Supreme Court dubious about Aereo’s low-cost TV, but wary that ruling could curtail cloud technology

Those who envision a sea change in television viewing options if an Internet start-up prevails against major broadcasters in a U.S. Supreme Court case over low-cost access to network shows should perhaps prepare themselves for a disappointment. While impressed with the ingenuity of Aereo’s legal arguments and use of technology,…

Apr 23, 2014 12:35 PM CDT

Will you stop hearing pre-1972 songs on Pandora? Music service in copyright fight

Songs released prior to 1972 are exempt from federal copyright protection, but state laws that more generically protect intellectual property should apply, according to a lawsuit various record companies filed against the Internet radio service Pandora Media last week. Sony, Universal and Warner Music filed the New York State Supreme…

Apr 21, 2014 10:03 PM CDT

Posner tosses copyright suit by ‘Banana Lady,’ notes her ‘incessant filing of frivolous lawsuits’

A federal appeals court is apparently worried that frequent lawsuits by a “Banana Lady” plaintiff are tripping up the courts. The Chicago-based 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals not only tossed a copyright infringement suit filed by the pro se plaintiff, Catherine Conrad, but also suggested that a Wisconsin federal…

Apr 15, 2014 11:40 AM CDT

Death of ‘Dueling Banjos’ creator brings litigation anecdote to light

The death last week of an acclaimed crossover musician who wrote and recorded “Dueling Banjos” has brought to light the story of how Arthur Smith won a substantial settlement over the famed bluegrass song’s unauthorized use in a major motion picture. Initially recorded as “Feudin’ Banjos” in 1955, it was…

Apr 10, 2014 8:10 PM CDT

Delaware Chancery Court uses little-known power, issues arrest warrant for party in corporate case

For the first time in decades and possibly its entire 220-year history, one of the nation’s top business courts has exercised a little-known power. Delaware’s Court of Chancery this week issued an arrest warrant for a party in a civil business dispute, reports the News Journal. “We have never done…

Apr 9, 2014 8:20 PM CDT

Attendees’ smartphones cause courtroom chaos at latest Apple-Samsung patent trial

It isn’t just smartphone technology that’s at issue in a high-profile Silicon Valley trial in which two leading manufacturers of the devices are battling over patent rights. Attendees at the much-watched San Jose, Calif., trial between Apple Inc. and Samsung Electronics Co. are trying the patience of U.S. District Judge…

Apr 9, 2014 3:45 PM CDT

White House lawyers reportedly protest selfie with Obama used for promotional purposes

White House lawyers reportedly protested to Samsung after the company promoted a baseball slugger’s selfie with President Obama. Senior adviser Dan Pfeiffer mentioned the incident on “Face the Nation” on Sunday, the Washington Post reports at Morning Mix. “We’ve had conversations with Samsung about this and expressed our concerns,” he…

Apr 7, 2014 12:32 PM CDT

Blog offers immigration help to Nigella Lawson | Celeb podcaster fights patent troll

It was reported by The Daily Mail and other news outlets this week that celebrity chef Nigella Lawson was turned away from boarding a Los Angeles-bound flight from London. A U.S. embassy spokeswoman would not tell CNN why Lawson had been stopped. At Lifted Lamp, the law firm Benach Ragland…

Apr 4, 2014 1:30 PM CDT

Former Mintz Levin IP practice leader among 6-partner life sciences team joining Cooley

A former co-chair of the intellectual property practice group at Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo is among a six-partner life sciences team joining the Boston and New York offices of Cooley. Announced Tuesday by their new law firm, the move by former co-chair Ivor R. Elrifi, Heidi A.…

Apr 3, 2014 9:05 PM CDT

SCOTUS to consider deference standard in patent appeals in case of MS drug

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday accepted a case involving patents for the multiple sclerosis drug Copaxone. The issue in the case is how much deference should be given findings of fact by trial judges in patent infringement litigation, report the Wall Street Journal (sub. req.), SCOTUSblog, Bloomberg News and…

Apr 1, 2014 2:48 PM CDT

SCOTUS considers limits on software patents; will case affect patent trolls?

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday considered what kind of software is eligible for a patent in a dispute over a computerized escrow mechanism. Several justices appeared unimpressed with the patents held by the Alice Corp., report the New York Times, the Washington Post and the Los Angeles Times. A…

Apr 1, 2014 2:04 PM CDT

Alternative rocker’s crusade against lyric websites highlights copyright violations

Apr 1, 2014 9:40 AM CDT

Google Glass is already causing legal experts to see problems

Apr 1, 2014 9:10 AM CDT

5th Circuit: Law firm sued for libel over website seeking clients isn’t protected by SLAPP statute

Agreeing with a trial court that statements made by a Texas law firm on a website seeking legal clients are commercial speech, a federal appeals court has ruled that the firm and two partners must defend a defamation claim made by a national dental firm that was an intended litigation…

Mar 18, 2014 5:55 PM CDT

Patent theft suit blames former McDermott partner; defense sees ‘smoke and mirrors’

A former partner at McDermott Will & Emery is being accused of helping two of his family members steal a patent in a civil case that bases the allegations on circumstantial evidence. Representing the plaintiff medical-testing company, Theranos, is David Boies, who said in opening arguments this week that the…

Mar 14, 2014 2:32 PM CDT