Supreme Court rules on process patentability tests
Bilski v. Kappos, No. 08-964, June 28, 2010 (Supreme Court)
State Street Bank and Trust Company v. Signature Financial Group, Inc., 149 F.3d 1368, July 23, 1998 (Fed. Cir.)

Absolutely crust fallen
Court blocks trade secret defendant from new job
Bimbo Bakeries USA, Inc. v. Botticella, No. 10-1510, July 27, 2010 (3d Cir.)

Fair enough?
Toyota Motor Sales v. Tabari, No. 07-55344, July 8, 2010 (9th Cir.)
AMF INC. v. Sleekcraft Boats, No. 76-1744, June 28, 1979 (9th Cir.)

6 updated exemptions for permissible copyright circumvention

Executive misconduct affects patent enforceability
Avid Identification Systems, Inc. v. Crystal Import Corp., Inc., 2009-1216, -1254, April 27, 2010 (Fed. Cir.)

Google cries “Vive la différence!” in patent case
Bid for Position, LLC v. AOL, LLC and Google, Inc., No. 2009-1068, April 7, 2010 (Fed. Cir.)

Guilt by association
Trademark case addresses “dilution by tarnishment”
V Secret Catalogue, Inc. v. Moseley, No. 08-5793, May 19, 2010 (6th Cir.)

Phrased and confused
Court weighs trademark protection for board game
Zobmondo Entertainment v. Falls Media, LLC, No. 08-56831, April 26, 2010 (9th Cir.)

Going once, going twice … sold!
Court addresses eBay’s liability for contributory infringement
Tiffany Inc. v. eBay, Inc., Case No. 08-3947, Apr. 1, 2010 (2d Cir.) Inwood Laboratories, Inc. v. Ives Laboratories, Inc., 456 U.S. 844, 1982

Innocence lost
Fifth circuit hears defense in music downloading case
Maverick Recording Co. v. Harper, No. 08-51194, Feb. 25, 2010 (5th Cir.)

Federal Circuit confirms: Patents need written descriptions
Ariad Pharmaceuticals, Inc. v. Eli Lilly & Co., 2008-1248, March 22, 2010 (Fed. Cir.)

Looks are everything when it comes to design patents
Richardson v. Stanley Works, Inc., 2008-1596, Feb. 24, 2010 (Fed. Cir.)

Is something afoot?
“Ordinary observer” test used to determine design patent anticipation
International Seaway Trading Corp. v. Walgreens Corp., 2009-1237, Dec. 17, 2009 (Fed Cir.)  Egyptian Goddess, Inc. v. Swisa, Inc., 2006-1562, Sept. 22, 2008 (Fed Cir.)

A game of confusion
Court addresses “likelihood” vs. “absence of actual”
Starbucks Corp. v. Wolfe’s Borough Coffee, Inc., 477 F.3d 765, 766, 2007 (2d Cir.)

Federal Circuit clarifies penalty for false patent marking
The Forest Group v. Bon Tool Co., 2009-1044, Dec. 28, 2009 (Fed. Cir.)

Roughed up: Muscle mag ads affect patentability
Iovate Health Sciences, Inc. v. Bio-Engineered Supplements & Nutrition, Inc., No. 2009-1018, 2009 (Fed. Cir.)

Reality check
Court defines distinctiveness standard for marks
Lahoti v. Vericheck, Inc., No. 08-35001, 2009 (9th Cir.)

University learns harsh lesson about assignment agreements
Bd. of Trustees v. Roche Molecular Sys., Inc., No. 2008-1509, 2009 (Fed. Cir.)

What makes derivative works copyrightable?
Schrock v. Learning Curve, Inc., No. 09-1296, 2009 (7th Cir.); Gracen v. Bradford Exchange, 698 F.2d 300, 1983 (7th Cir.)

Taking a swing at the first sale doctrine: 
Resellers raise challenge in trademark infringement case
Citation:  Beltronics USA Inc. v. Midwest Inventory Distribution LLC, 90 USPQ2d 1228 (10th Cir. Apr. 9, 2009).

