Auto parts’ aesthetic appeal doesn’t invalidate design patents
Automotive Body Parts Ass’n v. Ford Global Techs., LLC, No. 18-1613, July 11, 2019, Fed. Cir.

Actual consumer confusion irrelevant in trademark profits determination
4 Pillar Dynasty LLC v. New York & Co., Inc., No. 17-2398, July 5, 2019, 2d Cir.

Beyond words
Federal Circuit faults PTAB’s written description analysis
In re: Global IP Holdings LLC, No. 18-1426, July 5, 2019, Fed. Cir.

Third Circuit rejects copyright presumption in favor of permanent injunctions
TD Bank N.A. v. Hill, No. 16-2897, July 1, 2019, 3d Cir.; eBay Inc. v. MercExchange, LLC, 547 U.S. 388 (2006)

Sink or swim: Precise patent language scuttles infringement lawsuit

Cobalt Boats, LLC v. Brunswick Corp., No. 18-1376, May 31, 2019, Fed. Cir.

It’s official

Supreme Court says government isn’t a person ― for patent purposes

Return Mail, Inc. v. U.S. Postal Service, No. 17-1594, June 10, 2019, U.S.

Limited protection

Inaccurate statement forfeits copyright infringement claim

Gold Value Int’l Textile, Inc. v. Sanctuary Clothing, LLC, No. 17-55818, June 4, 2019, 9th Cir.

SCOTUS strikes down ban on immoral or scandalous trademark registration

Iancu v. Brunetti, No. 18-302, June 24, 2019, U.S.

Active or passive?

What makes website operators directly liable for copyright infringement

VHT, Inc. v. Zillow Group, Inc., No. 17-35587, March 15, 2019, Ninth Cir.

Vehicle charging station patents short-circuit under Alice analysis

ChargePoint, Inc. v. SemaConnect, Inc., No. 18-1739, March 28, 2019, Fed. Cir.

Supreme Court ruling leaves a mark

Trademark right survives licensor’s bankruptcy

Mission Product Holdings, Inc. v. Tempnology, LLC, No. 17-1657, May 20, 2019, U.S.

PTAB rejects inherently obvious finding

PersonalWeb Technologies, LLC v. Apple, Inc., No. 18-1599, March 8, 2019, Fed. Cir.

Testing truths

Experimental use preempts public use, on-sale bars to patentability

Barry v. Medtronic, Inc., No. 17-2463, Jan. 24, 2019, Fed. Cir.

Extra! Extra!

SCOTUS clarifies copyright infringement lawsuit prerequisite

Fourth Estate Public Benefit Corp. v. Wall-Street.com, LLC, No. 17-571, Jan. 8, 2019, U.S.S.C.

Obviousness doesn’t require motivation to combine prior art

Realtime Data, LLC v. Iancu, No. 18-1154, Jan. 10, 2019, Fed. Cir.

Court of Appeals revives denied trademark application

In re: Guild Mortgage Co., No. 17-2620, Jan. 14, 2019, Fed. Cir.

When a surname can be registered as a trademark
Schlafly v. St. Louis Brewery, LLC, No. 17-1468, Nov. 26, 2018, Fed. Cir.

Lens manufacturer loses the blame game
Circumstantial evidence seals induced patent infringement liability
Enplas Display Device Corp. v. Seoul Semiconductor Co., Ltd., No. 16-2599, Nov. 19, 2018, Fed. Cir.

Music platform hits a sour note
Resale of digital music violates Copyright Act
Capitol Records, LLC v. ReDigi Inc., No. 16-2321, Dec. 18, 2018, 2d Cir.

Confidential sales can trigger the on-sale bar to patentability
Helsinn Healthcare S.A. v. Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc., No. 17-1229, Jan. 22, 2019, U.S. Sup. Ct. 

Print still matters

Trade show catalog bars patent

Nobel Biocare Svcs. AG v. Instradent USA, Inc., No. 17-2256, Sept. 13, 2018, Fed. Cir.

SAS Institute, Inc. v. Iancu, No. 16–969, April 24, 2018, S.Ct.

Stairway back to court

Erroneous jury instructions trip up copyright verdict

Skidmore v. Led Zeppelin, No. 16-56057, Sept. 28, 2018, 9th Cir.

How ranges described in prior art trigger obviousness presumption

E.I. DuPont de Nemours & Co. v. Synvina C.V., No. 17-1977, Sept. 17, 2018, Fed. Cir.

Can you sue foreign corporations for trademark infringement?

Plixer Int’l, Inc. v. Scrutinizer GmbH, No. 18-1195, Sept. 13, 2018, 1st Cir.