Isn’t it obvious?
Presumption of obviousness knocks out patent
Almirall, LLC v. Amneal Pharmaceuticals, LLC, No. 20-2331 (Fed. Cir. March 14, 2022)

Patent’s on-sale bar drains damages
Junker v. Medical Components, Inc., No. 21-1649 (Fed. Cir. Feb. 10, 2022)

Package it up
Bakery’s trade dress claim falls
Bimbo Bakeries USA, Inc. v. Sycamore, No. 18-4062, -4031, -4040 (10th Cir. March 18, 2022)

AI works shut out from copyright protection
Second Request for Reconsideration for Refusal to Register a Recent Entrance to Paradise (Copyright Review Board Feb. 14, 2022)

IPLS Proceedings published Dave Christensen's article, "Every Word Matters in Trade Secrets Agreements."

IPLS Proceedings published Thomas J. Mango's article, "Federal Jurisdiction Not Granted Based on Possible Trademark Injury."

"Don't forget the NFTs: IP due diligence for emerging technologies," by Partners Michelle Ciotola and David Kincaid, published in The Trademark Lawyer Magazine, Issue 2, 2022. 

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).

Patent attorney and partner at the #4 patent law firm in the U.S., Tanmay Dharmadhikari shares inside information for entrepreneurs, inventors, and innovators in his article, 7 Questions to Ask before Hiring an IP Attorney, published by Atlanta Tech Village, the 4th largest tech space in the U.S.

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).