News & Publications

On October 13, 2020, the Supreme Court agreed to decide whether the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, as created by the AIA, violates the Appointments Clause in Article II of the Constitution. The Court granted certiorari in three consolidated cases (United States v. Arthrex, Inc., et al. 19-1434; Smith & Nephew, Inc., et al. v. Arthrex, Inc., et al., 19-1452; and Arthrex, Inc., v. Smith & Nephew, Inc., et al., 19-1458), but limited its review to two specific questions

The USPTO published a Final Rule on August 3, 2020 in a Federal Register Notice, announcing fee changes that take effect October 2, 2020. The Final Rule includes an approximate 5-10% increase to most fees impacted by the rule, with some larger increases, notably in issue and maintenance fees, maintenance late fees, and PTAB fees. Four fees were discontinued.

AIPLA congratulates Shira Perlmutter on her appointment as the 14th Register of Copyrights. Her extensive experience in intellectual property law will be a tremendous benefit to the Office.

The US Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit on September 9, 2020, held that two former Royal Truck & Trailer Sales & Service Inc. employees didn’t violate the anti-hacking Computer Fraud and Abuse Act by forwarding and misusing confidential company information because they had permission to access it.

The US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit on September 8, 2020, held that the musical “Jersey Boys” doesn’t infringe the copyright in a Four Seasons band member’s autobiography because any similarities between the works are based on historical facts.

The US Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit on August 31, 2020, held that a beauty and personal care sales rep deceived a CVS Pharmacy distributor about her rights to use Carol’s Express as a trademark. Beauty Enters. v. Gregory, 2020 BL 328390, 7th Cir., No. 19-3491, 8/28/20.

The US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit on August 21, 2020, held that the owner of an emissions trading-related patent can’t sue California for infringement a second time after his first suit was dismissed.

The US Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit on August 20, 2020, held that the $280 million in punitive damages Tata Consultancy Services Ltd., an Indian multinational IT services company, owes electronic health record developer Epic Systems Corp. for stealing trade secrets is “constitutionally excessive.”

The US District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia on August 19, 2020, held that prolific inventor Gilbert P. Hyatt hadn’t shown that the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) deliberately chooses not to process, examine, or issue patents for his “extraordinarily lengthy” applications.

The US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit on August 20, 2020, held that patent owner Walter A. Tormasi lacked capacity to sue computer company Western Digital Corp. because Tormasi was barred from conducting business as a New Jersey inmate.