Midea Group joins the Open Invention Network community
Smart appliances are household devices like refrigerators, ovens, washers, dryers, and air conditioners, equipped with technology that allows them to be controlled remotely, often through a smartphone app or voice commands. These appliances offer features like remote...
What is settled and what are our expectations after iRhythm?
The March 26, 2025, memo from the US Patent and Trademark Office director significantly changed the way the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) handles institution decisions by establishing a bifurcated process under which the acting director—rather than panels of...
Sonos v. Google: where’s the prejudice?
In the much-anticipated appeal of Sonos v. Google, oral arguments recently unfolded before the Federal Circuit, involving the doctrine of prosecution laches. The district court decision surprised many, as it marked the first time prosecution laches had been used to...
Simple technical modifications can constitute an inventive step
This article covers an Appeal, C.A. (COMM.IPD-PAT) 60/2024, filed by Dong Yang PC, Inc. a Korean company against the decision of Controller of Patents and Designs (Controller) whereby it rejected Dong Yang PC, Inc. (Appellant) Patent Application No. 2554/DEL/2013...
Anaqua acquires RightHub to accelerate global growth
Acquisition underscores Anaqua’s commitment to delivering tailored solutions to Innovation & IP professionals globally BOSTON, May 15, 2025 – Anaqua, a leading provider of innovation and intellectual property (IP) management technology, today announced that it has...
Wiggin and Dana continues Boston growth, adds corporate partner Katherine Rubino
BOSTON (May 13, 2025) — Wiggin and Dana LLP is pleased to announce that Katherine Rubino has joined the firm as a partner in the Corporate Department and Emerging Companies and Venture Capital, Intellectual Property, and Life Sciences practice groups in Boston. She...
Intellectual property litigator Brian Brookey joins Honigman
WASHINGTON – Honigman LLP announced today that Brian Brookey is joining the firm as a partner in the Intellectual Property (IP) Litigation Practice Group of the IP Department in its Washington, D.C. office. Brookey, who joins Honigman from Tucker Ellis, is the third...
More Copyright News
Crystalizing plant variety infringement protection in India
On September 20, 2024, the Delhi High Court ruled in Pioneer Overseas Corporation v. M/s Evercrop Agro Science & Star Agrotech Pvt. Ltd. (CS(COMM) 759/2024), a significant case addressing plant variety infringement under the Protection of Plant Varieties and...
German criminal court finds three defendants guilty of fraud for sending misleading invoices to EUIPO customers
In September 2024, the Munich Court (Germany) found three defendants guilty of commercial gang fraud for sending misleading invoices to EUIPO customers. Each defendant was sentenced to one year and 10 months of imprisonment, suspended with a three-year probation...
Withers advises H2 Clipper on new blockchain solution to hydrogen supply chain
International law firm Withers has represented H2 Clipper, the innovative hydrogen airship transportation business, on the recent grant of US patent for a unique, blockchain-enabled technology to ensure efficient hydrogen delivery. The patented system utilizes...
Pocketpair, I choose you… to sue: an early glimpse into the Nintendo-Pocketpair litigation
Out of the blue on September 19, 2024, video game company Nintendo and The Pokémon Company issued a joint news release via a post on the Nintendo website. The post asserted that Pocketpair infringed certain patents but contained sparse details about the alleged...
Increase in patent fees in Russia
From October 5, 2024, the amount of patent fees collected in Russia has increased in accordance with the relevant draft government resolution. The changes will affect legally significant actions related to such intellectual property items as inventions, utility...
Veteran patent prosecutor John Mills launches Mills IP Law
October 7, 2024, Reston, VA — Veteran intellectual property lawyer John Mills is pleased to announce the launch of Mills IP Law, PLLC, a boutique law firm that will provide sophisticated services in strategic patent counseling, including the development of patent...
Quarles & Brady announces 2024 partner class
October 2, 2024 (Milwaukee) — The national law firm of Quarles & Brady LLP announced today that it has elected 18 new partners. “We’re thrilled to welcome this excellent group of attorneys to the partnership at Quarles,” said Mike Aldana, the firm’s managing...
Counsel promotions in the Life Sciences Team at Carpmaels & Ransford
Jennie Cox and Stephen Michell were promoted to Counsel as of October 1, 2024 Carpmaels & Ransford is pleased to announce two new Counsel promotions effective from October 1, 2024. Jennie Cox handles a broad range of subject matter, including industrial and...
