The Game-Changing Golf Bag Stand: A Catalyst for Business Deal Making By Jacob S. Blackford Did you know that the original patent for a golf bag stand was issued to inventor Talbert Dick in 1928? Talbert would go on to be the founder of the firm that today is known as McKee, Voorhees & Sease, PLC. In the realm of business, where every handshake counts and every meeting holds potential […] Continue Reading →
Copyleft or Copyright: Exploring Copyright Protections of Memes By Ashley E. Holland Memes have been ubiquitous with internet culture for decades now. In the context of the internet, memes often take the form of images, videos, phrases, or concepts that are shared and remixed by users. They can be humorous, satirical, or convey a particular message or emotion. Memes often are best at communicating a shared experience […] Continue Reading →
Women in Law – MVS Leads the Way! By Jill N. Link, Pharm.D. March 8th is International Women’s Day. This day is meant to both celebrate women’s achievements while raising awareness about challenges faced by women and taking action to drive gender parity. At McKee Voorhees and Sease (MVS) we are always eager to recognize the achievements of women – the inventors and creators we proudly represent, the […] Continue Reading →
Sycamore Brewing versus Stone Brewing Over “Keep it Juicy” Phrase on Packaging By Ashley E. Holland Stone Brewing might have to change its marketing and packaging around its popular Hazy IPA beer. On April 21, The District Court for the Western District of North Carolina granted Sycamore Brewing’s request for Stone Brewing to stop using the phrase “keep it juicy” on their boxes of Hazy IPA beer. This case centered on […] Continue Reading →
The Great Dichotomy: Patent Protection vs. Regulatory Approval By Cassie J. Edgar As a scientist in discovery mode, the primary focus is often on points of novelty and seeking patent protection for the invention. The supporting data in the patent application serves as proof that this is a unique innovation, has never been seen before, and overcomes key challenges. However, when the product is regulated, converse arguments […] Continue Reading →
Political Campaigns and Unauthorized Music By As the 2020 presidential election approaches so does the opportunity for political candidates to end up in the headlines for using unauthorized music in their campaigns. In nearly every campaign cycle you hear about a recording artist or songwriter upset that a politician or campaign used the artist’s music without authorization. In fact, Tom Petty’s […] Continue Reading →
PTAB Determines the “Publicly Available” Standard Varies Between Examiners and Third Party Challengers By Sarah M.D. Luth In a precedential decision issued December of 2019, the Patent Trial and Appeals Board (PTAB) in Hulu, LLC. V. Sound View Innovations, LLC (IPR 2018-01039) considered what is required for a petitioner in an inter partes review (IPR) to show that an asserted reference qualifies as a “printed publication.” Petitioner Hulu argued that patentee Sound View’s patent […] Continue Reading →
Court Rules Photographer Gave Up Exclusive Copyright Licensing Rights by Posting to Instagram By In a controversial opinion, a New York federal court judge recently ruled that a professional photographer gave up exclusive licensing rights by posting a photo on Instagram. The photographer, Stephanie Sinclair, posted a photo on the popular social media site, Instagram. Later, the news site Mashable contacted Sinclair requesting to use the photo for a […] Continue Reading →
Patent Pooling and its Contribution to Collaborative IP Attempts at Targeting Patent Access By Blog Staff Growing concerns surrounding effective treatment options for combating Covid-19 has sparked global discussion involving the issue of access to innovations directed toward eradicating the novel virus. Recently, the Costa Rican government requested that the World Health Organization (WHO) create a voluntary patent pool to collect patent rights, regulatory test data, and other information to be […] Continue Reading →
McKee, Voorhees & Sease Providing Assistance During the COVID-19 Crisis By Blog Staff As all of us in Iowa are dealing with the Coronavirus outbreak, MVS is joining in to help those affected by this crisis and show our appreciation to our healthcare workers while supporting our local businesses. Several of our attorneys are volunteering to staff the hotline created by Iowa Legal Aid, The Iowa State Bar […] Continue Reading →