Indy club must pay BMI for DJ’s tunes
A downtown Indianapolis nightclub must pay a tab approaching $20,000 because the club and DJs failed to obtain public-performance licenses after repeated warnings.
Intellectual Property
Articles
Call IP attorney Donald Knebel the ‘master of the facts’
Ironically, the eight years that veteran attorney Donald Knebel spent avoiding intellectual property law gave him the experience he needed when he finally turned his attention to patent litigation.
Attorney sues hundreds over use of city skyline picture
They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Attorney Richard Bell says his picture of the Indianapolis skyline is worth $1,500 or so if you’ve posted it on your website without first paying him to license it.
IU Maurer, Rose-Hulman create IP scholars program
A new program established by Indiana University Maurer School of Law and Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology will allow select Rose-Hulman graduates to study at the IU law school at a reduced tuition rate.
Copyright infringement spurs knife fight in Warrick County
A copyright infringement dispute between two out-of-state companies has spurred criminal charges in Warrick County, a place where neither business has facilities, employees or quite possibly ever visited before these charges were brought.
Mom and pop store can’t proceed pro se in Coach trademark lawsuit
The owners of a southern Indiana general store accused in a federal lawsuit of selling knockoff high-end Coach-brand products may not represent pro se their incorporated general store named in the suit.
Gifts to IU McKinney enabling school to establish endowed chair and fellowship
The Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law is endowing its first faculty chair made possible by the gift from school’s namesake donor.
James Dean estate sues Twitter over ‘@JamesDean’
The estate of legendary Indiana film star James Dean has sued Twitter, claiming the Internet giant permitted the unauthorized personal Twitter account @JamesDean.
Gallagher: Does USPTO favor an international model?
In the new first-to-file system, the person who filed a patent application first would receive the benefit of getting the 20-year monopoly. However, there appear to be more subtle changes geared toward an international/European model that could substantially affect an inventor’s ability to obtain a patent in the United States, although these changes could be limited in duration.
Judge finds Google’s book project ‘transformative’
Attorneys differ on whether the recent ruling benefits society or opens the door for infringement.
Kraft wins in food fight with Cracker Barrel
A federal appeals court ruled recently that savvy consumers might be confused if food branded Cracker Barrel Old Country Store was sold in grocery stores that carry Kraft’s Cracker Barrel brand cheese. Turns out even a law professor who teaches a course on trademarks and unfair competition might be fooled.
Indiana inventors tell Maurer students about challenging big business in federal court
Speaking recently to a group of students at Indiana University Maurer School of Law, Lebanon inventor Larry Durkos and his son, Duane, told their story of battling the biggest giant in the bedding industry and winning.
Kraft prevails in Cracker Barrel fight
Not coming soon to a grocery store near you: food products from Cracker Barrel Old Country Store restaurants.
Orbitz contracts with hotels are ‘trade secrets,’ Tax Court rules
The Indiana Tax Court Wednesday granted online travel company Orbitz LLC’s request to place certain documents under seal – including contracts the company has with three Indiana hotels. Judge Martha Wentworth determined that the contracts are trade secrets, so they are not subject to public disclosure.
Lilly scientists stole $55M in secrets, indictment alleges
Three former employees of Eli Lilly and Co. allegedly transferred trade secrets that Lilly values at more than $55 million to a competing Chinese drug company, according to an indictment unsealed Tuesday in federal court.
Irked judge in tanning trademark dispute: ‘This is a busy Court’
A federal judge warned a tanning product maker and lawyers defending it from a trademark infringement claim that they were dangerously close to getting burned.
Judge tosses one of two stent patent suits against Cook Medical
A federal judge Wednesday dismissed a patent dispute case against Cook Medical Inc. of Bloomington, but a Texas corporation continues to press its claim that the device maker infringed its patents on blood vessel stents and grafts.
Large ‘pay-to-delay’ payments may become history after U.S. Supreme Court ruling
A decision handed down by the Supreme Court of the United States Monday could end the practice of pharmaceutical companies paying competitors very large sums to keep their generics off the market.
SCOTUS rules on Myriad BRCA1, BRCA2 patent case
A naturally occurring DNA segment is not eligible for a patent simply because it has been isolated, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled Thursday. DNA that is not a product of nature may be patent eligible, however.
Faegre Baker Daniels to open office in Silicon Valley
Faegre Baker Daniels LLP is heading to California to open an office in Silicon Valley.