Here is IP Think Tank’s weekly selection of top intellectual property news breaking in the blogosphere and internet.

Please join the discussion by adding your comments on any of these stories, and please do let us know if you think we’ve missed something important, or if there is a source you think should be monitored.

You can separately subscribe to the IP Thinktank Global week in Review at the Subscribe page: http://thinkipstrategy.com/subscribe/

Highlights this week included:

ECJ rules trade mark holders cannot stop honest comparative advertising: O2 Holdings Limited and O2 (UK) Limited v Hutchinson 3G UK Limited: (Out-Law), (Catch Us If You Can!!!), (IPKat), (IPKat), (Class 46), (IPKat), (IP Law360),

Quanta – Supreme Court reverses CAFC decision in Quanta v LG Electronics; method patents exhaustible: (Peter Zura’s 271 Patent Blog), (IP Updates), (Hal Wegner), (Patently-O), (Techdirt), (Patent Prospector), (Ars Technica), (Patent Docs), (Agricultural Law Blog), (Filewrapper), (Intellectual Property Law Blog), (Philip Brooks), (Philip Brooks guest blog), (IP ThinkTank), (Electronic Frontier Foundation), (IAM), (IAM), (IPBiz), (IPEG), (Broken Symmetry), (Managing Intellectual Property), (Patry Copyright Blog), (The Fire of Genius), (Intellectual Property Law Blog), (IP Law360), (IP Law360), (IP Law360), (Hal Wegner),

 

Global

Global – General

Opponents say inclusion of IP issues would set back WTO Doha negotiations: (Intellectual Property Watch),

Controversy over lack of transparency and overreaching enforcement provisions in ACTA: (Michael Geist), (Techdirt), (Patry Copyright Blog), (LawFont.com)

 

Global – Trade Marks / Domain Names / Brands

Legal imperatives on IP management from Research and Markets Ltd: (Philip Brooks),

ICC urges G8 countries to address counterfeiting: (Managing Intellectual Property),

Reports on WTO GI register negotiations released: (Intellectual Property Watch)

 

Global – Patents

General Electric’s view on green IP and technology: (Intellectual Property Watch),

Medical Device Daily editor Don Long tilts at the patent system: (Intellectual Property Directions),

D Geradin’s paper ‘What’s wrong with royalties in high technology industries’: (IP finance),

Investors need to think patents before taking part in green-tech gold rush: (IAM),

New patent PDF download tool for US, EP, WO (PCT) patent documents: (Patent Librarian’s Notebook), (Cairns)

 

Global – Designs

The value of designs – ‘Design can deal a winning hand’: (IP finance)

 

Global – Copyright

What if copyright only applied to commercial use?: (Techdirt),

User generated font community: (Techdirt),

Copyright has stretched so far that it has broken – discussion of R Fleischer’s article in ‘Future of copyright’ series: (Techdirt),

Antigua doesn’t see settlement with US over WTO plan to let it ignore US copyrights: (Techdirt)

 

Events

16 June: USPTO town hall meeting on industrial designs – Alexandria: (Daily Dose of IP),

16 June / 1 July: US PLI: ‘Prior art & obviousness 2008: The PTO and CAFC perspective on patent law sections 102 & 103’ – San Francisco / New York: (Patent Docs),

17-19 June: Australia: IPRIA & IPTA seminars ‘Privilege and the IP professional’ – Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane: (IP Down Under),

17-20 June: US BIO international convention – San Diego: (Patent Docs), (Patent Baristas),

18 June: IPI seminar on ‘IP and small firms in the UK: who’s doing what, and does IP help?’ – London: (IPKat),

18 June: CC technology summit – California: (creativecommons.org),

18-20 June: IIR generic drugs summit – Washington: (Orange Book Blog),

18-20 June / 9-11 July: US PLI: ‘Fundamentals of patent prosecution 2008: A boot camp for claim drafting & amendment writing’ – New York / San Francisco: (Patent Docs),

19-20 June: 27th ECTA Conference ‘Forty shades of green: a tour of the IP landscape’ – Killarney: (IPKat), (IPR-Helpdesk),

