The US government promotes policies that protect IP rights. Patents and copyrights, for example, are so core to US policy that they are expressly discussed in article I of the US Constitution. And the US judiciary has long...more
On Thursday, December 5, 2013, the U.S. House of Representatives approved the “Innovation Act” (H.R. 3309), a bill principally aimed at curtailing certain patent infringement litigation practices of non-practicing entities...more
On October 1, 2013, the United States Supreme Court agreed to review the “exceptional” case standard for awarding attorneys’ fees in two separate patent-infringement cases. Both cases relate to patentees who are...more
Affirming a $1.6 million dollar award for attorney fees against a non-practicing entity (NPE) for pursuing and maintaining patent litigation in bad faith, the Federal Circuit has served notice that patent litigants "must...more
A shepherd is tending a huge flock of sheep in a field beside a country road. A man comes walking down the road and approaches the shepherd. "I bet you $100 against one of your sheep that I can tell you the exact number in...more
The Leonard, Street and Deinard patent litigation team helps clients on a daily basis to defend against and resolve threats of patent infringement by Patent Assertion Entities (PAEs, often referred to as "patent trolls")....more
With two deft strokes, Vermont simultaneously increased the tools in its enforcement toolbox and dealt a significant blow to a well-known patent assertion entity (PAE)....more
As the number of patent infringement lawsuits brought by Non-Practicing Entities (NPEs) has increased, oil and gas companies have increasingly become targets....more
In This Issue: Federal Courts Debate Safe Harbor Exemption for Patent Infringement Under 35 U.S.C. § 271(e) Following Merck v. Integra; If I Prioritize Examination of My Application, Should the Patent Office?;...more
IN THIS ISSUE: Patents - Federal Circuit Clarifies ITC Domestic Industry Requirement for Non-Practicing Entities; Permanent Injunctions on the Rise?; Sanctioned Parties in Exceptional Cases Continue to Get Fresh...more
If recent events are any indication, U.S. and European antitrust agencies will remain focused this year on the intersection of intellectual property and competition law. In particular, the agencies have concluded that under...more