News

  • Booking-400x200 SCOTUS Rules That Addition of “.com” to a Generic Term Can Create a Trademark

    June 30, 2020

    On June 30, 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court held that the addition of “.com” to a generic term can create a protectable trademark, affirming a decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. United States Patent and Trademark Office v. Booking.com B.V., U.S., No. 19-46. In doing so, the Court rejected the United States Patent and Trademark Office's (USPTO) "nearly per se rule" that when a generic term is combined with a generic top-level domain the resulting combination is generic.
  • 2018_shapeofwater_2017_16-h_2019-400 Ninth Circuit Reverses Dismissal of ‘Shape of Water’ Copyright Suit

    June 29, 2020

    The Ninth Circuit on June 22, 2020, reversed a district court’s dismissal of a copyright infringement lawsuit against the award-winning movie “The Shape of Water”, finding that David Zindel adequately alleged that Fox Searchlight Pictures Inc. copied aspects of his father’s play. Zindel v. Fox Searchlight Pictures, Inc., 9th Cir., No. 18-56087.
  • Library-of-Congress Copyright Office Releases Updated Online Edition of Circular 92

    June 24, 2020

    The US Copyright Office on June 23, 2020, released an updated version of Copyright Law of the United States and Related Laws Contained in Title 17 of the United States Code.
  • Riot web Riot Games’ Networking Patent Win Affirmed by Federal Circuit

    June 23, 2020

    The US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit on June 16, 2020, affirmed a Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) win by videogame developers Riot Games Inc. and Valve Corp. in validity challenges to two computer-networking patents.
  • Fees 400 Attorney Fees Denied in Copyright Case at Seventh Circuit

    June 22, 2020

    The US Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit on June 17, 2020, held that a wellness store’s copyright claims against a former employee didn’t require an attorneys’ fees award, finding that several circumstances justified denying the award.