20 June: USPTO IP rights seminar – Baltimore: (Daily Dose of IP),

23 June: US LSI: ‘Multilateral patents’ – San Francisco: (Patent Docs),

23 June: STEP / Committee on National Statistics conference on ‘Intangible assets: measuring and enhancing their contribution to corporate value and economic growth’ – Washington:  (IP finance), (IPKat),

24 June: ACID licensing seminar – London: (IPKat),

24 June: Creative commons salon – Brisbane: (creativecommons.org),

25-26 June: IP Business Congress – Amsterdam: (IP Business Congress 2008),

26-27 June: C5 conference on pharma patent lifecycles – London: (Orange Book Blog),

26-27 June: Hellenic Copyright Organization/USPTO International conference on copyright policies and the role of stakeholders – Athens: (IPKat),

30 June: IPI guest lecture by Jon Dudas, head of the USPTO – London: (IPKat),

30 June – 1 July: International conference on public domain in the digital age – Louvain-la-Neuve: (IPR-Helpdesk), (creativecommons.org),

30 June – 4 July: EU: Seminar on IP and entrepreneurship competitiveness – Santander: (IPR-Helpdesk),

1-2 July – C5 conference on intellectual asset management for high-tech industries – Paris: (c5-online.com),

2 July, 30 October: IBC Informa conference on ‘intangible assets: maximising shareholder value’- London: (IPKat),

3 July – C5 master class on maximising efficiency of your patent mining operations – Paris: (c5-online.com),

3, 4 July: Management Forum ‘Intellectual Property Conference 2008’ – London: (IPKat),

7-15 July/16-18 July: 2^nd Transatlantic IP summer academy, modules one and two – Alicante/Milan: (IPKat),

11 July: CIPA moot to improve participants’ understanding of procedures of EPO Technical Boards of Appeal – London: (IPKat),

16 July: US LSI: Patent claim construction workshop – Seattle: (Patent Docs),

21-23 July: EU ATRIP meeting on future of European patent system – Munich: (IPR-Helpdesk),

24-25 July / 11-12 August: US PLI: ‘Advanced patent prosecution workshop 2008: Claim drafting & amendment writing’: New York / San Francisco: (Patent Docs),

30-31 July: IACCM ‘ask the expert’ call; Duncan Bucknell leading discussion on IP strategy: (IP ThinkTank),

11-12 September: US LSI: 4^th annual conference on ‘Current issues in complex IP licensing’ – Philadelphia: (Patent Docs),

11 September/15 October: PLI seminar on developments in pharmaceutical and biotech patent law – New York/San Francisco: (Patent Docs),

15-16 September: UniForum & SAIIPL domain name ADR workshop – Centurion (South Africa): (Afro-IP),

15-16 September: US ACI 10^th advanced forum on biotech patents – Boston: (Generic Pharmaceuticals & IP), (Patent Docs),

16-19 September: 22nd MARQUES annual conference – Noordwijk: (IPKat),

22-23 September: US: ACI FDA boot camp conference – Boston: (Patent Docs),

22-23 September: ACI USPTO boot camp: patent edition conference – Alexandria: (Patent Docs),

23 September: CLT 3^rd annual IP law and the fashion industry conference – London: (IPKat),

24 September: 2008 INTA/WIPO international forum on trade marks and industrial designs – Brussels: (IPKat),

1-3 October: University of Helsinki ‘One right system for IP – vision impossible’ – Finland: (IPKat),

15-16 October: ACI 9^th annual maximising pharmaceutical patent life cycles – New York: (Patent Baristas),

23-28 October: EPO patent information conference – Stockholm: (EPO),

26 November: CLT conference on copying without infringing – London: (IPKat)

 

Pharma & Biotech

Pharma & Biotech – General

WHO adopts resolution on public heath, innovation and IP: (Spicy IP), (Intellectual Property Watch),

Will biotechnology solve the world food crisis?: (Patent Docs),

Generic drug developers will continue to take advantage of global demand for lower-priced drugs, with Teva poised to maintain lead position says Goldman Sachs analyst: (GenericsWeb),

Daiichi Sankyo takeover of Ranbaxy: (Profitability through Simplicity), (Spicy IP), (GenericsWeb),

Canada: Generics to penetrate 26% pharma market in Canada says RNCOS research: (GenericsWeb),

