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“So, Your U.S. Trademark Registration is Being Audited”
The USPTO has implemented a program to audit trademark maintenance and renewal filings for the purpose of ensuring that trademark registrations were not being maintained in connection with goods and services for which the marks are no longer in use...
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GENERIC TOP LEVEL DOMAINS MAY NOT BE GENERIC
In a ruling that could have implications for applicants seeking trademark registration for domain names comprised primarily of descriptive or generic wording, the US District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia has overturned a finding by the...
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Technology Evolution in the Media Industry Supported by Pilot Program Allowing U.S. Trademark Registrations to be Updated
Media companies have changed the way they provide their goods and services to consumers as a result of ongoing evolutions in technology. A magazine that once distributed print copies may now provide access to its articles and advertisements online....
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U.S. SUPREME COURT REVERSES DAMAGE AWARD IN SAMSUNG v APPLE
The Supreme Court on December 6, 2016 ruled that when considering the basis for awarding damages based on the infringer’s profits from infringing a design patent, it is not necessary to base these damages on the profit made on the entire article...
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UK TO CONTINUE STEPS TOWARDS RATIFICATION OF UNITARY PATENT CONVENTION DESPITE BREXIT
The EU’s Unitary Patent Convention (see https://ladasparry.wpengine.com/education-center/eu-unitary-patent-and-patent-court-2/) and the associated EU patent had originally been expected to come into effect in 2017. This was, however dependent on...
Read ArticleSOFTWARE AS PATENTABLE SUBJECT MATTER POST ALICE
The issue of patent eligible subject matter under 35 USC § 101 affects many different types of inventions including those which incorporate software technology for controlling conventional machines and devices. Although the Alice v. CLS Bank...
Read ArticleTRADE SECRETS: CHANGES IN THE LAW ON PROTECTION OF TRADE SECRETS IN THE UNITED STATES AND EUROPEAN UNION
Concerns about trade secret theft have been increasing in both the United States and Europe in recent years. Traditionally, American law disfavored trade secret protection vis à vis patenting on the basis that publication of inventions was good for...
Read ArticleTHE ZERO SUM GAME IN THE COLA WARS
In Royal Crown Company and Dr Pepper/Seven Up Inc v The Coca-Cola Company, Opposition 91178927, each party opposed the other’s trademark applications containing the term ZERO for soft drinks, sports drinks and energy drinks. Although Coca-Cola was...
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INDIA’S NEW NATIONAL INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS POLICY
On May 12, 2016 India published its National Intellectual Property Rights Policy (National IPR Policy) to raise awareness about the importance of IPR’s as a tool for financial and economic advancement. The mission of the National IPR Policy is to...
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