battle
In July 2010 AdjustaCam sued dozens of companies, including Amazon and Walmart, for patent infringement regarding US patent number 5,855,343, relating to adjustable camera clips
http://www.worldipreview.com/news/newegg-wins-attorneys-fees-in-camera-patent-battle-14293
Sennheiser sued for patent infringement over wireless earpiece
The case was filed yesterday, July 5, at the US District Court for the Northern District of California and centres on technology covering a wireless radiation-free earpiece
http://www.worldipreview.com/news/sennheiser-sued-for-patent-infringement-over-wireless-earpiece-14291
Five key takeaways from the big patent and business deal agreed by Nokia and Xiaomi
Yesterday, Nokia announced a patent cross-licence and sale agreement with Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi, which it said was part of a broader business cooperation agreement. No financial terms were disclosed, but we know that both sides will get a multi-year licence to wireless SEPS, and that the Chinese company will acquire some of Nokia’s patent assets outright
http://www.iam-media.com/blog/Detail.aspx?g=db34ac21-17f2-481d-b563-d463732cd85e
Qualcomm seeks ban of iPhone imports in latest twist in patent tussle
As well as the ITC complaint, Qualcomm filed a case against Apple in the US District Court for the Southern District of California yesterday, July 6
http://www.worldipreview.com/news/qualcomm-seeks-ban-of-iphone-imports-in-latest-twist-in-patent-battle-14300
Top Chinese appliances IP chief says more patent litigation is coming to the industry – and not just in China
Appliance giants Gree Electric and Midea are contesting one of China’s biggest competitor suits this summer, as their fierce rivalry in the air conditioning space spills into the patent courts
http://www.iam-media.com/blog/Detail.aspx?g=6651875e-e8e1-452a-a1fe-716eab78b2d8
Supreme Court of Canada rules on Promise Doctrine in favor of Pharma Patent Owners
On Friday, June 30th, the Supreme Court of Canada issued a ruling in AstraZeneca Canada Inc. v. Apotex Inc., which gives patent owners a far greater ability to protect their intellectual property in the face of Canada’s Promise Doctrine, a part of Canadian patent law that requires an invention to be “useful” in order to be patent-eligible subject matter
http://www.ipwatchdog.com/2017/07/06/supreme-court-canada-rules-promise-doctrine/id=85420/
Why is Steven Anderson of Culver Franchising testifying on patent reform in front of Congress?
Recently, we published coverage of the House IP subcommittee, chaired by Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA), and its recent hearing of the impacts of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in TC Heartland v. Kraft Foods Group Brands. Among the panel of witnesses was Steven Anderson, VP and general counsel of Culver Franchising System, Inc., a Wisconsin-based quick service restaurant chain which licenses its restaurant brand to a large number of franchisees
http://www.ipwatchdog.com/2017/07/06/steven-anderson-culver-franchising-testifying-patent-reform-congress/id=85282/
Trademarks
Victoria’s Secret settles trademark dispute with Redbubble
Victoria’s Secret had sued the online marketplace in July last year, alleging that Redbubble was infringing its ‘Victoria’s Secret’ and ‘Pink’ marks and logos
http://www.worldipreview.com/news/victoria-s-secret-settles-trademark-dispute-with-redbubble-14268
Protecting trademarks across borders
In the era of globalisation, trademark laws should be more uniform in order to assist brand owners, particularly those with famous trademarks, say Jaya Mandelia and Namrita Kochhar of Singh & Singh Law Firm
http://www.worldipreview.com/article/protecting-trademarks-across-borders
Beyonce seeks to trademark rumoured names of twins
The registrations were both filed by the same company, BGK Trademark Holdings, which also applied for ‘Blue Ivy’ (US registration number 86883293) earlier this year. Blue Ivy is the first daughter of the couple
http://www.worldipreview.com/news/beyonce-seeks-to-trademark-rumoured-names-of-twins-14274
Native Americans drop trademark suit against Redskins
On Thursday, June 29, the group wrote in a note to the US Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit that there is no need for an oral argument because it agreed with the US Supreme Court’s decision in Matal v Tam
http://www.worldipreview.com/news/native-americans-drop-trademark-suit-against-redskins-14275
Forever 21 takes pre-emptive strike against Gucci over stripe trademarks
The case was filed last Monday, June 26, at the US District Court for the Central District of California
http://www.worldipreview.com/news/forever-21-takes-pre-emptive-strike-against-gucci-over-stripe-trademarks-14277
Lidl faces Kroger lawsuit over ‘Preferred Selection’ range
After opening its first store in the US in June, Lidl is facing a lawsuit over a trademark it filed to cover a food range
http://www.worldipreview.com/news/lidl-faces-kroger-lawsuit-over-preferred-selection-range-14283
BMW seeks damages for trademark infringement
The case was filed on Monday, July 3, at the US District Court for the Central District of California
http://www.worldipreview.com/news/bmw-seeks-damages-for-trademark-infringement-14287
McAfee settles trademark dispute with Intel
The case was dismissed yesterday, July 5, at the US District Court for the Southern District of New York
http://www.worldipreview.com/news/mcafee-settles-trademark-dispute-with-intel-14292
Sausage brand cleared of infringement in meaty battle
Parks, which also sells a range of meats, initially filed the complaint for trademark infringement at the US District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania in February 2015
http://www.worldipreview.com/news/sausage-brand-cleared-of-infringement-in-meaty-battle-14298
Copyright
Warner Bros and Tolkien estate resolve $80m copyright suit
The parties filed a stipulation to dismiss the case on Friday, June 30, at the US District Court for the District of California
http://www.worldipreview.com/news/warner-bros-and-tolkien-estate-resolve-80m-copyright-suit-14281
Screenwriter defeated at Ninth Circuit in Shakespeare suit
A screenwriter who claimed his copyrighted work on William Shakespeare had been infringed has lost his case at the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
http://www.worldipreview.com/news/screenwriter-defeated-at-ninth-circuit-in-shakespeare-suit-14299
Piracy
UK man spared prison despite Kodi piracy sentence
A British man who purchased Kodi boxes from China and installed piracy software before selling them at a profit has been handed a suspended 18-month prison sentence
http://www.trademarksandbrandsonline.com/news/uk-man-spared-prison-despite-kodi-piracy-sentence-5027
Domain Name
Instagram wins transfer of infringing domain at WIPO
The complaint was initially filed at the World Intellectual Property Organization Arbitration and Mediation Center in April
http://www.trademarksandbrandsonline.com/news/instagram-wins-transfer-of-infringing-domain-at-wipo-5029