Canada: Generic drug makers spreading misinformation about patent regulation amendments to dodge real story: (GenericsWeb),

India: Inefficiency and carelessness continue to haunt Patent Office – validity of several medicine patents questions: (Spicy IP),

Singapore: Generic trade marks for pharmaceuticals in Singapore: (Catch Us If You Can!!!),

Schering-Plough Corp – Following dispute over trade dress with Schering-Plough, Fruit of the Earth announces plan to change its package design: (IP Law360),

US: Quanta and its impact on biotechnology: (Holman’s Biotech IP Blog),

US: BIO files amicus brief asking CAFC to cabin in scope of KSR and hold that its obvious to try dicta does not abrogate the Deuel standard: In re Kubin: (Patently-O),

US: StemCells gets patent on enriched central nervous system stem cell and progenitor cell populations: (IPBiz),

US: Biotech/Pharma lobbying scoreboard: (Patent Docs),

US: Patent Office catch-22 – USPTO confrontational attitude: (Patent Docs)

 

Pharma & Biotech – Products

Ablify (Aripiprazole) – US: Otsuka files patent infringement lawsuit against Zydus over ANDA filing to manufacture generic Ablify: (Patent Docs),

Altace (Ramipril) – US: Lupin seeks declaratory judgment of non-infringement in relation to ANDA filing: Lupin et al v Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland: (Patent Docs), (IP Law360),

Cyclosporin – UK: Floyd J grants interim injunction preventing Dexcel from marketing formula containing Cyclosporins: Novartis AG v Dexcel-Pharma Ltd: (IPKat),

Eloxatin (Oxaliplatin) – South Korean court dismisses Sanofi-Aventis’ patent claims against generic Oxaliplatin maker Boryung Pharmaceutical Co: (GenericsWeb),

Eloxatin (Oxaliplatin) – US: Sanofi-Aventis files patent infringement suit against Sandoz following its ANDA to manufacture generic Eloxatin: (Patent Docs),

Fentora (Fentanyl) – US: Cephalon launches patent infringement suits in Nevada and Delaware against Watson Pharmaceuticals over ANDA to manufacture generic Fentora: (Patent Docs),

Lovenox (Enoxaparin) – US: CAFC affirms lower court’s finding of inequitable conduct before the USPTO: Aventis Pharma v Amphastar & Teva: (Patent Baristas),

Lybrel (Levonorgestrel/Ethinyl estradiol) – US: Wyeth launches patent suit against Sandoz to block generic Lybrel: (GenericsWeb),

Metabolite test – Prometheus appeals summary judgment of invalidity on grounds of unpatentable subject matter, specifically ‘natural phenomena’: Prometheus Labs v Mayo Collabrative: (Patent Appeal Tracer),

Nexium (Esomeprazole) – US: Dr Reddy’seeks declaratory judgment of non-infringement of AstraZeneca’s Nexium patent: (IP Law360), (GenericsWeb),

Prevacid (Lansoprazole) – US: Takeda, Ethypharm sue Barr over generic Prevacid; Barr initiates challenge of Prevacid patents: (IP Law360), (GenericsWeb),

PrimaCare ONE – US: Lannett files lawsuit challenging KV’s PrimaCare One patent: (SmartBrief), (GenericsWeb),

Prilosec (Omeprazole) – US: CAFC affirms that Mylan’s generic Omeprazole does not infringe AstraZeneca’s Prilosec patent: (Patently-O), (GenericsWeb), (Patent Docs), (Orange Book Blog), (IP Law360), (Patent Baristas),

Propecia (Finasteride) – UK: Court upholds patent for dosage regime: Actavis v Merck: (Filemot Technology Law),

Synagis (Palivizumab) – US: Genentech drops patent dispute over MedImmune’s Synagis, but battle to uphold the validity of patent continues: (IP Law360),

Tarceva (Erlotinib) – India: Public interest in patent litigation: The Roche-Cipla equation: (International Law Office),

Viread (Tenofovir) – Amendment to Gilead-Ranbaxy license agreement deleting clause relating to patent enforcement: (KEI),

Xyzal (Levocetrizine dihydrochloride) – US: Sepracor files patent infringement suit against Sun over ANDA to manufacture generic Xyzal: (Patent Docs)

