Intellectual Property Law

Judge Says HP Lawyers Didn’t Go Beyond ‘Bounds of Civility’

A federal judge has refused to order lawyers for Hewlett-Packard Co. to pay about $12 million in attorney fees in a hard-fought patent infringement case. Judge Randall Rader wrote that some HP lawyers “did employ some marginally vexatious litigation tactics,” but the conduct did not warrant the fee sanction, the…

May 22, 2009 2:31 PM CDT

Fish Firm Defers 1/3 of Incoming Class, Tells 1/3 More to Look for Another Job

After layoffs earlier this month of 35 attorneys and 85 staff, a major intellectual property boutique is now extending the pain to its incoming class of new associates. About one third of its incoming first-years will start on time this fall, Fish & Richardson tells Above the Law in a…

May 21, 2009 6:46 PM CDT

Facebook, Twitter Make the Rules in New Internet Name Game

Only a few years ago, the rules of website domain-name ownership were clear-cut. But now social networking websites are integral to the daily lives of many, and their users don’t have the same rights as those who have purchased Internet addresses. In fact, neither Facebook users nor their counterparts on…

May 19, 2009 10:43 PM CDT

‘Reply All’ Was a Mistake, Peeved Partner Tells Quinn Emanuel Associate

Observers are openly wondering how long an unidentified first-year associate at Quinn Emanuel Urquhart Oliver & Hedges will hold his job, after reading a jaw-dropping e-mail thread. It began with a partner’s standard-issue firmwide proclamation of victory on Friday in a federal court case involving the trademark rights of the…

May 19, 2009 8:53 PM CDT

Woody Allen Settles Billboard Lawsuit Against American Apparel for $5M

A clothing company known for its racy advertising and aggressive litigation tactics has agreed to settle for $5 million a lawsuit by Woody Allen over its alleged unauthorized use of his image in a billboard campaign and Internet advertising. But Dov Charney, the founder and chief executive of American Apparel,…

May 18, 2009 5:52 PM CDT

Fish & Richardson Lays Off 120

In yet another sign of the troubled economic times, a well-known intellectual property boutique is laying off 35 lawyers and 85 support staff. “Continuing to face unprecedented levels of economic uncertainty in the marketplace, the firm has decided to make workforce adjustments that will ensure our continued strength during these…

May 13, 2009 11:31 PM CDT

Web Case Losers Launch DDO$ Attack: Pay $3.75M Fine to Law Firm in Pennies

Updated: After their recent conviction in a criminal copyright prosecution in Sweden, owners of a well-known file-sharing website have reportedly come up with a plan to pay back a law firm that represented the music industry at trial in the Pirate Bay-related case. “Either devilishly clever or absolutely boneheaded,” writes…

May 13, 2009 10:00 PM CDT

ACLU Suit Challenges Patents on Genes as First Amendment Violation

A suit filed by in New York federal court challenges patents granted to a company for two genes that can be tested to determine a person’s increased risk of breast and ovarian cancers. The suit argues such patents impede the free flow of information and violate the First Amendment, according…

May 13, 2009 7:01 PM CDT

Akin Gump Hit with $72.6M Malpractice Verdict

Updated: Jurors in a San Antonio federal trial have awarded plaintiffs $72.6 million in a malpractice case against Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld. The firm plans to appeal. And in a statement released to the ABA Journal late this evening, Akin Gump says, it “is disappointed with the verdict,…

May 8, 2009 5:59 PM CDT

Lawyers Say Embarrassing Voice Mail of Marvell GC May Have Been Edited

A voice mail message by lawyers on a speakerphone that didn’t get disconnected before some embarrassing discussions took place is being challenged by a company that wants to keep the recording out of an upcoming trade secrets trial. Lawyers for Marvell Semiconductor say the tape should be tossed because it…

May 7, 2009 12:05 PM CDT

Heavyweight Clients Help Ex-Irell & Manella Litigators Launch Own Firm

Bankrolled by a book of business including major corporate clients, a trio of litigation partners has left the Los Angeles office of Irell & Manella to form a new firm that is already looking to grow bigger. The new Kendall Brill & Klieger partnership includes Viacom Inc., CBS and Clear…

May 5, 2009 10:04 PM CDT

Woody Allen’s Reputation Isn’t Worth $10M, American Apparel Argues

A clothing manufacturer known for its edgy advertising and aggressive litigation tactics is now taking on Woody Allen. Sued by the director and actor for $10 million for allegedly using his image without permission on billboards and in an Internet advertising campaign, American Apparel Inc. contends that Allen’s image isn’t…

May 5, 2009 5:34 PM CDT

Vice Chair of Howrey Dies at 53

The vice chair of Howrey, Cecilia Gonzalez, has died from breast cancer at the age of 53. Gonzalez was a highly respected lawyer who practiced before the International Trade Commission, according to The BLT: The Blog of Legal Times. She represented companies and technology clients in intellectual property litigation before…

May 5, 2009 3:58 PM CDT

Hope for Copyright

The now ubiquitous Barack Obama Hope poster may have inspired millions in last fall’s presidential election, but it also has inspired a fierce debate among lawyers about the limits of copyright protection.

May 2, 2009 3:50 AM CDT

Wham-Owed

If you think that all kids want these days is a Wii, a Nintendo DS or the latest PlayStation, then a series of recent lawsuits may make you think twice.

May 2, 2009 3:30 AM CDT