For our weekly SoCal IP Institute meeting on Monday, July 16, 2018, we will discuss:

Apple and Google v. ContentGuard v. Iancu  (CAFC July 11, 2018) (available here).  Google and Apple tried to invalidate a patent using a procedure for CBM’s (covered business methods). They argued U.S. Patent 7,774,280, a patent for digital rights management, could be classified as a CBM. The PTAB partially instituted a review of the patent, but the CAFC reversed the entire proceeding, finding the patent was not a CBM. The CAFC reasoned  that although the patent could apply to financial transactions, there were situation where it also could not apply to financial transactions, therefore classification as a CBM was inappropriate.

Texas Advanced Optoelectronic v. Renesas Elecs. Am. (CAFC July 9, 2018) (available here).  Plaintiff and Defendant were both companies that develop ambient light sensors. The two companies began negotiating a possible merger and shared confidential information with each other. After negotiations failed, Defendant began producing products with Plaintiff’s secret technology. Plaintiff sued and won under a theory of both trade secret misappropriation and patent infringement. The CAFC affirmed the findings of infringement and appropriation but adjusted damages to prevent a double recovery.

All are invited to join us on Monday July 16, 2018, at noon in our Westlake Village office. This activity is approved for 1 hour of MCLE credit. If you will be joining us, please RSVP to Elisha Manzur by 9 am Monday morning.