 

Africa

Light Years points the way for sub-Saharan IP growth: (Afro-IP),

Hewlett-Packard says 60% refill products in East Africa are fakes: (Afro-IP),

Warren Weertman on domain name strategies: (Afro-IP),

Aided by Egypt, Ghana, Morocco, Nigeria, Tunisia and Senegal, operation ‘Vice Grips’ launched by WCO to combat counterfeiting and piracy: (Afro-IP),

Ghana: ‘African fabric’ and counterfeits from China: (Afro-IP),

Kenya: Fake products flood Kenyan market: (IP Kenya),

South Africa: First fan site decision in dispute between Automobiles Citroen and citroen.co.za domain name registrant Mark Garrod: (Afro-IP),

South Africa: High Court hands down latest judgment in EGL Eagle Global Logistics v Eagle Logistics & Anor: (Afro-IP),

South Africa: Public consultation on indigenous knowledge: (Afro-IP),

South Africa: High Court finds passing off and infringement of defendant’s KG mark A&D Spitz (Pty) Limited v Turbek Trading CC: (Afro-IP),

Tanzania devises new measures to contain fake cosmetics and drugs: (Afro-IP),

Uganda’s Private Sector Foundation calls for stern measures on counterfeits: (Afro-IP),

Uganda: High Court awards damages for inconvenience in counterfeit pens case: Bic v Wenbara: (Afro-IP)

 

Australia

New Australian IP news blog – IPRoo: (IP ThinkTank)

Full Federal Court: Termite product found to infringe patent: Term-Seal (Aust) Pty Limited v Termite Tite (NZ) No 2 Limited: (IPRoo),

Costs decision: Nutrasweet Australia Pty Ltd v Ajinomoto Co Inc: (IPRoo),

Gordon J upholds breach of confidentiality and copyright: Krueger Transport Equipment Pty Ltd v Glen Cameron Storage: (IPRoo),

TMO decides SIX IN THE CITY registrable: Home Box Office, Inc v Susan Stigwood Pty Ltd: (IPRoo),

Employment qualifications for registered patent attorney: White v Designated Manager of IP Australia (No. 2): (IPRoo),

Colorado case reaches end of trail; neither party has exclusive use of the mark ‘Colorado’ for handbags: Colorado v Strandbags: (Australian Trade Marks Law Blog),

 

Bangladesh

Applications for service mark registration now being accepted: (Rouse & Co International)

 

Canada

Proposed Canadian copyright law introduced: (ipblog.ca), (Techdirt), (Ars Technica), (Michael Geist), (IP Law360),

CIRA creates backdoor WHOIS exceptions for police and IP owners: (Michael Geist),

Canadian court rules Visto infringed three RIM patents: (Securing Innovation),

CBC’s negotations with CMV to renew license for theme music for ‘Hockey night in Canada’ falls through: (Canadian Trademark Blog),

Canadian copyright reform: the world waits: (IPKat),

Canadian copyright reform: The comic book edition by G Duggan: (Michael Geist), (Patry Copyright Blog),

Van Loan seeking to centralize Conservative copyright message: (Michael Geist),

DMCA: Consumers may lose digital content they have paid for: (Michael Geist),

Why notice-and-notice should be part of the Canadian DMCA: (Michael Geist),

Red Hat founder speaks out against copyright reform: (Michael Geist),

P S Taylor’s National Post op-ed on copyright: (Michael Geist)

 

China

Chinese copyright law, peer production and the participatory media age: an old regime in a new world: (IP Dragon),

Japanese Patent Office seeks to stop Chinese companies registering Japanese geographical locations as trade marks: (IP Dragon),

Kung Fu Panda and a new theory on China counterfeiting: (China Law Blog),

Beijing police detain seven people for allegedly producing and selling counterfeit cigarettes, some bearing Beijing Olympic Games emblem: (IP Dragon),

Raids conducted concerning counterfeit Trojan Horse brand condoms: (IP Dragon),

Danone, Wahaha trade mark dispute– China business lessons to be learned: (China Law Blog),

China patent statistics from Evaluserve: (Philip Brooks), (IPEG)

