June 2010

Check Before Eating

Submitted by patentadmin on Tue, 06/29/2010 - 18:23

Jerry Seinfeld’s TV show may be funny – at least to some folks – but his wife’s cookbook was serious business. (Missy Chase Lapine, The Sneaky Chef, Inc. v. Jessica Seinfeld, Jerry Seinfeld, Harpercollins Publishers, Inc. and Departure Productions, Inc.)

Salesforce.com Files a Lawsuit of Its Own Against Microsoft

Submitted by patentadmin on Mon, 06/28/2010 - 10:27

June 28, 2010 - Just a few weeks after calling Microsoft a "patent troll," Salesforce.com has responded in kind by filing a patent infringement lawsuit against Microsoft over five of its patents, claiming in the complaint that the “risk of infringement was either known or so obvious that it should have been known by Microsoft

Frontier Communications Sues Google for Patent Infringement

Submitted by patentadmin on Thu, 06/24/2010 - 10:27

June 24, 2010 - Google Inc. just announced that its Google Voice VoIP service will be made available to the public, and they have already been hit with a patent infringement lawsuit.

Frontier Communications Corp. contends that Google is infringing its newly-issued patent on enhanced telephone services, and that Google's VoIP service will cause Frontier "irreparable damage."

If At First You Don’t Succeed

Submitted by patentadmin on Mon, 06/21/2010 - 11:00

While perseverance in the face of adversity is deemed admirable, if carried to the extreme, it becomes a pathological inability to face reality and accept defeat. Unfortunately, some people are unable to discern where the one ends and the other begins. When this lack of judgment occurs in the legal arena, the courts may be called upon to put a stop to the matter. (Allegra Hemphill v. Kimberly-Clark Corporation and Proctor & Gamble Company)

Two General Patent Corporation Executives Named Among “The World’s Leading IP Strategists”

Alexander Poltorak and Richard Ehrlickman Are Inducted into IAM Strategy 250

Suffern, N.Y. – June 17, 2010 – Two executives in the General Patent Group of Companies, Alexander Poltorak and Richard Ehrlickman, were named among the World’s Leading IP Strategists. This list of the The World’s Leading IP Strategists is administered by Intellectual Asset Management magazine (IAM) of London, UK.

Not So Obvious

Submitted by patentadmin on Fri, 06/18/2010 - 10:55

A patent is invalid if it is shown to be “obvious” in view of a combination of prior art references (35 USC §103). Patentees, of course, will argue that the proposed combination of references is the product of “impermissible hindsight.” In support of such arguments, the patentees will point to “secondary indicia of patentability.”

Our Analysis Comes First

Submitted by patentadmin on Wed, 06/16/2010 - 22:21

Some time ago, we wrote about developments in the International Trade Commission (I.T.C.) (see "New Opportunities Or How To Circumvent e-Bay"). Specifically, we commented on the newly relaxed requirements for standing to bring an action in the I.T.C. The Commission has determined that the “domestic industry requirement” can now be satisfied by “licensing” activities.

The Price of Omission

Submitted by patentadmin on Wed, 06/16/2010 - 22:15

“Whoever … sells … a component of a patented machine … constituting a material part of the [patented] invention, knowing the same to be especially made or especially adapted for use in an infringement of such patent, and not a staple article … of commerce suitable for substantial noninfringing use, shall be liable as a contributory infringer.” 35 USC §271(b)

Show It All

Submitted by patentadmin on Wed, 06/16/2010 - 22:13

Superficially, “means plus function” claims are wonderfully broad. Such claims describe a function and claim an unspecified “means” for accomplishing that function. Thus, they appear to cover any structure which performs the recited function. Well, they DON’T! The Courts have repeatedly handed down decisions which should have made this abundantly clear; but, some folks have not gotten the message. (Sybase, Inc. v. Vertica Systems, Inc.)

