Starting as a collection of colony-specific patent councils, the patent system in the United States has evolved dramatically from its origins as a model of the 1624 English Statute of Monopolies and...
It wasn’t until 1990 that architectural plans and mock-ups were provided outright copyright protection under the U.S. 1976 Copyright Act. Prior, plans and models were protected only as graphic and sculptural works....
In William Shakespeare’s play, Romeo and Juliet, the character Juliet declares to her lover, Romeo,“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.”...
On May 22, 2017, the Supreme Court limited the location on which patent-infringement cases can be filed, affecting the so-called “forum shopping” available to patentees. The patent venue statute, 28 U.S.C. §...
There are seven proposals for patent reform currently in various stages of legislation. The Innovation Act currently before the House of Representatives includes some significant changes. Among other things, vague demand letters would be...
Intellectual property (IP) refers to creations of the mind, such as inventions; literary and artistic works; designs; and symbols, names and images used in commerce. Intellectual property law enables individuals to claim...
The Supplemental Register is the secondary register of trademarks maintained by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. It was established to allow the domestic registration of trademarks that do not meet...
Small technology companies often lack sufficient funds to enforce their valuable patents and other intellectual property rights. But one little-known solution is abatement insurance. An abatement policy, sometimes called an enforcement or...
Changes in patent law have made patent infringement cases more favorable to defendants. …First, the America Invents Act (AIA) makes post-grant review proceedings available to challenge the validity of patents at a...