Trademarks
Bentley Motors loses trademark invalidity action against Bentley
The Bentley clothing brand, established in 1962, had registered the trademark ‘Bentley’ at the UK Intellectual Property Office (IPO) in 2009.
http://www.worldipreview.com/news/bentley-motors-loses-trademark-invalidity-action-against-bentley-13692
Jimi Hendrix estate sues brother for trademark infringement
The estate of rock musician Jimi Hendrix has filed a lawsuit against Hendrix’s brother Leon, alleging trademark and copyright infringement.
http://www.worldipreview.com/news/jimi-hendrix-estate-sues-brother-for-trademark-infringement-13698
Days Inn sues former franchisee for TM infringement
Days Inn sued (pdf) Singh Hospitality at the US District Court for the District of New Jersey on Thursday, March 16, arguing that it had competed unfairly, and contributorily infringed and diluted its mark.
http://www.worldipreview.com/news/days-inn-sues-former-franchisee-for-tm-infringement-13705
TM registered after Sports Direct opposition fails
On January 31 this year, Beverley Hedley, hearing officer of the IPO, rejected a trademark opposition brought by Sports Direct against Fitness Direct.
http://www.worldipreview.com/news/tm-registered-after-sports-direct-opposition-fails-13706
Patents
SCOTUS to hear oral arguments in patent exhaustion case
The US Supreme Court is due to hear oral arguments tomorrow in the Impression Products v Lexmark dispute, which centres on patent exhaustion.
http://www.worldipreview.com/news/scotus-to-hear-oral-arguments-in-patent-exhaustion-case-13697
Supreme Court of the United States to Hear Oral Arguments in Patent Exhaustion Case
On March 21, 2017, the Supreme Court of the United States will hear oral arguments for the case of Impression Products, Inc. v. Lexmark International, Inc. The Court will decide: (i) whether the patent exhaustion doctrine applies in instances where a patented article is sold by the patent holder subject to a lawful and clearly communicated post-sale restriction; and (ii) whether the foreign sale of a U.S. patented article, authorized by the patent holder, exhausts the patent holder’s U.S. patent rights in that article.
http://www.ipwatchdog.com/2017/03/19/supreme-court-oral-arguments-patent-exhaustion-case/id=79535/
New data suggests that Japanese courts continue to be deeply unfriendly to patent owners
Recent statistics published by the Supreme Court of Japan seem to underline the old adage that the country’s courts are among the least patentee-friendly among the world’s major IP jurisdictions. But there may be more to the figures than meets the eye.
http://www.iam-media.com/blog/Detail.aspx?g=16dd177b-6cc3-42d4-b452-42057c78459f
Korean sovereign patent fund Intellectual Discovery gets a new boss, but questions remain over its future
Korean sovereign patent fund operator Intellectual Discovery (ID) has new leadership in place following the abrupt departure of CEO Kwang Jun Kim, first reported by this blog last October. Media reports name the new president and CEO as Jung Dong-soo, a former patent executive with SK Hynix.
http://www.iam-media.com/blog/Detail.aspx?g=cb4c1f7e-0842-4f53-861e-61db3cf35953
USITC investigates LG over graphics patent claim
On Friday, March 17, the ITC voted to institute the investigation into certain graphics systems and products such as TVs and smartphones which contain them.
http://www.worldipreview.com/news/usitc-investigates-lg-over-graphics-patent-claim-13704
As IV increases its rate of patent sales, more of the assets it divests are ending up in court
A few weeks ago this blog covered Intellectual Ventures’ disposal of its former Kodak portfolio to Dominion Harbor. We revealed that not only was it IV’s biggest ever sale but that the firm also retained some interest in the patents, with it set to receive a portion of any profits Dominion makes from them in a classic privateering-style play.
http://www.iam-media.com/blog/Detail.aspx?g=98df0aec-42c4-42be-ad15-398ca02e6b87
Supreme Court says laches is no defense to patent infringement
Yesterday, the United States Supreme Court issued its decision in SCA Hygiene Products Aktiebolag et al. v. First Quality Baby Products, LLC, et al. The case required the Court to determine whether the defense of laches remained a viable defense to patent infringement actions when the charge of patent infringement is brought during the six-year statute of limitations. As predicted by many, the Supreme Court found that the defense of laches is inappropriate for claims brought within the statute of limitations, the same ruling reached only several years ago with respect to laches as a defense in copyright infringement claims. See Petrella v. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Inc., 572 U.S. ___ (2014).
http://www.ipwatchdog.com/2017/03/22/supreme-court-says-laches-no-defense-patent-infringement/id=79750/
USF files patent suit over sale of Alzheimer’s research mice
A recent article published by the international scientific journal Nature notes that on Tuesday, March 21st, a pre-trial hearing will take place in a case involving patent infringement claims targeting the sale of mice having mutated genes which make them useful for research into Alzheimer’s disease. While Nature’s coverage of the case indicates no small amount of bias in favor of the defendant, the original filed complaint alleges that the U.S. government funded a research laboratory that knowingly committed infringement of the asserted patent for a period of four years.
http://www.ipwatchdog.com/2017/03/21/usf-files-patent-suit-alzheimers-research-mice/id=79559/
Impression v Lexmark: SCOTUS questions patent exhaustion rules
The US Supreme Court has questioned patent exhaustion rules during oral arguments in the Impression Products v Lexmark dispute.