Sharing Music But Not His Name

Submitted by patentadmin on Wed, 06/16/2010 - 22:11

As many of our readers may be aware, certain misguided individuals have been downloading copyrighted music without the permission of (read: without paying) the copyright owners. You know who you are. However, because these scofflaws have been hiding behind anonymous IP addresses, their identities were not known to the offended copyright owners – until now. (Arista Records v. Doe 3)

Motorola and RIM Settle Patent Infringement Lawsuits

Submitted by patentadmin on Fri, 06/11/2010 - 10:27

June 11, 2010 - Motorola, Inc. and Research in Motion Limited (RIM) announced in a press release that they have settled all of their patent disputes worldwide.

The settlement involves a mutually beneficial, long-term cross-licensing agreement between the two companies, covering technologies such as 2G, 3G, 4G, 802.11 and wireless email.

Motorola and RIM will transfer certain patents to each other, and RIM will pay an upfront payment and ongoing royalties to Motorola.

Gibson Settles Patent Infringement Litigation Against Makers and Retailers of "Rock Band" Game

Submitted by patentadmin on Tue, 06/08/2010 - 10:27

June 8, 2010 - Gibson Guitar Corp. has settled with Viacom Inc., Electronic Arts Inc. and retailers such as Amazon.com Inc., Target Corp. and Wal-Mart Stores Inc. over the "Rock Band" video game.

Guitar-maker Gibson claimed that the music video game infringed its patent on a method of using a musical instrument to perform in a simulated concert.

The Judge Speaks Out

Submitted by patentadmin on Mon, 06/07/2010 - 20:55

Many laypersons (note use of politically correct term “layPERSONS”) have complained that lawyer’s bills are outrageous. Well, now we have a federal judge who agrees with them. (AstraZeneca AB et al. v. Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, Ltd. et al.)

AstraZeneca sued Dr. Reddy’s for patent infringement. AstraZeneca lost and was ordered to pay Dr. Reddy’s legal bills. Undaunted, AstraZeneca appealed – and lost again.

Defending Bimbo’s Muffins

Submitted by patentadmin on Mon, 06/07/2010 - 20:18

Some time ago, we wrote of Bimbo Bakeries USA Inc. and their efforts to prevent a former employee, Chris Botticella, from working for Hostess, Inc. As we previously noted, Mr. Botticella is allegedly in possession of secret information relating to the creation of the highly advertised “nooks and crannies” in Thomas’ English Muffins.

AT&T Mobile and T-Mobile Sued for Patent Infringement by Swiss Company

Submitted by patentadmin on Mon, 06/07/2010 - 10:27

June 7, 2010 - A Swiss company called Starhome GmbH filed a patent infringement lawsuit against AT&T and T-Mobile in U.S. District Court in Delaware on May 25, alleging that the companies infringe Starhome's patents related to easy access to voice mail when the mobile phone service subscriber is abroad.

A Narrow Escape

Submitted by patentadmin on Fri, 06/04/2010 - 20:23

Lawyers who file frivolous claims may be sanctioned by the court (“sanctioned” is legalese for “ordered to pay money to the opposing party”). The question, of course, is which claims are frivolous.

The applicable rule of civil procedure – for all you anal retentive types, it’s F.R.C.P. 11 – states that “sanctions are appropriate when … the party files a pleading that is based on a legal theory that has no reasonable chance of success and that cannot be advanced as a reasonable argument to change existing law …"

Look Before You Leap

Submitted by patentadmin on Wed, 06/02/2010 - 10:08

It may be debated whether size is important. Be that as it may, the ability to boast about size is clearly VERY important – at least to the folks at Subway. Yes, the same people whose television spokesman claims to have lost hundreds of pounds eating their sandwiches has now claimed trademark, i.e. exclusive rights to use of the term FOOTLONG in connection with sandwiches.

Of Special Interests

Submitted by patentadmin on Tue, 06/01/2010 - 10:11

Much criticism has been levied at lobbyists and “special interests.” Well, some of them have apparently taken time from their socially significant efforts defending wayward politicians and negligent oil companies and coal mine operators to quietly work at amending the U.S. trademark law. The fruits of their efforts can be seen in a recent decision of the U.S. Court of Appeals For The Sixth Circuit, V Secret Catalogue Inc. et al. v. Moseley et al.