High court: Congress erred in patent dispute board setup
The Supreme Court on Monday ruled that Congress erred when it set up a board to oversee patent disputes by failing to make the judges properly accountable to the president.
Intellectual Property
Articles
Innovation needed to bridge patent diversity gap, attorneys say
A bill introduced in the U.S. Senate in March seeks to quantify the lack of diversity among patent holders. The Inventor Diversity for Economic Advancement Act of 2021 — or IDEA Act — would require the USPTO to collect inventors’ demographic information, including race and gender.
Inventing opportunity: IP attorneys see more patent filings during pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic killed millions worldwide and uprooted livelihoods and industries in the past year. But at least one industry has emerged relatively unscathed, if not stronger. Some Indiana intellectual property attorneys have seen an increase in patent requests and inventions during the pandemic as individuals utilized their creative skills while quarantining.
Perry and Cahr: Important new laws will have ripple effect for IP owners, practitioners
A final surprise for 2020 emerged from December’s marathon omnibus spending and COVID-19 relief negotiations. Congress included a trio of notable and hotly debated intellectual property measures in its multi-trillion-dollar spending and relief package which could fundamentally alter the manner in which intellectual property owners protect and enforce their rights.
Schell: American Axle and issues with Section 101 patent eligibility
Should SCOTUS fail to take up the matter now or fail to address broader issues and provide a more cogent framework for Section 101 patent eligibility in its determination, I expect the next round of significant news on the subject to be Congress stepping in and acting.
High court sides with Google in copyright fight with Oracle
The Supreme Court of the United States sided Monday with Google in an $8 billion copyright dispute with Oracle over the internet company’s creation of the Android operating system used on most smartphones worldwide.
High court sympathetic to college athletes in NCAA dispute
The United States Supreme Court on Wednesday seemed ready to give college athletes a win in a dispute with Indianapolis-based NCAA over rules limiting their education-related compensation.
NCAA’s Emmert agrees to meet protesting players after March Madness
With the United States Supreme Court set to hear a college sports antitrust case next week, Indianapolis-based NCAA President Mark Emmert has informed a group of basketball players who started a social media campaign to protest inequities that he will meet with them after March Madness.
Not NCAA Property: Players push for reform, compensation on social media
Several prominent players at the March Madness basketball tournament in Indianapolis took aim at the NCAA on social media Wednesday, demanding changes to how they are allowed to be compensated in the latest organized display of power by college athletes.
With athlete name, image, likeness reform in limbo, NCAA heads toward busy June
The Indianapolis-based NCAA’s efforts to allow athletes to earn money from personal endorsement and sponsorship deals are stuck in limbo, and June is shaping up to be a potentially busy and important month for college sports.
Agreement could free LOVE sculptor Robert Indiana’s estate from lawsuit
A New York-based copyright holder that sued the late Hoosier artist Robert Indiana a day before his death has reached a settlement with his estate and the foundation set up to transform the artist’s home into museum.
Supreme Court skeptical about patent judge appointments
The Supreme Court on Monday seemed likely to find that the judges who oversee patent disputes are not properly appointed, a case important to patent holders and inventors including major technology companies.
Valparaiso looking for new team name after dropping Crusaders
Valparaiso University announced Thursday that is dropping the team name Crusaders, the school mascot and all logos associated with the term that it says has been embraced by hate groups.
Splenda maker sues Speedway chain over knockoff sweetener
The Carmel-based maker of Splenda sweetener is suing the convenience store chain Speedway LLC for trademark infringement, alleging the retailer offers its customers a knockoff sweetener in yellow packets that look too much like Splenda’s packaging.
Indianapolis IP attorney leaves big law to start new firm
After a career practicing in large Indianapolis law firms, intellectual property attorney Amie Peele has broken the “unspoken rule” that partners must retire from big law and instead decided to start her own firm.
Tragesser named managing partner of Quarles & Brady Indianapolis
Quarles & Brady LLP has announced that Joel Tragesser has become managing partner of the firm’s Indianapolis office, effective Monday. He succeeds Lucy Dollens, who has led the office since 2017.
High court agrees to hear NCAA athlete compensation case
For the first time in more than three decades, the Supreme Court will hear a case involving Indianapolis-based NCAA and what it means to be a college athlete.
Unwanted exposure: In right of publicity suits, models seek damages from adult clubs they say used images without permission
Professional models from across the globe are suing four Indiana strip clubs for using their photos without permission to advertise establishments located in Fort Wayne, Hammond and Indianapolis. The models are invoking Indiana’s Right of Publicity Statute, one of the strongest such laws in the nation.
Unleashing innovation: 40th anniversary of Bayh-Dole Act celebrates law credited with improving lives around the world
The Bayh-Dole Act, marking its 40th anniversary, has contributed hundreds of billions of dollars to the U.S. gross domestic product and supported million jobs by unleashing the discoveries in America’s leading universities. But the landmark legislation now hailed as an engine of innovation and enterprise almost never came to pass.
Hartz: Don’t let intellectual property be an after-pandemic thought
Whether next month, next year, or even beyond, at some point, the COVID-19 pandemic will begin to end. The world may look and feel a bit different, but the intangible intellectual property system will still be here, and we can take steps now to better position you (or your clients) for what comes next.