International Law

Keyword advertising & trade mark infringement
This is a quick heads-up on two recent trade mark infringement judgments, both to do with the use of a third party's trade mark in a keyword advert. Keyword adverts are the sponsored links that sit alongside ordinary search results...

Illicit trade-mark fee solicitations
I often get calls from clients I am registering trade-marks for asking me if an invoice they have received is legitimate. These are so common that CIPO (Canadian Intellectual Property Office) prints a warning on their trade-mark approval notices that...

Poor-mans Opposition Proceeding
Nowotarski and Bakos propose opening the patent prosecution process to third parties ? at least to allow some forms of protests or pre-issuance oppositions. Those activities are expressly barred by 35 U...

Sony Abuzz about Trade-mark Suit
Sony Computer Entertainment Europe is facing claims of trade-mark infringement from Buzztime Entertainment, a California-based maker of interactive electronic trivia games that are often found in bars and restaurants...

EPO Oppositions & Appeals
From HLBBshaw: "After grant of a European patent, there is a nine-month window in which a person may file centrally at the EPO a notice of opposition to the patent, alleging that the patent was wrongly granted...

Keep your trade marks current: Gallo v Lion Nathan
In E. & J. Gallo Winery v Lion Nathan Australia Pty Limited [2008] FCA 934 the Federal Court rejected a claim by Gallo that Lion Nathan's trade mark "Barefoot" in relation to a beer infringed its trade mark "Barefoot" in...

Trade Secrets
Former execs are hit with doctrine of inevitable disclosure.

Mark Eagleson
$63,725 restitution settles fraud lawsuit.

Technician Whistleblower
Jury orders DuPont Chambers Works to pay $1.224 million settlement to employee.

Ford F-150 Recall
alleging a hose in the F-150 and Lincoln Mark LT pickup trucks could affect braking power.

Trade Secrets
Razorsight agreed to pay $4.5 million settlement in infringement lawsuit.

Newspaper Publisher
Star Tribune must pay St. Paul Pioneer Press a $3.8 million trade secrets act violations settlement.

Air Line Bankruptcy
BCI Aircraft Leasing agrees to pay $600,000 settlement related to Delta Air Lines bankruptcy claims.