Part of our regular practice is defending companies that have been sued. Most commonly we defend against claims of patent or trademark infringement, though we also handle copyrights, trade secrets and IP-based contract disputes (e.g., licenses). Through decades of experience we have developed sensible procedures for learning early about new lawsuits against clients, for notifying [...]
Please join us on Monday, November 13, 2023 at Noon, where we will discuss the issue of master ownership and the legal copyright conflicts between record labels and artists. Taylor Swift may be the first to make this copyright issue truly public, leaving fans wondering who really owns Swift's music and why. She says she [...]
Tax Court Case of the Century A unique and dramatic presentation by a former IRS Estate Tax Attorney, Michael A. Permutter, whose personal journey included examining Michael Jackson's Estate Tax return, presenting at IRS Appeals, assisting IRS litigators in the Estate's historic and epic court battle against the IRS, and even being called up to [...]
Ethical Issues Related to Federal Court Discovery Many lawyers take a no-holds-barred view to discovery disputes. They are time-wasters, a hassle, and otherwise simply a pain. Opposing counsel always wants to destroy one's case, argue for documents and depositions that you know are irrelevant (or worse, likely to lead to a harder case for you [...]
Please join us on Monday, September 18, 2023 at Noon , where we will discuss two CAFC decision for Patents: one re: Claim Construction Apple v Corephotonics 22-1350.OPINION.9-11-2023_2188207 and the other regarding Analogous Art Netfix v Divx 22-1138.OPINION.9-11-2023_2188240. Angelo Gaz, of Counsel to SoCalIP, will lead the discussion.
Objective Indicia of Nonobviousness and Restrictive Scope of Patent Reissue Please join us on Monday, September 11, 2023, where we will discuss two recent precedential opinions from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in the patent sphere addressing [1] when evidence of objective indicia of nonobviousness is correctly argued and [2] issues [...]
SoCal IP Law Institute MCLE meeting of August 21, 2023 - Shifting Arguments in Inter Partes Review Please join us Monday, August 21, 2023 where we will discuss two recent ruling regarding when a petitioner may raise new arguments during inter partes review. Specific case discussions will include: Axonics, Inc. v. Medtronic, Inc., 2022-1532 (Fed. [...]
Please join us Monday, August 21, 2023 where we will discuss Trademark Marking Notice and TTAB Issues. Specific issues will include: What are the requirements of Trademark Marking Notice and how do they affect damages in a lawsuit? What about Virtual notice? In TTAB cancellation or Opposition Proceedings, what topics are permitted in Reply Briefs? [...]
For many years, the USPTO's Patent Trial and Appeals Board has been viewed as a Star Chamber which ritually invalidates patents. More recent experience suggests that the PTAB is no longer necessarily a place where patents go to die. Two cases from this summer are the topic of this post. In both cases, the PTAB [...]
New Mandatory Bar Ethics Reporting Rules The California Bar has adopted a new Rule of Professional Conduct 8.3 which requires that bar members report ethical breaches of other lawyers about which they are aware. This rule brings California into line with most other jurisdictions which require such reporting. The rule goes into effect on August [...]