http://www.worldipreview.com/news/impression-v-lexmark-scotus-questions-patent-exhaustion-rules-13711
Federal Circuit rejects appeal in McAfee patent suit
A dispute over claim construction is not enough to revive a patent lawsuit brought against antivirus company McAfee, according to the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.
http://www.worldipreview.com/news/federal-circuit-rejects-appeal-in-mcafee-patent-suit-13708
Microsoft signs car patent licence agreement with Toyota
Microsoft has entered a patent licence agreement with car manufacturer Toyota focusing on broad coverage for connected car technologies.
http://www.worldipreview.com/news/microsoft-signs-car-patent-licence-agreement-with-toyota-13713
Procter & Gamble sues oral goods business for patent infringement
P&G filed its lawsuit against Ranir at the US District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Western Division on Monday, March 20.
http://www.worldipreview.com/news/procter-gamble-sues-oral-goods-business-for-patent-infringement-13717
Hysteria over creeping bentgrass leads to Oregon bill targeting GMO patent owners
In early February, a bill was introduced into the Oregon House of Representatives, which could make the state seem much less friendly to patent owners, specifically those holding patents covering genetically modified organism (GMO) technologies. The state measure is a response to the escape of genetically modified creeping bentgrass from field trials and the concerns that has raised for property owners in Oregon.
http://www.ipwatchdog.com/2017/03/23/bentgrass-leads-oregon-bill-targeting-gmo-patent-owners/id=79657/
SCOTUS to hear case on patent venue
With numerous amicus briefs filed, TC Heartland v Kraft Foods is a case of great importance that may fundamentally change patent venue rules in the US.
http://www.worldipreview.com/news/scotus-to-hear-case-on-patent-venue-13721
Latest SCOTUS ruling gives patent owners mild cause for optimism; while former USPTO chief slams Breyer
We’re currently seeing a flurry of patent activity from the Supreme Court. Earlier this week it heard oral arguments in Impression Products Inc v Lexmark International while it also released its opinion in SCA Hygiene Products Aktiebolag v First Quality Baby Products. Then on Monday the eight justices will hear arguments in the eagerly anticipated TC Heartland LLC v Kraft Food Group Brands LLC, – a case focused on venue selection in patent suits, which could undermine the Eastern District of Texas’s position as the plaintiffs’ forum of choice.
http://www.iam-media.com/blog/Detail.aspx?g=acdcba6a-72e5-429c-98c9-8842e0becfce
CAFC upholds invalidation of patent application covering patient data management tech under Alice
On Monday, March 13th, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit issued a decision upholding the Patent Trial and Appeal Board’s (PTAB) finding that a patent application covering a patient health information management system is invalid under the Alice standard. The decision is a disturbing reminder that, despite recent cases in which the Federal Circuit has overturned PTAB decisions, short-sightedness in the U.S. judiciary continues to negatively impact important burgeoning sectors of innovation.
http://www.ipwatchdog.com/2017/03/23/cafc-upholds-invalidation-patent-application-covering-patient-data-management/id=79525/
Copyright
Led Zeppelin ‘Stairway to Heaven’ copyright suit appealed
Michael Skidmore, on behalf of the late Spirit band member Randy Craig Wolfe (‘Randy California’), has filed an appeal against the decision at the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
http://www.worldipreview.com/news/led-zeppelin-stairway-to-heaven-copyright-suit-appealed-13702
Cheerleading uniforms may be copyrighted, says SCOTUS
Decorative elements of a cheerleading uniform may be protected by copyright law, according to the US Supreme Court.
http://www.worldipreview.com/news/cheerleading-uniforms-may-be-copyrighted-says-scotus-13712
Copyrights at the Supreme Court: Star Athletica v. Varsity Brands
On Wednesday, March 22nd, the U.S. Supreme Court handed down a decision in a copyright case, which clarifies federal copyright law surrounding whether features incorporated into the design of a useful article are eligible for copyright protection. In a 6-2 decision, the Supreme Court held in Star Athletica, LLC v. Varsity Brands, Inc. that such features are eligible for copyright protection if they can be perceived as a work of art separate from the useful article and would qualify as an protectable work if imagined separately from the useful article.
http://www.ipwatchdog.com/2017/03/22/copyrights-supreme-court-star-athletica-v-varsity-brands/id=79767/
Jimi Hendrix’s brother hits back at estate in IP row
The brother of late rock musician Jimi Hendrix has hit back at a trademark and copyright infringement claim brought against him by the estate of the musician.
http://www.worldipreview.com/news/jimi-hendrix-s-brother-hits-back-at-estate-in-ip-row-13720
Intellectual Property
UN report calls for global IP reforms
The UN issued the “Human Development Report 2016” on Sunday, March 19 as part of the UN Development Programme, which works with 170 countries to eradicate poverty and reduce inequalities and exclusion.
http://www.worldipreview.com/news/un-report-calls-for-global-ip-reforms-13710
Counterfeiting
BREIN appeals to Netherlands Supreme Court in piracy suit
Netherlands-based anti-piracy organisation BREIN has appealed to the Supreme Court of the Netherlands in its dispute with Usenet provider News-Service Europe (NSE).
http://www.trademarksandbrandsonline.com/news/brein-appeals-to-netherlands-supreme-court-in-piracy-suit-4956
Young people less worried about buying fakes, says EUIPO
Young people are less concerned about buying counterfeit goods than older generations, especially when the products are purchased online.
http://www.worldipreview.com/news/young-people-less-worried-about-buying-fakes-says-euipo-13719