The Internet is about to become a much bigger and more complex place for trademark owners.

On January 7, 2010 in its decision in Wyeth and Elan Pharma International Limited v. Kappos, the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit held that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) had in some cases been miscalculating the proper term of a patent whose term had been extended as a result of delays caused by the USPTO during prosecution of the application.

TTAB sustains opposition based on reputation without use in the United States...

President Bush signed the Trademark Dilution Revision Act ("TDRA") of 2006 on October 6, 2006. Although the new legislation appears to broaden dilution protection, making it easier for trademark holders to prevent blurring and tarnishment of famous trademarks, the TDRA simultaneously limits the dilution cause of action for trademarks used in a niche-market or business-to-business context.

In three court decisions in the past several months one can argue "read the contract before you sign" – and understand the law that applies – affected results.

In a report issued on March 12, 2007, The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) warned trademark owners that they face increased risks from cybersquatters.

The European Court of Justice has ruled that in order to comply with EU law, online businesses must provide prospective customers with a rapid, direct and effective means of communication, for which an email address alone is not sufficient.

The Ninth Circuit in Perfumebay.com Inc. v. eBay Inc, Case No. 05-56794 (9th Cir. Nov. 5th, 2007) was asked to decide which versions of the mark "Perfumebay" infringed upon the trademark "eBay", both being web-based shopping sites selling perfume.

A recent federal lawsuit, filed by Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman against domain name registrar Dotster, may anticipate a new technique for trademark owners to police their intellectual property rights online.

In Bilski v. Kappos, the Court reiterated that abstract ideas are not patent eligible, gave little guidance as to what it meant by "abstract idea" other than that the Court was concerned about claims that were too broad and referred us to its prior decisions, especially Diamond v. Diehr for guidance.

Creating, registering and protecting trademark rights can be a costly undertaking, whether on behalf of a large corporation’s international portfolio or the single brand of a small business.

Creating, registering and protecting trademark rights can be a costly undertaking, whether on behalf of a large corporation's international portfolio or the single brand of a small business.

If you are a trademark owner or represent one, you have almost certainly received numerous notifications that the .ASIA sunrise period opens October 9, 2007.

Recently the Court of Appeals of the Federal Circuit affirmed a decision involving a patent mismarking claim under 35 USC 292 which involved the lack of deceptive intent of the patent owner in Pequignot v. Solo Cup Co. ___ F3d ___ (Fed. Cir., 2010).

Traditional intellectual property assets, i.e., those capable of registration with a central governmental authority such as patents, trademarks and copyrights, are particularly valuable because they enable companies to create and hold monopoly power on unique products and services.

Patent Law reform legislation (in the form of the "America Invents Act") has at last passed both houses of the United States Congress. The Senate passed Bill S. 23 by a vote of 95-5 on March 8, 2011. The House of Representatives passed Bill HR 1249 by a vote of 304 - 117 on June 23, 2011.

Copyright law evolved from England's Statute of Anne of 1709 through the current Copyright Act of 1976. Decades after Anne, the US Constitutional copyright power is grounded in promoting "progress of Science and useful Arts."

It is clear from recent decisions of the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit that courts are now taking a much tougher line on how to draft specifications and how to draft claims than has previously been the case.

In medieval times, the grant of exclusive rights "monopolies" by the sovereign had been a convenient way in which the sovereign could raise money without the need to resort to taxation.

Traditionally, Chinese society has been founded on the two Confucian precepts of deference to authority and use of conciliation to resolve disputes rather than on any system of "law" as known in the West.