 

Estonia

Estonian Board of Appeal finds FANTASTIKA not likely to be confused with FANTA: Coca-Cola Co v Cido Partikas Grupa SIA: (Class 46),

 

Europe

Impact on IP of an Irish ‘no’ on Lisbon Treaty?: (IPEG),

Lego argues its case before CFI: Lego Juris v OHIM – Mega Brands Lego A/S: (IPKat),

EPO decisions announced at unusually rapid rate: (IPKat),

CFI can’t rectify implicit decision: Gabel Industria Tessile SpA v OHIM, Creaciones Garel, SA: (Class 46),

Volailles de Loué PGI spec amended: (Class 46),

ECJ rules trade mark holders cannot stop honest comparative advertising: O2 Holdings Limited and O2 (UK) Limited v Hutchinson 3G UK Limited: (Out-Law), (Catch Us If You Can!!!), (IPKat), (IPKat), (Class 46), (IPKat), (IP Law360),

UEFA Euro 2008 and patents: (IPEG),

Special edition 2008 EPO Board of Appeal case law: (IPR-Helpdesk),

EPO supports EU-China project for protection of IP (IPR2): (IPR-Helpdesk),

Korean GIs come to Europe – and you have two months in which to comment: (Class 46),

European Commissioner for Competition Policy: ‘Standards are the foundation of interoperability’: (BLOG@IP::JUR), (Ars Technica), (Out-Law),

PATLIB2008 presentations available online: (EPO),

New OHIM website from 1 July: (BLOG@IP::JUR), (Class 46),

Peer-to-patent Community patent review: (IPEG),

Discussions on EU patent court set to intensify: (Managing Intellectual Property),

EPO BoA finds Deq Systèmes Corp’s automated casino game not patentable due to lack of inventive step: T859/07: (Innovationpartners),

EPO BoA finds lacking instructions and missing failsafe in system enough to deny reinstatement of rights to Koninklijke Philips Electronics: T0257/07: (Innovationpartners),

EPO BoA: Opponent Imperial Chemical Industries shows evidence of prior use of Nippon Mitsubishi Oil Corp’s invention by submitting invoices and test results from third party: T1209/07: (Innovationpartners),

European patent register, online files inspection available 24/7: (EPO), (BLOG@IP::JUR), (IPKat),

Commission Recommendation of 10 April 2008 on management of IP in knowledge transfer activities and Code of Practice for universities and other public research organisations: (IPKat),

CTM appeals lodged with ECJ: Portela & Comanhia SA v OHIM; Dorel Juvenile Group v OHIM: (Class 46)

 

France

French court finds eBay liable for IP infringement for allowing counterfeit goods to be sold via its service: (Managing Intellectual Property), (Catch Us If You Can!!!), (Techdirt)

 

Germany

Koninklijke Philips files lawsuit in District Court of Dusseldorf accusing Comag Handels for infringing digital video compression patents: (IP Law360),

 

India

New Evalueserve reveals India’s patenting deficit: (IAM),

Patent litigation (probably the first) in the Himachal Pradesh High Court: (Spicy IP),

The Ponni poach – Malaysian group Syarikat Faiza acquires trade mark rights in Ponni for traditional Indian rice: (Spicy IP),

Patent Office goes interactive!: (Spicy IP),

Compulsory licensing and the copyright holder: Entertainment Network Limited v Super Cassettes Industries: (Spicy IP),

Toshiba v Toshiba: Procedural history and person(s) aggrieved!: (Spicy IP),

Infosys granted two US patents for holography and mobile communications: (Spicy IP),

 

Mexico

Counterfeiting in Mexico…: (Catch Us If You Can!!!)