Rough waters: Inventor’s standing at issue in patent case
Citation: Larson v. Correct Craft, Inc., 2008-1208 (Fed. Cir. 6-5-2009). No. 2008-1208, 2008-1209.  Chou v. University of Chicago, Appeal No. 00-1317 (Fed. Cir., July 3, 2001).

Fair or foul? 
What qualifies as transformative use, not copyright infringement
Citation:  A.V. v. iParadigms, LLC (April 16, 2009), No. 08-1424.

Federal Circuit clarifies double patenting test
Citation:  In re Fallaux (Fed. Cir. May 6, 2009).

The keyword results are in: 
Second Circuit issues key decision re: search engines
Rescuecom Corp. v. Google, Inc., No. 06-4881 (2d Cir. 2009); 1-800 Contacts v. WhenU.com, 414 F.3d 400 (2d Cir. 2005)

Patent law:  More madness over business methods
In re Ferguson, No. 07-1232 (Fed. Cir. 2009); In re Bilski, 545 F.3d 943 (Fed. Cir. 2008); Diamond v. Diehr, 450 U.S. 175 (1981)

Can you prove copyright infringement without proof of copying?
Jones v. Blige, No. 07-1051 (6th Cir. 2009)

IP in brief: In re TS Tech USA
Patent court issues critical venue ruling
In re TS Tech USA, 2008 WL 5397522 (Fed. Cir., Dec. 29, 2008) 

Too obvious
Federal Circuit extinguishes candleholder patent
Ball Aerosol & Specialty Container, Inc. v. Ltd. Brands, Inc. (Fed. Cir. 2/9/09) KSR International Co. v. Teleflex Inc., 127 S. Ct. 1727 (2007)

Video game dispute pits trademark infringement against the First Amendment
E.S.S. Entm't 2000, Inc. v. Rock Star Videos, Inc., No. 06-56237 (9th Cir. 11/5/08).

Patentability of business methods
Resuming the fight in a revised Federal Circuit opinion
In re Comiskey (Fed. Cir. 1/13/09).
In re Bilski, No. 2007-1130 (Fed. Cir. 2008)

IP in brief: Intervest Construction v. Canterbury Estate Homes
Court warns of “thin” protection for architectural works
Intervest Constr., Inc. v. Canterbury Estate Homes, Inc. (11th Cir. 12/22/08).

Picking up the pieces:  Court weighs in on liability for patent-infringing components.
Ricoh Co. Ltd. v. Quanta Computer Inc., No. 2007-1567 (Fed. Cir. 12/23/08)

Pencils down! Federal Circuit adopts definitive test for method patentability.
In re Bilski, No. 2007-1130 (Fed. Cir.  10/30/08)

How do team colors hold up in a trademark dispute?
Bd. of Supervisors for La. State Univ. Agric. & Mech. Coll. v. Smack Apparel Co., No. 07-30580 (5th Cir. 11/25/08)

IP in brief: Sold sculptures prompt copyright claim.
Societe Civile Succession Richard Guino v. Renoir, No. 07-15582 (9th Cir. 12/9/08)

Induced patent infringement:  Opinion of counsel matters.  Citation: Broadcom v. Qualcomm, No. 2008-1199 (Fed. Cir. 2008); In re Seagate Technology, LLC, 497 F.3d 1360 (Fed. Cir. 2007)

Court declares appropriate test for design patent infringement. 
Citation: Egyptian Goddess, Inc. v. Swisa, 543 F.3d 665 (Fed. Cir. 2008); Gorham v. White, 81 U.S. 511 (1871); Litton Systems, Inc. v. Whirlpool Corp., 728 F.2d 1423 (Fed. Cir. 1984); Smith v. Whitman Saddle Co., 148 U.S. 674 (1893)

Can an implied license defeat a copyright claim?  The importance of addressing ownership rights using written agreements when developing intellectual property. 
Citation: Asset Marketing Systems, Inc. v. Gagnon, 542 F.3d 748 (9th Cir. 2008)

The importance of association:  Automotive trademark faces likelihood of confusion test. 
Citation: AutoZone, Inc. v. Strick, 543 F.3d 923 (7th Cir. 2008).

