Free Newsletter
The USPTO’s PIER Pilot Program: A small change with potentially big patent implications
In April 2026, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) introduced a new pilot program, the PCT Informed Examination Request (PIER) Pilot Program.
VIP Products v. Jack Daniels’ Properties: Even a successful parody can violate the Lanham Act through dilution by tarnishment
Commentary: Jack Daniels’ iconic bottle design is an example of a famous trade dress, which is registered as a trademark. A trademark is a type of intellectual property that includes a logo, symbol, phrase, word, name, or design that is used to identify products or services of a particular source from those of other sources.
Who really owns your trademark? Ownership pitfalls for start-ups and closely held businesses
Businesses often file federal trademark applications early — sometimes before a legal entity even exists. Later, businesses may assign intellectual property (IP), including registered trademarks, to an individual owner or a corporate affiliate for restructuring or other strategic reasons.
Of inventions and heirs: Estate planning for intellectual property
Intellectual property is often thought of as something held by big conglomerates, but it has become increasingly common for individuals to hold intellectual property rights including patents, trademarks, copyrights, or even trade secrets.
How to guard domains from typo squatting and cybersquatting
Learn how to protect your trademarks from typo squatting and cybersquatting, including legal remedies, monitoring tips, and domain protection strategies.
The Patent Eligibility Restoration Act (PERA) could provide a much-needed boost to key technology sectors of the U.S. economy
The Patent Eligibility Restoration Act (PERA), introduced as bill S1546 in the U.S. Sente, represents a major legislative effort to rectify the harm caused by a series of Supreme Court decisions which dramatically narrowed the scope of what inventions were patentable in the United States. (see Bill S1546, May 1, 2025, https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/1546).
The Copyright Claims Board – Overview and statistics
The Copyright Claims Board (the “CCB”) was created in 2020 by the Copyright Alternative in Small Claims Enforcement Act (the “CASE Act”), which was meant to strengthen copyright protection and thereby strengthen the economy, to which creators contribute greatly and yet often find themselves struggling to enforce their rights and sustain their livelihoods.
CardiacSense v. Garmin: Marathon legal battle continues in the wearable tech arena
In an amended compliant filed on May 23, Israeli health tech company CardiacSense Ltd. (hereinafter, “CardiacSense”) defended the patent eligibility of its wearable tracker patent, advancing its ongoing legal action against Garmin International Inc.. (hereinafter, “Garmin”).
2nd Circuit Clarifies Standard for Pleading Unregistered Trade Dress | IP Frontiers
Second Circuit decisions clarify how to plead unregistered trade dress claims, easing standards on non-functionality and distinctiveness at early stages.
Patenting inventions made with the assistance of artificial intelligence
The advent of powerful artificial intelligence, or AI, technologies continue to impact almost every aspect of society. Inventorship and patenting are no exception.
Copyrightability of AI-assisted works – Copyright Office report | IP Frontiers
In January 2025, the Copyright Office released the second of two reports providing guidance for copyrightability and artificial intelligence (AI) in response to its August 2023 Notice of Inquiry.
Free digital library not fair use under copyright act | IP Frontiers
In Hachette Book Group, Inc. v. Internet Archive, 115 F.4th 163 (2024), the Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit affirmed the district court’s ruling finding Internet Archive’s free digital library was not fair use under the Copyright Act.
Case Digests
- Second Circuit – Appellate counsel: United States v. Samuels
- Fourth Department – Pre-answer motion to dismiss: Villalba v. City of Auburn, et al.
- Court of Appeals – Office of Children and Family Services: Lawyers for Children, et al. v. NYS Office of Children and Family Services, et a.
- Fourth Department – Assault: People v. Talley
- Court of Appeals – Family Court Act: Abdoch v. Abdoch
- Second Circuit – Medicaid: Bellin v. McDonald
- Fourth Department – Family Court: Sprague v. Younes
- Second Circuit – False Claims Act: United States of America v. Amazon.com Inc.
- Fourth Department – Notice of claim: Jarrod W.S. v. Jordan-Elbridge CSD, et al.
- Western District Case Notes
- Second Circuit – Distribution of a controlled substance: United States v. Parasmo
Law News
- Convictions reversed over illegal NY State Police search
- NY judge rejects motion to collect on Iowa court judgment
- Bronx prosecutor misses filing deadline by 12 seconds
- Second-degree murder count reversed, leaving first-degree conviction
- Court of Appeals ends foster care program
- Experts highlight tax and regulatory changes
- NY appeals court reinstates robbery indictment
- Court of Appeals affirms convictions despite tainted transcript
Polls
Loading ...