 

Norway

Court of Appeal finds SAGA mark not used in a trade mark sense: Saga Oil ASA v StatoilHydro: (Class 46)

 

Spain

When is the applicant acting in bad faith when filing an application for a trade mark?: (Class 46)

 

Sweden

Warner Music admits it hired police investigator before Pirate Bay investigation complete: (Techdirt)

 

United Arab Emirates

Black & Decker triumph in counterfeit prosecution case before Dubai Court of Cassation: (International Law Office)

 

United Kingdom

Police accused of violating copyright by listening to music in police stations: (Techdirt),

UKIPO gets tough on perpetual motion patent application: (IPKat),

UK government opposing EU directive allowing product placement on UK television: (IPKat),

‘Cashback’ claimant struck out in copyright infringement action: Obisanya v Ellis & Anor: (IPKat),

Mod chips found legal in the UK: (Ars Technica), (Techdirt),

Without a contract lawyer, 6 x 0 = 0: Court of Appeal dismisses doomed appeal in Meridian International Services Ltd v Richardson & Ors concerning ill-fated software development project: (IPKat),

Court rules on trade mark use and parallel imports in Honda Motor Co Ltd v Derek James Neesam: (International Law Office),

Strategic Advisory Board for IP provides cause for concern: (IAM)

Ex-members of music group Busted lose High Court case seeking royalty payments: (IPKat),

UK may extend copyright, despite saying it wouldn’t: (Techdirt),

Virgin Media and BPI warn Virgin broadband customers about P2P file-sharing: (IPKat), (Ars Technica),

Cigarette brands and human rights: Christopher Morcom QC post on government proposal to remove branding from cigarette packets: (IPKat)

 

United States

US General

Contests, sweepstakes law: not just fun and games – ensuring compliance with federal laws including trade mark and copyright laws: (IP Law360),

The IP case for a Microsoft Yahoo! Tie-up: (IAM)

 

US Patent Reform

Dudas issues letter to Congress in response to Berman’s questions: (Peter Zura’s 271 Patent Blog), (IP Updates),

Panelists: Balance needed between antitrust law, patent quality: (Intellectual Property Watch),

USPTO patent re-examination process is flawed, think tank says: (Intellectual Property Watch),

USPTO publishes new ex parte appeals rules: (Daily Dose of IP), (Peter Zura’s 271 Patent Blog), (Patent Prospector), (Patent Docs), (IP Updates), (Patently-O), (Patent Baristas), (IP Law360), (Anticipate This!), (Hal Wegner),

Tafas v Dudas: PTO’s views of Bar’s attacks: (Hal Wegner)

 

US Patents

Quanta – Supreme Court reverses CAFC decision in Quanta v LG Electronics; method patents exhaustible: (Peter Zura’s 271 Patent Blog), (IP Updates), (Hal Wegner), (Patently-O), (Techdirt), (Patent Prospector), (Ars Technica), (Patent Docs), (Agricultural Law Blog), (Filewrapper), (Intellectual Property Law Blog), (Philip Brooks), (Philip Brooks guest blog), (IP ThinkTank), (Electronic Frontier Foundation), (IAM), (IAM), (IPBiz), (IPEG), (Broken Symmetry), (Managing Intellectual Property), (Patry Copyright Blog), (The Fire of Genius), (Intellectual Property Law Blog), (IP Law360), (IP Law360), (IP Law360), (Hal Wegner),

Quanta-fication of Lupin: (Hal Wegner),

Green energy patents down in early 2008 finds study by Heslin Rothenberg Farley & Mesiti: (IP Law360),

Data on outcomes of nonobviousness inquiry since KSR: (The Fire of Genius),

Lewis & Clark Law School nonobviousness symposium papers: (The Fire of Genius),

Patent trial success rates at all-time high according to PricewaterhouseCoopers study: (IP Law360),

O2 Micro decision sorts ‘scope’ from ‘meaning’: (IP Law360),

Pool patents for protection, prevention and profit: (The IP ADR Blog),

Quality review shutting down at the USPTO: (PLI), (PLI), (PLI), (The Invent Blog),

Quanta decision illustrates case against specialised patent court: (Techdirt), (response from IPBiz),

On the radar: May 2008 – Stats on where appeals are filed: (Patent Appeal Tracer),

BPAI administrative patent judges (including stats on illegal appointments): (Patently-O),

Certificates of correction stats: (Patently-O),

Defense firms venture into contingency-fee game: (IP Law360),

Experts urge caution when hiding patent mistakes: (IP Law360),

Microsoft, ‘brain lateralisation’ and patent quality: (IPBiz),

Rule 11 issues in patent infringement filings: (IPBiz),

Patents play big role in ‘clean technology’: (IPBiz),

US patent examiners: the ‘Numptys’, how domestic criticisms have hurt the image of the USPTO: (Hal Wegner), (response from Patent Prospector),

