News & Publications

The Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology on April 24, 2019, announced 15 key findings from a final version of a new “green paper” on maximizing U.S. innovation from government-funded research.

The US Copyright Office on April 24, 2019, announced that Maria Strong will serve as Associate Register of Copyrights and Director of Policy and International Affairs at the United States Copyright Office, effective April 23, 2019.

The US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit on April 18, 2019, invalidated three of Trading Technologies LLC’s patents on a user interface for electronic trading technology, affirming the Patent Trial and Appeal Board’s finding that the patents were ineligible under § 101 after the Board instituted Covered Business Method (CBM) Patent review.

The US Patent and Trademark Office on April 22, 2019, issued a notice of information concerning existing office practice available to a patent owner during the pendency of a trial proceeding under the America Invents Act (AIA); specifically pertaining to the reissue and reexamination procedures available for amending claims involved in the trial. 84 Fed. Reg. 16654.

On April, 17, 2019, Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Chris Coons (D-DE), and Representatives Doug Collins (R-GA), Hank Johnson (D-GA), and Steve Stivers (R-OH), released a bipartisan, bicameral framework to reform Section 101 of the Patent Act.

The USPTO on April 16, 2019, designated three PTAB decisions as precedential.

The Supreme Court on April 15, 2019, heard oral argument in the Brunetti case on whether the statutory ban on registering “immoral ... or scandalous” trademarks violates the First Amendment. Iancu v. Brunetti, U.S., No. 18-302, oral argument 4/15/2019.

The US Patent and Trademark Office will begin hosting free seminars on protecting your IP in China. The new series of road shows will be geared towards businesses, individuals, and attorneys looking to hear about strategies for better protecting intellectual property in China.

The United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio on April 1, 2019, held that Redbubble, Inc. was not liable for direct infringement of several of Ohio State University’s trademarks. The Ohio State Univ. v. Redbubble Inc., S.D. Ohio, No. 17-cv-1092, 3/29/19.

A website for goods that lacks any ordering information such as cost, payment options, minimum quantities, and shipping information is insufficient proof of the goods’ use in commerce when applying for trademark registration, the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit held on April 10, 2019. In Re: Siny Corp., Fed. Cir., No. 2018-1077, 1/14/19.