Although Cisco argued it was entitled to a new trial because a prior ruling ordering it to pay $1.9 billion for infringing a startup’s cybersecurity patents included new theories of infringement and damages not presented by the plaintiff, the infringement ...

Tagged with: Intellectual Property Judge Henry Coke Morgan Jr. U.S. District Court - Eastern District

Where French trial and appellate courts previously declared the French Republic, and not a California company, is the rightful owner of the domain name France.com, the French Republic was immune from France.com’s trademark and cybersquatting suit. Background In 1994, a ...

Tagged with: 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Intellectual Property Judge Diana Gribbon Motz

Two companies that falsely advertised a new generic probiotic was essentially the same as an eight-strain probiotic formulation the plaintiff invented in the 1990s are liable for the $15 million awarded by the jury. Background In this consolidated appeal, VSL ...

Tagged with: 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Intellectual Property

Where NIKE stopped an advertising campaign after the district court found it infringed on Fleet Feet’s trademarks, NIKE’s cessation of the campaign mooted its appeal of the preliminary injunction. Background In 2019, NIKE Inc., NIKE USA Inc. and NIKE Retail ...

Tagged with: 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Intellectual Property Judge Albert Diaz

Larus Cloud Service Limited was awarded the domain name “laruscloudservices.net’’ after the court found Larus’ mark was distinctive, the disputed domain was confusingly similar and it was registered or used in bad faith with the intent to profit. Background On ...

Tagged with: Intellectual Property Judge Anthony J. Trenga U.S. District Court - Eastern District

Although a website operator began using “ipad” three years before Apple released its iPad in 2010, because Apple acquired use of the mark from another company that predated the website operator’s use, the mark obtained secondary meaning and Apple qualified ...

Tagged with: 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Intellectual Property Judge Barbara Milano Keenan

As is a BridgeTower Media custom this time of year, the following are the top 10 intellectual property cases from the past year. 1. Tampa Brady Tom Brady is once again seeking to acquire more federal trademark registrations. Last year ...

Tagged with: Intellectual Property

A company that twice filed complaints asserting patent infringement and related claims based on its beverage dispending system couldn’t dodge a motion to dismiss by arguing it needed discovery. Its complaint, meanwhile, included only conclusory allegations and was dismissed. Background ...

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

Where the Chartered Financial Analyst Institute, or CFAI, presented no showing of actual confusion between its trademarks and those related to the Certified Pension Fiduciary Adviser (CPFA) program, CFAI prevailed on federal and state claims. Background CFA Institute alleges that ...

Tagged with: Intellectual Property Judge Norman K. Moon U.S. District Court - Western District

Where a tax resolution franchisor brought Lanham Act trademark infringement, Virginia trademark infringement and common law unfair competition claims against a tax resolution servicer, it failed to prove the defendants’ use of a website domain creates a likelihood of confusion and ...

Tagged with: Intellectual Property Judge M. Hannah Lauck U.S. District Court - Eastern District