A notable shift
Software survives patent-eligibility test
Mentone Solutions LLC v. Digi Int’l Inc., No. 21-1202 (Fed Cir. Nov. 15, 2021); Two-Way Media Ltd. v. Comcast Cable Communications, 874 F.3d 1329, 124 U.S.P.Q.2d 1521 (Fed. Cir. 2017); CosmoKey Solutions GmbH & Co. KG v. Duo Security LLC, No. 20-2043 (Fed Cir. Oct. 4, 2021).
 
Off the leash
Design copyright case gets another life
Cat and Dogma, LLC v. Target Corp., No. 20-50674 (5th Cir. Oct. 8, 2021).
University of Strathclyde v. Clear-Vu Lighting, LLC, No. 20-2243 (Fed Cir. Nov. 4, 2021).
 
USPTO announces new trademark sanctions process
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) recently announced a new administrative process it will wield to investigate improper submissions filed with the USPTO in trademark matters. 
 
Post-AIA patents aren’t immune to interference proceedings
SNIPR Tech. Ltd. v. The Rockefeller University, Pat. Interf. No. 106,123 (PTAB Nov. 19, 2021).

Screenwriter’s copyright returns from the dead
Labor law doesn’t control work-for-hire determination
This article reviews the employment status — and thus copyright ownership — of a screenwriter for the successful “Friday the 13th” movies. 
Horror, Inc. v. Miller 

Failures of “prior art” undermine obviousness challenge to patent
University of Strathclyde v. Clear-Vu Lighting 

Potential trademark injury not enough for federal jurisdiction
Brooklyn Brewery Corp. v. Brooklyn Brew Shop

Federal Circuit limits disqualifying prior art for design patents
Federal Circuit limits disqualifying prior art for design patents.
In re: SurgiSil

Is limited online access to copyrighted work a “public display”?
Bell v. Wilmott Storage Svcs., LLC, No. 19-5582, -56181 (9th Cir. Sept. 9, 2021).

Failure to mark reduces patentee’s infringement recovery
Lubby Holdings LLC v. Chung, No. 19-2286 (Fed. Cir. Sept. 1, 2021).

Words matter
NDA language doesn’t protect trade secrets indefinitely
BladeRoom Group Ltd. v. Emerson Electric Co., No. 19-16583 (9th Cir. Aug. 30, 2021).

TTAB still constitutional post-Arthrex
Piano Factory Group, Inc. v. Schiedmayer Celesta GMBH, No. 20-1196 (Fed. Cir. Sept. 1, 2021).

Establishing infringement of “thin” copyrights
Design Basics, LLC v. Signature Construction, Inc., Nos. 19-2716 (7th Cir. April 23, 2021); Design Basics, LLC v. Lexington Homes, Inc., 858 F.3d 1093 (7th Cir. 2017).

Supreme Court shakes up the PTAB
U.S. v. Arthrex, Inc., No. 19-1434 (U.S. June 21, 2021).

SCOTUS upholds, but limits, “assignor estoppel”
Minerva Surgical, Inc. v. Hologic, Inc., No. 20-440 (U.S. June 29, 2021).

What constitutes an “exceptional case”? Court adopts new standard for attorneys’ fees in trademark cases
Derma Pen, LLC v. 4EverYoung Limited, No. 19-4114 (U.S. June 8, 2021).

Copyright’s fair use defense
Court clarifies “transformative use” analysis
The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc. v. Goldsmith, No. 19-2420-cv (2d Cir. March 26, 2021).

Alice strikes again
Targeted advertising is patent-ineligible
Free Stream Media Corp. v. Alphonso Inc., Nos. 19-1506, -2133 (Fed. Cir. May 11, 2021).

When is initial-interest confusion trademark infringement actionable?
Select Comfort Corp. v. Baxter, No. 19-1113 (8th Cir. May 11, 2021).

Establishing “actual use” standard in service mark infringement cases
Underwood v. Bank of America Corp., Nos. 19-1349, -1087 (10th Cir. April 30, 2021).

Don’t copy that
Lack of implied license results in copyright infringement
MidlevelU, Inc. v. ACI Information Group, No. 20-10856 (11th Cir. March 3, 2021); Latimer v. Roaring Toyz, Inc. (2010).

Functional color scheme isn’t protected trade dress
Sulzer Mixpac AG v. A&N Trading Co., No. 19-2951 (2d Cir. Feb. 18, 2021)

Can you hear us now? SCOTUS says app developers needn’t reinvent the wheel
Google LLC v. Oracle America, Inc., No. 18-956 (U.S. April 5, 2021)

Patentee falls short on proving willful infringement
Bayer Healthcare LLC v. Baxalta Inc., No. 2019-2418 (Fed. Cir. March 1, 2021)

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Michelle Ciotola and Ali Caless co-authored the article, "Trademark enforcement outside the courtroom: four underrated tools your clients may be overlooking," published by The Trademark Lawyer Magazine, Issue 4 2021. In the article, they explain how the United States Customs and Border Protection, trademark watch services, online infringement and modern trademark clearance can be utilized to amplify the strength of a brand and protect against infringement.

Oh, the places you won’t go - Fair use defense fails for mashup 
Dr. Seuss Enterprises, L.P. v. ComicMix LLC, No. 19-55348 (9th Cir. Dec. 18, 2020).

Take two - Court revives trademark infringement claim
Car-Freshner Corp. v. American Covers, LLC, No. 19-2750 (2d Cir. Nov. 19, 2020).

Federal Circuit diverges from PTAB on analogous art ruling
Donner Technology, LLC v. Pro Stage Gear, LLC, No. 20-1104 (Fed. Cir. Nov. 9, 2020).

Language matters: Grammar guides court’s patent interpretation
SIMO Holdings Inc. v. Hong Kong uCloudlink Network Technology Ltd., No. 2019-2411 (Fed. Cir. Jan. 5, 2021).