Sidharth Kapoor joins Pierson Ferdinand as partner in its IP practice
Former patent examiner and federal clerk brings deep IP expertise in cutting-edge technologies Palo Alto, CA - October 2, 2024 – Pierson Ferdinand LLP (“PierFerd”), one of the world’s fastest-growing law firms, announces the appointment of Sidharth Kapoor as a Partner...
Mewburn Ellis is first UK IP firm to join UN Global Compact
Leading European Intellectual Property firm joins UN Global Compact Initiative for development of responsible business practices LONDON – Intellectual property firm Mewburn Ellis today announces that it has joined the UN Global Compact initiative – a voluntary...
K&L Gates enhances litigation practice with Seattle partner addition
Seattle - Global law firm K&L Gates LLP welcomes John Bender as a partner in its Litigation and Dispute Resolution practice. Bender joins the firm’s Seattle office from Corr Cronin LLP. Bender focuses his practice on high-stakes commercial and complex litigation...
COPA and Unified Patents sign partnership to protect the crypto community from patent trolls
Launch of Blockchain Zone to challenge patents owned by non-practicing entities (NPEs) that could impact the open-source ecosystem NPEs still account for 58% of all [US] patent litigation; partnership aims to deter NPE activity in crypto October 1, 2024 - Today,...
ERS Genomics and Université de Montréal sign CRISPR/Cas9 license agreement
License agreement provides Université de Montréal access to CRISPR gene editing technology for use across its platform services Dublin, Ireland, and Montreal, Canada - October 1, 2024 - ERS Genomics Limited (‘ERS’), the CRISPR licensing Company, and Université de...
Harper James boosts IP team with new hire
Harper James, the full-service business law firm purpose-built to enable entrepreneurial businesses to thrive, has hired Cardiff-based intellectual property expert Gosia Evans, a Senior Contentious Intellectual Property Solicitor. Evans brings over 14 years experience...
Nicola Foulston’s family office invests in groundbreaking legal tech firm: Virtual Pricing Director
London, UK — Nicola Foulston, renowned business leader and former CEO of RBG Holdings plc, today announces a significant investment from her family office into Virtual Pricing Director (VPD), the pioneering legal pricing software developed by Richard Burcher, a global...
Former PTAB Administrative Patent Judge Amanda Wieker joins McGuireWoods
RICHMOND, Va. – Amanda Wieker, a former Administrative Patent Judge and acting member of the senior executive team at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) of the US Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO), has joined McGuireWoods’ intellectual property practice...
Relentless pursuit of victory: BMW Group prevails in Arigna patent litigation saga
BMW Group prevailed in its long-running battle against Arigna Technology Ltd. While Arigna’s efforts spanned years and multiple venues — BMW Group’s multi-faceted legal strategy and refusal to settle ultimately forced Arigna to fold. Pressuring from all sides: BMW...
Looks can be deceiving: the first denial of a design patent IPR petition since LKQ
This August saw the first denial of an inter partes review petition for a design patent at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) since the Federal Circuit’s en banc decision in LKQ Corporation v. GM Global Technology Operations LLC. In Next Step Group, Inc. v....
ABG IP hires new head for its engineering and ICT patent departments in Catalonia
Lluís Vilalta, who has over 20 years of IP experience, has joined ABG Intellectual Property to lead the engineering, physics, and information technology patent departments in the Barcelona office of the leading Spanish intellectual property firm. Vilalta's brilliant...
Eversheds Sutherland strengthens IP bench on West Coast with partner Erik Chancellor Smith
Eversheds Sutherland is pleased to share that Erik Smith has joined the firm’s Intellectual Property (IP) Practice as a partner. Smith will focus on IP asset-based secured financial transactions, strategic patent and trademark portfolio counseling and prosecution,...
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Women in IP Leadership
A segment dedicated to women working in the IP industry, providing a platform to share real accounts from rising women around the globe. In these interviews we will be discussing experiences, celebrating milestones and achievements, and putting forward ideas for advancing equity and diversity.
By providing a platform to share personal experiences we aim to continue the empowerment of women in the world of IP.


Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Series
In this six-part series Dr. Suzanne Wertheim, of Worthwhile Research & Consulting, talks to The Patent Lawyer about diversity, equity, and inclusion: what it means; the current challenges; DEI in law; gender bias; and what we can all do to improve.