In a decision last week, the Sixth Circuit affirmed a district court's grant of summary judgment of no copyright infringement. At issue was whether a record company, Universal, granted a license to others to perform a Snoop Dogg song – "Change Gone Come" – that allegedly infringed an earlier work by the P-Funk All Stars, […]
Continue Reading →Today the Federal Circuit affirmed a district court's determination that the patent claim term "closeable vertical opening" required a slit-like shape that is perpendicular to the pan of the horizon instead of simply an opening with a shape that is taller than it is wide. Further, the court found that an accused product which creates […]
Continue Reading →The Federal Circuit today granted a petition for rehearing en banc in a design patent case, Egyptian Goddess, Inc. v. Swisa, Inc. In that case, the court held that when a design patent's "point of novelty" is a combination of existing design elements, the point of novelty must be a "non-trivial" advance over the prior […]
Continue Reading →Earlier this month, amicus briefs either supporting the Petitioner or neither party were filed with the Supreme Court in connection with Quanta Computer, Inc. v. LG Electronics, Inc (No. 06-937). Our previous coverage of the case can be found in these three posts. The Court also set oral argument for January 16, 2008. Some discussion […]
Continue Reading →In a decision Friday, the Federal Circuit affirmed a district court's finding of infringement and no invalidity of patents relating to the reduction of software piracy. At issue was a finding of non-infringement based on the claim construction of claim limitations found in patents held by z4 Technologies. In affirming the district court decision, the […]
Continue Reading →In a decision yesterday, the Federal Circuit affirmed a district court's decision denying a motion to set aside a judgment under Rule 60(b)(3) on charges of fraud. In an earlier litigation, a patent was invalidated under § 102(g) as previously invented by another. That decision was affirmed on appeal.More than a year later, new evidence […]
Continue Reading →The Fourth Circuit Tuesday affirmed a district court's grant of summary judgment of no trademark infringement or dilution. At issue were dog toys that parodied the trademarks and trade dress of Louis Vuitton. The Fourth Circuit agreed that the successful parody resulted in no trademark infringement. On the trademark dilution claim, the court rejected the […]
Continue Reading →The USPTO has released its 2007 Performance and Accountability Report. Here are a few highlights: Average time for first office action (patent): 25.3 months Average total application pendency (patent): 31.9 months Percent of patent applications filed electronically: 49.3% Average time for first office action (trademark): 2.9 months Average total application pendency (trademark): 15.1 months Percent […]
Continue Reading →Addressing an issue of first impression, the Federal Circuit today held that a district court's decision remanding a case to state court on the basis of declining supplemental jurisdiction was unreviewable. The court determined that this decision was within the class of remands described in 28 U.S.C. § 1447(c). Because of this, review was barred […]
Continue Reading →The USPTO has posted the comments received regarding the proposed rule changes regarding appeals at the BPAI, as well as those received regarding the proposed rules regarding claims with "alternative claim language," namely Markush groups. At first glance, the comments appear to be overwhelmingly negative. Of course, that likely won't stop them from being implemented, […]
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