Intellectual Property Law

Federal judge bans potentially inflammatory words, such as ‘yahoos’ and ‘fake news’

Lawyers in a case in the Eastern District of Texas can’t refer to jurors, the court or the jury pool as “yahoos” or by other similar, derogatory references, according to a motion granted by a federal judge last month.

Jan 30, 2023 3:03 PM CST

‘Routine performance management’ can’t be basis for fired associate’s bias suit, BigLaw firm argues

Kirkland & Ellis is arguing that a fired associate’s lawsuit against the firm should be tossed partly because a harassment claim under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act can’t be based on “routine performance management.”

Jan 25, 2023 2:17 PM CST

Artificial intelligence companies are accused of violating copyrights for artwork and photos

Legal actions filed on behalf of artists and stock photo company Getty Images claim that artificial intelligence companies are violating the plaintiffs’ copyrights by using their images and metadata to train AI software.

Jan 19, 2023 12:28 PM CST

Despite ‘diligent efforts,’ Greenberg Traurig can’t find rapper Ye to inform him it’s dropping him

Greenberg Traurig wants to drop the rapper Ye as a client but has been unable to serve him with a notice of withdrawal from a copyright lawsuit, the law firm informed a federal judge Friday.

Jan 18, 2023 2:46 PM CST

Longtime disability rights advocate Scott LaBarre dies at 54

Scott LaBarre, a longtime member of the ABA who advocated for the rights of people with disabilities, died on Dec. 10 after a short battle with cancer. He was 54. "Scott was a top lawyer in the disability law area, but he was so much more," ABA President Deborah Enix-Ross told the ABA Journal. "He was a great leader, inspiring, always cheerful and upbeat and loved by all who had the good fortune to know him. He worked tirelessly on behalf of the ABA, making the association a much better organization. He will truly be missed, but his legacy endures."

Dec 20, 2022 10:40 AM CST

Law firm gives staff nonfungible tokens for mental health services

New Jersey-based personal injury law firm Grungo Colarulo says it will offer mental health services to its staff through nonfungible tokens, or NFTs.

Dec 12, 2022 11:11 AM CST

Weekly Briefs: Same-sex marriage bill sent to Biden; lawyer pleads guilty after swinging belt caught on video

Bill protecting gay marriage is sent to Biden

The U.S. House of Representatives approved a marriage equality bill Thursday that requires states and the federal government to recognize same-sex…

Dec 9, 2022 2:42 PM CST

Corporate owners knew little about patents they got free of charge and the litigation that followed, judge finds

A federal judge in Delaware is explaining why he ordered patent holding company Nimitz Technologies to produce records showing how it came to own a patent at issue in four cases before him.

Dec 5, 2022 2:53 PM CST

Supreme Court will hear Jack Daniel’s appeal over parody dog toy ‘Bad Spaniels’

The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to decide whether a parody dog toy called “Bad Spaniels” is entitled to protection from trademark infringement and dilution-by-tarnishment claims by Jack Daniel’s Properties Inc.

Nov 28, 2022 8:42 AM CST

Weekly Briefs: 2 suits against Trump are tossed; lawyers jump to BigLaw from virtual firm

Trump wins dismissal of suits by niece, former lawyer

Former President Donald Trump won dismissals Monday of lawsuits filed against him by his niece Mary Trump and his Nov 18, 2022 3:23 PM CST

Would Twitter get Section 230 immunity in lawsuits filed over fake tweets with blue check marks?

Plaintiffs lawyer Jay Edelson told Reuters that he is researching whether Twitter could be sued for giving blue check marks to fake accounts that misled consumers and corporate shareholders.

Nov 15, 2022 12:39 PM CST

Weekly Briefs: Biden can’t grant student-debt relief, judge says; $32.3M malpractice award left in place

Judge strikes down student-debt relief

U.S. District Judge Mark Pittman of Fort Worth, Texas, ruled Thursday that the Biden administration’s plan to forgive some federal student-loan debt was an unconstitutional…

Nov 11, 2022 3:14 PM CST

Health justice lawyer is among 25 recipients of MacArthur ‘genius grants’

A lawyer who is trying to increase access to lifesaving medications by changing the patent system is one of 25 recipients of the MacArthur Foundation fellowships, commonly known as "genius grants."

Oct 14, 2022 3:45 PM CDT

Fired female associate at Kirkland alleges biased treatment by ‘discriminatory cadre’ in IP group

Male associates in the intellectual property litigation group at Kirkland & Ellis were allegedly treated better and paid more money than a fired female colleague, even though they did similar work and had similar experience, according to a lawsuit filed Wednesday.

Oct 13, 2022 1:12 PM CDT

Supreme Court will consider whether Andy Warhol’s Prince paintings violate copyright law

A copyright case going before the U.S. Supreme Court on Oct. 12 encompasses the avant-garde pop art of Andy Warhol, the musical genius and personal vulnerability of the performer Prince and the rarefied worlds of rock photography and glossy magazines.

Oct 6, 2022 11:30 AM CDT