Two requests for help – best way to search for re-exam certificates and process flowchart for tech-transfer operation: (Patently-O)

Lack of enablement – a stronger tool for invalidity: (Intellectual Property Law Blog),

Expresso: New technology search engine: (Patent Docs),

USPTO news: USPTO e-commerce update containing information on First Action Interview Pilot and digital certificate maintenance tips: (Patent Docs),

Bits and bytes: False marking: (Patently-O),

Libertarian VP candidate… patent hoarder?: (Techdirt)

 

US Copyright

PRO IP Act – Are IP police on the horizon in the US?: (The Gray Blog),

Copyright Alliance thinks it’s Bob Marley: (Patry Copyright Blog),

Performers to make voices heard during US congressional on Fair Performance Right on Radio legislation: (IP finance), (Intellectual Property Watch),

MPAA asks FCC to allow it to block DVR recording of certain movies: (Techdirt), (Ars Technica),

University of Washington study ‘Why my printer received a DMCA takedown notice’ paints grim picture of automated P2P enforcement: (Ars Technica), (Electronic Frontier Foundation),

Do you ‘license’ or ‘sell’ your software?: Vernor v Autodesk: (IP Spotlight)

 

US – Companies / Entities

Abboud – Fashion designer Joseph Abboud, who left company bearing his name, prohibited from using his name for his new line of clothing: (IP Law360), (43(B)log),

Aristocrat Technologies Australia – CAFC reviews standard for abandoned patents: (IP Law360),

Autodesk- ‘1^st sale’ doctrine permits resale of software: Vernor v Autodesk: (IP Law360),

Baidu – 5fad.com files copyright infringement suit against Chinese search engine Baidu.com over allowing users to listen to copyrighted music: (IP Law360),

Bernardos –Bernardo appeals partial summary judgment in favour of Fortune Dynamics on damages for lack of notice and then, after a bench trial, finding non-infringement: (Patent Appeal Tracer),

Boston Scientific – Cardio Access commences patent infringement proceedings against Boston Scientific, Johnson & Johnson and Medtronic over medical device technology to insert catheters: (IP Law360),

Burandt – Formalism at the CAFC; Equitable plea for revival is rejected: Burandt v Dudas: (Patently-O),

DataTreasury – US AG and White House Counsel (and former Texas Supreme Court justice) Alberto Gonzalez hired by special master to help him in DataTreasury Corp v Wells Fargo & Co patent litigation: (EDTexweblog.com), (IP Law360),

Designer Skin – Arizona District Court rules surreptitious trade mark use in keyword metatags and keyword-triggered advertisements doesn’t create likelihood of initial interest confusion: Designer Skin v S&L Vitamins: (The Trademark Blog),

eBay – Transauction files patent infringement lawsuit against eBay, Overstock, Bidz.com, uBid.com and WineCommune.com over their offering guaranteed or bonded online auctions: (IP Law360),

Facebook – ConnectU wants out of settlement with Facebook; wants to sue again: (Techdirt),

Ford – ITC issues final decision finding three Ford design patents invalid based on prior use: Ford Global Technologies v ITC: (Patently-O),

Fujitsu – Tellabs sues Fujitsu for wilful violation of optical communications patent: (IP Law360),

Helmsderfer – Existence of non-asserted claims allows court to disregard construction canon encouraging coverage of preferred embodiment: Helmsderfer v Bobrick Washroom Equipment: (Patently-O),

Hewlett-Packard – HP, Acer settle patent litigation before federal courts and ITC: (IP Law360),  Patent Prospector), (IPBiz),

Hewlett-Packard – Cornell wins $184 million jury award against HP for patent infringement: (Managing Intellectual Property),

Intel – Cisco and Intel join WiMAX Open Patent Alliance with Samsung, Sprint Nextel, Alcatel-Lucent and Clearwire: (IPBiz), (Techdirt), (IP Law360),

Katz – Amtrak licenses R A Katz patent portfolio settling litigation between the parties: (IPBiz), (IP Law360),

