The owner of a company argued she could not be held liable for alleged copyright infringement because the allegedly infringing actions were committed by her limited liability company. The court held, however, that the plaintiff pleaded sufficient facts to plausibly ...

Tagged with: Intellectual Property Judge Michael F. Urbanski U.S. District Court - Western District

An indigent 26-year old man on the autism spectrum will not be required to pay costs to the government after it prevailed in a suit. In addition, a prior award of fees to the man due to his prevailing in ...

Tagged with: Intellectual Property Judge James P. Jones U.S. District Court - Western District

The plaintiff demonstrated the defaulting defendant violated the federal Anti-Cybersquatting Protection Act. Background On July 24, 2018, plaintiff brought an in rem action for cybersquatting and trademark infringement against defendant FractalAnalyticsPro.com. . The clerk of court entered default on Oct. ...

Tagged with: Intellectual Property Judge Claude M. Hilton U.S. District Court - Eastern District

Record companies failed in their attempt to sue a Russian national who owns and operates two websites the plaintiffs allege are used for music piracy and copyright infringement because the defendant did not purposefully avail himself of the benefits and ...

Tagged with: Intellectual Property Judge Claude M. Hilton U.S. District Court - Eastern District

The court adopted the magistrate judge’s report finding a corporate plaintiff established that it owned the stolen domain name, which was unlawfully transferred by the defaulting defendant. Background Blackshore Properties Inc. filed this civil action against two defendants: John Doe, ...

Tagged with: Intellectual Property Judge Leonie Brinkema U.S. District Court - Eastern District

Where the government failed to demonstrate that booking.com was a generic term that could not be trademarked, and Booking.com demonstrated that the descriptive term has gained a secondary meaning, the website is entitled to a trademark. Background Booking.com operates a ...

Tagged with: 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Intellectual Property Judge Allyson K. Duncan

The court held the complaint stated a plausible claim for individual liability against the sole owner of an LLC because it alleged, “upon information and belief” that she engaged in conduct sufficient to impose liability. Background Plaintiff is a photographer ...

Tagged with: Intellectual Property Judge Michael F. Urbanski U.S. District Court - Western District

Following the jury trial in a dispute between a doorskin manufacturer and purchaser, there continued to be disputes between the parties over the terms of their supply agreement, requiring the court to issue declaratory relief. Background This matter is before ...

Tagged with: Intellectual Property Judge Robert E. Payne U.S. District Court - Eastern District

A patent that provides a prospective buyer or renter automated entry to properties through a lockbox or door lock in conjunction with other devices was simply automation of a human, manual process that was patent-ineligible as an abstract idea. Background ...

Tagged with: Intellectual Property Judge Robert G. Doumar U.S. District Court - Eastern District

The “Important Opinions” that appear each week on the front page of Virginia Lawyers Weekly are those chosen by our editors as the most likely to impact law practice or a given subject area of law. Below is a listing, ...

Tagged with: 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Administrative Banking Bankruptcy Civil Procedure Civil Rights Commercial Constitutional Consumer Protection Contract Corporate Criminal Domestic Relations Employment Evidence Federal Jurisdiction First Amendment Government Immigration Intellectual Property Personal Injury Real Property Search & Seizure Supreme Court of Virginia Traffic U.S. District Court - Eastern District U.S. District Court - Western District Virginia Circuit Courts Virginia Court of Appeals Wills & Trusts