Congress enacts additional IP protections.
Citation: Pub. L. 110-403

Don’t get burned--  Patent’s inequitable conduct defense requires intent and materiality. 
Citation: Star Scientific, Inc. v. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., 537 F.3d 1357, 88 U.S.P.Q.2d 1001  (Fed. Cir. 2008).

Proving secondary meaning for trademarks.
Citation: E.T. Browne Drug Co. v. Cococare Products, Inc., 538 F.3d 185, 87 U.S.P.Q.2d 1655  (3d Cir. 2008). 

How the first sale doctrine affects foreign-made infringing copies. 
Citation: Omega S.A. v. Costco Wholesale, --- F.3d ----, 2008 WL 4058640 (9th Cir. 2008); Quality King Distributors, Inc. v. L’anza Research Int’l, Inc., 523 U.S. 135 (1998).

Notice of patent infringement trips up defendant. 
Citation: DSW, Inc. v. Shoe Pavilion, Inc., No. 2008-1085 (Fed. Cir. 2008); Wine Railway Appliance Co. v. Enterprise Railway Equipment, 297 U.S. 387 (1936).

Photo finish--  Archives in copyright case ruled privileged.  Citation: Greenberg v. National Geographic Society, No. 05-16964 (11th Cir. 2008); New York Times Co. v. Tasini, 533 U.S. 483 (2001).

Sweet dreams--  Supreme Court enforces patent exhaustion doctrine.   
Citation: Quanta Computer, Inc. v. LG Electronics, Inc., 128 S.Ct. 2109 (U.S. 2008); Motion Picture Patents Co. v. Universal Film Mfg. Co., 243 U.S. 502 (1917); U.S. v. Univis, 316 U.S. 241 (1942).

 “Families” feud over trademark ownership. 
Citation: Estate of Coll-Monge v. Inner Peace Movement, 524 F.3d 1341, 86 U.S.P.Q.2d 1598 (D.C. Cir. 2008). 

Generic trademark lets defendant duck injunction.
Citation: Boston Duck Tours, L.P. v. Super Duck Tours, LLC, No. 07-2078 (1st Cir. 2008).

Can meta tags form the basis for trademark infringement? Citation: North American Medical Corp. v. Axiom Worldwide, Inc., 522 F.3d 1211 (11th Cir. 2008); Brookfield Communications, Inc. v. West Coast Entertainment Corp., 174 F.3d 1036 (9th Cir. 1999); eBay Inc. v. MercExchange, L.L.C., 547 U.S. 388 (2006).

PTO patent rules rejected. 
Citation: Tafas v. Dudas, 541 F.Supp.2d 805, 86 U.S.P.Q.2d 1623 (E.D. Va. 2008).

Can’t get more than one satisfaction: Court applies one-satisfaction rule in copyright case. 
Citation: BUC Int’l Corp. v. Int’l Yacht Council Ltd., 517 F.3d 1271 (11th Cir. 2008).

Court broadly interprets “video” license. 
Citation: Intersport Inc. v. NCAA --- N.E.2d --- (Ill. App. 2008).

Foreign relations:  Are famous overseas trademarks protected in the U.S.? 
Citations: ITC Ltd. v. Punchgini, Inc., 518 F.3d 159, 86 U.S.P.Q.2d 1115 (2d Cir. 2008); Grupo Gigante S.A. de C.V. v. Dallo & Co. , 391 F.3d 1088 (9th Cir. 2004).

Patentee strikes out:  Elements matter under doctrine of equivalents. 
Citation: Miken Composites, L.L.C. v. Wilson Sporting Goods Co., 515 F.3d 1331, 85 U.S.P.Q.2d 1865 (Fed. Cir. 2008).

Sewing up patent law’s on-sale bar. 
Citation: Atlanta Attachment Co. v. Leggett & Platt, Inc. (Fed. Cir. 2008).

All’s fair (use) in copyright infringement. 
Citation: Dudnikov v. Chalk & Vermilion Fine Arts, Inc., 85 U.S.P.Q.2d 1705, 514 F.3d 1063 (10th Cir. 2008).

Court remands trade secrets case. 
Citation: Patriot Homes, Inc. v. Forest River Housing, Inc. 512 F.3d 412 (7th Cir. 2008).