Mattel – Inventor’s data purge come to light in IP dispute between Mattel and MGA over Bratz dolls: (IP Law360),

Medtronic – Disregarding claim construction costs Medtronic over $10M: Depuy Spinal v Medtronic: (Patent Appeal Tracer),

Microsoft – Microsoft files brain lateralisation patent about software quality and assurance process: (Ars Technica),

Microsoft – San Diego federal jury finds Microsoft did not violate Alcatel-Lucent’s patent when producing Xbox 360 game player: (IPBiz),

Microsoft – Microsoft files 21 new piracy lawsuits against US resellers, some of which have already settled previous lawsuits with Microsoft: (Ars Technica),

Monster Cable – Monster Cable sues Bizlink alleging the connective wiring rivals infringe numerous patents, trade marks and copyrights: (IP Law360),

Montwillo – District Court issues opinion in case involving alleged infringement of drag queen dolls: Montwillo v Tull: (Patry Copyright Blog),

Moreland – Affirmative defense struck for insufficient pleading in patent case MPC Containment Sys v Moreland: (Chicago IP Litigation Blog),

Motivation Innovations – Motivation Innovations sues Bed, Bath & Beyond, Hallmark Cards, DSW and Value City Department Stores for infringement of patents for coupon technology: (IP Law360),

Power Integrations – Power Integrations efforts to deter infringement of their ‘clean’ technology patents: (Patent Prospector),

Power-One – Defendant’s motion for JMOL on obviousness denied: Power-One v Artesyn Technologies: (EDTexweblog.com)

Nilssen – Court rules evidence must be newly discovered to vacate arbitration award in patent infringement case Nilssen v MagneTek, Inc: (Chicago IP Litigation Blog),

Rambus – FTC seeks en banc review of Rambus ruling: (IP Law360),

Red Hat – Open source software company Red Hat settles patent dispute with Firestar and DataTern: (Ars Technica), (IPBiz), (Patent Prospector), (IP Law360),

Research in Motion – Visto-RIM case suit stayed pending patent re-exam: (IP Law360),

Rembrandt IP – Rundown of Rembrant IP cable modem and digital TV patent enforcement campaign: (Patent Prospector),

RIAA – RIAA doubles settlement cost for students fighting subpoenas: (Ars Technica),

RIAA – RIAA dismisses two year old P2P copyright infringement lawsuit filed against Joan Cassin: (Ars Technica),

Roller Derby Skate – CAFC : D Beam and Brian L Evans v Roller Derby Skate & Ors: (Patent Prospector),

Rutledge – Unfair competition and copyright pre-emption: Rutledge v High Point Regional Health System: (43(B)log),

Samsung – Mitsumi sues Samsung over disk drive patents: (IP Law360),

SHARK – EEF assists SHARK file lawsuit seeking affirmation that footage displayed on YouTube does not breach DMCA: Showing Animals Respect and Kindness v Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association: (Electronic Frontier Foundation), (Techdirt), (Ars Technica),

Smith & Nephew – Arthrex order to pay $14M for infringement of Smith & Nephew’s suture anchors patent: (IP Law360),

Starbucks – Federal judge finds ‘Mr Charbucks Blend’ coffee does not infringe or dilute Starbucks’ trade marked name: (IP Law360),

Synaptics – Synaptics moves for preliminary injunction against Elantech’s sale of patent infringing touchpads: (Patent Appeal Tracer),

Timex – Monster Cable sues Timex for infringement of patented package design: (IP Law360),

TracFone – Court finds GSM Group’s practice of buying TracFone’s prepaid wireless phones and reconfiguring them for use on networks outside US violates DMCA: (43(B)log),

Tuna Processors – Patentee Tuna Processors appeals from judgment of non-infringement in favour of Hawaii Int’l based on claim construction: (Patent Appeal Tracer),

Universal Music – Universal loses copyright case seeking to prevent Troy Augusto from reselling promotional CDs: (Techdirt), (Electronic Frontier Foundation), (Ars Technica),

Yahoo! – Yahoo! files trade mark and anti-spam lawsuit against ‘Yahoo! Lottery Spammers’ for unlawfully sending email messages deceiving recipients that they have won a prize from Yahoo!: (Copyright Law and Copyright Information)