Supreme Court: Oil States Energy Servs., LLC v. Greene’s Energy Grp., LLC

Southern California Patents
The Supreme Court recently agreed to decide whether inter partes review, a post-issuance proceeding introduced by the America Invents Act ("AIA"), violated the Constitution. The constitutional challenge alleged that the inter partes review process ("IPR") violated the Constitution by extinguishing private property rights through a non-Article III federal court and…
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Blurring Some Lines

Southern California Patents
The 9th Circuit upheld an appeal challenging a verdict against artists Pharrell Williams and Robin Thicke, authors of “Blurred Lines,” for infringement of the iconic Marvin Gaye song “Got To Give It Up.” The Circuit decision focused on the sound and style of the song in finding infringement, determining that…
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Lucky 10,000,000?

Southern California Patents
Sometime in 2018, the Patent Office will grant Patent No. 10,000,000. But it won't look quite like the other 9,999,999 patents before it. It will have a new face. A patent grant cover page is the physical document that is issued to inventors upon the granting of a patent. For…
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SCOTUS SPOTLIGHT: In a Victory for the 1st Amendment, Supreme Court Rules Trademark Office Cannot Refuse to Register Offensive Marks

Southern California Patents
June 19, 2017. In Matal v. Tam, SCOTUS was asked to decide whether an Asian-American band name, “The Slants” was prohibited from attaining a federal trademark registration. The Lanham Act statute in question, 15 USC 1052(a), prohibits registration of trademarks which may be disparaging, bring contempt or disrepute to any…
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