Dog-eat-dog world; Court allows pet toy parodies of famous marks
Citation: Louis Vuitton Malletier S.A. v. Haute Diggity Dog, LLC, No. 06-2267 (4th Cir. 2007)

Doctrine of patent prosecution disclaimer up close
Citation:  Elbex Video, Ltd. v. Sensormatic Electronics Corp., 85 U.S.P.Q.2d 1137 (Fed. Cir. 2007)

Accepting substitutes; Court reviews store brands’ trade dress for infringement
Citation:   McNeil Nutritionals, LLC v. Heartland Sweeteners, LLC, No. 07-2644 (3d Cir. 2007)

Can you use copyrighted thumbnails?  
Citation: Perfect 10 v. Amazon.com, No. 06-55405 (9th Cir. 2007)

Not in the “Nick of Time,” Court rejects retroactive copyright license.
Citation: Davis v. Blige, 505 F.3d 90, 84 U.S.P.Q.2d 1353 (2d Cir. 2007).

Inventions deemed outside of patentable subject matter
Citation:  In re Comiskey¸ No. 06-1286, 499 F.3d 1365, 84 U.S.P.Q.2d 1670 (Fed. Cir. 2007), In re Nuijten, 500 F.3d 1346, 84 U.S.P.Q.2d 1495 (Fed. Cir. 2007),  State St. Bank & Trust Co. v. Signature Fin. Grp., 149 F. 3d 1368 (Fed. Cir. 1998)

Direct infringement or directing infringement? Joint patent infringement standard clarified
Citation:  BMC Resources, Inc. v. Paymentech, L.P., 498 F.3d 1373 (Fed. Cir. 2007).

Court “disparages” unusual trademark claim
Citation:  Freecycle Network, Inc. v. Oey, 505 F.3d 898, 84 U.S.P.Q.2d 1530 (9th Cir. 2007).

Too many at bats for a trademark applicant. 
Citation: Central Mfg., Inc. v. Brett 492 F.3d 876 (7th Cir. 2007).

Foreign application provides patent priority. 
Citation: Frazer v. Schlegel, 83 U.S.P.Q.2d 1850 (Fed. Cir. 2007); Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. v. Medtronic Vascular, Inc. (Fed. Cir. 2007).

Court says no enablement, no patent protection. 
Citation: Ormco Corp. v. Align Technology, Inc., 2007 WL 2404723, 84 U.S.P.Q.2d 1146 (Fed. Cir. 2007).

No copyright protection for NYMEX selling prices. 
Citation: New York Mercantile Exchange, Inc. v. Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. 497 F.3d 109 (2d Cir. 2007).

• A secondary consideration:  Court rejects third-party liability for copyright, trademark infringement.  Citation:  Perfect 10 v. Visa Int’l, --- F.3d ----, 83 U.S.P.Q.2d 1144, (9th Cir. 2007).
• It’s in the way that you use it:  Court allows some “use” prior to patent application.  Citation:  Motionless Keyboard Co. v. Microsoft Corp., 486 F.3d 1376, 82 U.S.P.Q.2d 1801 (Fed. Cir. 2007); Egbert v. Lippman, 104 U.S. 333 (1881); Electric Storage Battery Co. v. Shimadzu, 307 U.S. 5 (1939).
• Energy drinks battle over trade dress.  Citation:  Hansen Beverage Co. v. National Beverage Corp., 83 U.S.P.Q.2d 1276 (9th Cir. 2007)
• Damages awarded for unauthorized but unused copies.  Citation:  Thoroughbred Software Int’l v. Dice Corp., 488 F.3d 352, 83 U.S.P.Q.2d 1040 (6th Cir. 2007). 

• Patented pedals hit the brakes:  Supreme Court lowers the “obviousness” bar.  Citation:  KSR Int’l Co. v. Teleflex Inc., No. 04-1350 (U.S. 2007); Graham v. John Deere Co. (1), 383 U.S. 1 (1966).
• Made in America?  Foreign-copied software escapes U.S. patent law.  Citation:  Microsoft Corp. v. AT&T Corp., No. 05-1056 (U.S. 2007).
• Court finds lawyers too generic:  Lawyers.com, that is.  Citation:  In re Reed Elsevier Properties, Inc., No. 06-1309 (Fed. Cir. 2007).