Isolated human genes can’t be patented, SCOTUS rules

The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled in a unanimous opinion that human genes cannot be patented. The court’s opinion (PDF) by Justice Clarence Thomas struck down patents on isolated DNA associated with an increased risk of breast and ovarian cancer. At issue in the case was whether isolated genes are…

Jun 13, 2013 3:01 PM CDT

Was Apple betrayed by a lawyer at its own firm?

While working for Morgan Lewis & Bockius, an environmental litigation partner reportedly participated for years, with his wife, in the affairs of a tech company that has since become a significant issue for the law firm and a major client. Now unusual questions are being raised: Was now-former partner John…

Jun 4, 2013 7:05 PM CDT

Angelina Jolie’s op-ed on preventive mastectomy backs gene tests that are subject of SCOTUS case

Angelina Jolie’s decision to have a double mastectomy, explained in a New York Times op-ed, was due to a defect in the BRCA1 gene that greatly increased the actress’s risk for breast cancer. Jolie wrote about her experience because she hoped that other women would also be able to get…

May 15, 2013 5:27 PM CDT

SCOTUS rejects farmer’s ‘blame the bean’ defense and patent exhaustion claim

A farmer with a “less orthodox approach” to use of patented seeds has lost his Supreme Court appeal in a patent infringement case. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled against Indiana farmer Vernon Bowman and his patent exhaustion argument in a unanimous opinion (PDF) by Justice Elena Kagan. The ruling is…

May 13, 2013 3:04 PM CDT

‘Are you drunk?’ Lawyer files angry remarks about ‘special needs examiner’ after patent is denied

A patent lawyer unhappy with the denial of a patent application is taking out his frustrations in filed remarks that question the examiner’s sobriety, his mental abilities and his integrity. Lawyer Andrew Schroeder begins with a question, the Patently-O blog reports. “Are you drunk? No, seriously … are you drinking…

May 1, 2013 10:34 AM CDT

New video series looks behind the scenes of innovation at inspiring inventors

May 1, 2013 9:20 AM CDT

Thomson Reuters wins patent on Super Lawyers rating system

Business and legal publisher Thomson Reuters has won a patent on its Super Lawyers system for rating excellence among legal practitioners. It was the first such patent issued, Robert Ambrogi’s LawSites blog reports. The abstract for the patent, number 8,412,564, says the Super Lawyers system involves creating a pool of…

Apr 2, 2013 9:18 PM CDT

Court revives ‘infamous’ patent dispute involving online map searches for real estate

A company that owns the patent for finding real estate with the help of zoom-enabled computer maps is getting another chance to prove infringement. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit revived the patent claim in a March 4 opinion (PDF), report Reuters, Bloomberg BNA and Ars Technica.…

Mar 12, 2013 12:15 PM CDT

Hearsay: Do you have an unusual hobby?

Mar 1, 2013 9:50 AM CST

Resolution paves way for ABA amicus brief on broader issues in SCOTUS gene patenting case

A resolution approved on Monday by the ABA House of Delegates provides guidance for an ABA amicus brief in a Supreme Court case on the patenting of isolated human genes associated with increased risk of breast and ovarian cancer. The U.S. Supreme Court is considering just one issue in the…

Feb 11, 2013 4:14 PM CST

Patent lawyers ponder the changed post-grant process

Feb 1, 2013 9:09 AM CST

Nama-Stay: Lululemon Is Defending Its Turf Through Design Patents

Jan 1, 2013 10:20 AM CST

Supreme Court to Consider ‘Pay for Delay’ Deals Keeping Generic Drugs Off the Market

The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to decide whether so-called pay for delay settlements that temporarily keep generic competitors out of the market are lawful in patent litigation. The case before the court involves payments made by Solvay Pharmaceuticals Inc., now owned by Abbott Laboratories, that delayed generic versions of…

Dec 11, 2012 11:29 AM CST

Supreme Court to Decide Whether Isolated Genes Can Be Patented

The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday agreed to decide whether isolated genes can be patented. The court granted cert in a case challenging patents on genes associated with increased risk of breast and ovarian cancer, report the New York Times, Bloomberg News and SCOTUSblog. At issue is whether isolated genes…

Dec 3, 2012 3:05 PM CST

Federal Judge Gives Civ Pro Lesson, Sanctions Ex-Client for Mistaken Claim Dickstein Missed Deadline

Warning a former client of Dickstein Shapiro that future sanctions could be forthcoming if continues to disregard local discovery rules in Washington, D.C., before making dubious motions, a federal judge on Monday quickly disposed of the company’s motion for partial summary judgment against the law firm in a $250 million…

Nov 27, 2012 9:28 PM CST