Second Circuit: Remote DVR system does not infringe content providers’ copyrights In a decision last week, the Second Circuit reversed a lower court's grant of summary judgment holding that the defendant's remote-storage DVR system violated the plaintiffs' rights of reproduction and public performance. The Plaintiffs were various content providers, and the defendant was a cable company. The remote-storage DVR system lets customers store recorded television shows […] Continue Reading →
Third Circuit: Evidence of secondary meaning must correspond to the asserted mark In a decision Wednesday, the Third Circuit affirmed a district court's grant of summary judgment in a trademark case, finding the asserted mark not protectible as a matter of law.The district court granted summary judgment that the mark was generic. On appeal, the Third Circuit held there was a genuine issue of fact as to […] Continue Reading →
FDA research safe harbor does not extend to devices not subject to FDA approval In a decision Tuesday, the Federal Circuit affirmed a district court's holding of patent infringement on the basis that the "safe harbor" provision of the Hatch-Waxman Act, § 271(e)(1), did not insulate the accused activity from infringement and that the district court did not err in granting a judgment as a matter of law in […] Continue Reading →
When exclusion order based on multiple patents, failure to appeal under each may render appeal moot In a decision last week, the Federal Circuit affirmed the United States International Trade Commission's finding of infringement and validity. The claims were brought under three patents that all claimed priority to a common parent application, and thus would ordinarily all expire on the same day. However, one of the three patents was subject to […] Continue Reading →
USPTO proposes limitations on fax submissions and font size In a Federal Register notice published today, the USPTO is proposing to limit the types of documents that may be submitted to the Office via fax, as well as mandating a larger font size in documents submitted to the Office. With regard to the fax limitation, the revised rules would prohibit most types of submissions […] Continue Reading →
Finding of inequitable conduct without considering materiality vacated In a decision on Friday, the Federal Circuit reversed a district court's summary judgment of invalidity and noninfringement and subsequent finding of inequitable conduct. The court also vacated the district court's exceptional case finding and the associated award of attorney's fees.The plaintiff was initially awarded partial summary judgment of infringement of six patents. The district […] Continue Reading →
Patry copyright blog is no more It's a sad day in the blogosphere, as Bill Patry, author of Patry on Copyright and the Patry Copyright Blog, has announced he is shutting down his blog. We've linked to Professor Patry's commentary on copyright law on many occasions, and his additional insight into copyright issues will be missed. Other blogs noting his departure: […] Continue Reading →