Jessica M. Karmasek News
Tobacco company subsidiary sues 11 electronic cigarette makers for patent infringement
LOS ANGELES (Legal Newsline) — A Netherlands-based company is suing 11 electronic cigarette makers in a California federal court, claiming patent infringement.
Senate committee to consider Leahy’s patent reform bill
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — One of the handful of patent reform bills introduced in Congress will be considered by the Senate Judiciary Committee later this month.
Louisiana legislature takes aim at ‘patent trolls’
BATON ROUGE – Two bills pre-filed for the 2014 Louisiana legislative session are firmly aimed at patent ‘trolls,’ firms that specialize in bringing patent lawsuits.
Law professor: McCaskill’s legislation has potential to be ‘most destructive’ of patent troll bills
ARLINGTON, Va. (Legal Newsline) — U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill’s patent troll bill, introduced last week, could be even more devastating to the country’s patent system than those measures already introduced, one law professor says.
McCaskill introduces own legislation aimed at ‘bottom-feeder’ patent trolls
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — Last week, U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill introduced her own piece of legislation aimed at combating so-called “patent trolls.”
Groups react to Obama’s latest actions on patent reform
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — Business groups from across the nation — even the world’s largest software maker, Microsoft — have weighed in following the White House’s announcement of three new executive actions aimed at targeting so-called “patent trolls.”
White House announces new actions aimed at curbing ‘trolls,’ strengthening patent system
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — Last week, the Obama administration announced a series of executive actions that aim to protect businesses from so-called “patent trolls,” strengthen the country’s patent system and foster innovation.
Legal foundation to Federal Circuit: Burden of proof should remain with alleged patent infringers
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — In a brief filed with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit Wednesday, a Washington D.C.-based legal foundation urged the court to reconsider its decision in a patent infringement case shifting the burden of proof to the patent holder.
Legal expert says patent reform legislation bridges partisan divide
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) — The head of a New York-based legal policy center argues that passing a patent reform bill will pave the way for other upcoming, critical legislative battles.
Google wins $1 jury verdict against patent troll
MARSHALL (Legal Newsline) — Last month, Google Inc. won a $1 jury verdict against Beneficial Innovations Inc., a Nevada-based patent-holding company that has filed a string of lawsuits over patents related to online gaming and online advertising.
Texas company sues Apple for allegedly infringing on touchscreen patent
MARSHALL (Legal Newsline) — A Texas-based company is suing Apple Inc. in federal court, accusing the maker of the popular iPhone and iPad of patent infringement.
Calif. attorney speaks out against proposed patent reform bills, says they’ll just ‘feed’ trolls
PALO ALTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline) — Few have spoken out against the various patent reform measures floating around Congress. But Christopher Banys, a California attorney who represents inventors and small businesses, doesn’t mince words: he calls the proposed legislation a “travesty.”
U.S. SC: Patent holders still bear burden of proving infringement
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — The U.S. Supreme Court, in a unanimous decision Wednesday, ruled that patent holders still bear the burden of proving infringement even if they are not the ones filing a legal action.
‘Scanner troll’ MPHJ hits FTC with federal lawsuit, claims agency is violating its rights
SAN ANTONIO (Legal Newsline) — The so-called “scanner troll,” MPHJ Technology Investments LLC, is suing the Federal Trade Commission in a Texas federal court for allegedly violating its constitutional rights.
U.S. SC declines to hear Texas Internet patent infringement case; company president declares it ‘a tough time to be a patent owner’
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) – The U.S. Supreme Court will not hear a software company’s case against an online retailer for allegedly infringing on its “shopping cart” patents.
Patent troll harassment part of Bruning’s legislative package
LINCOLN, Neb. (Legal Newsline) — Last week, Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning unveiled his legislative goals for 2014, one of which aims to protect consumers and small businesses from patent troll harassment.
Innovation Act most likely to face additional hearings before Senate takes action
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) – A bill aimed at curbing abusive patent litigation passed by the U.S. House of Representatives last month is still awaiting its fate in the U.S. Senate.
Head of IP lawyers group calls Leahy patent bill the ‘better approach’
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) – The head of a national bar association made up primarily of intellectual property lawyers says a Senate version of a measure aimed at curbing abusive patent litigation is the “better approach.”
Eighth Circuit says Neb. AG’s patent troll appeal not frivolous
ST. LOUIS (Legal Newsline) – A federal appeals court has ruled that Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning did not file a frivolous appeal over an order he issued against a Texas law firm representing patent trolls.
Manufacturers, business groups challenge EPA debarment ruling
HOUSTON (Legal Newsline) — This week, a group of manufacturers joined other business groups in supporting BP’s efforts to fight the federal Environmental Protection Agency’s debarment ruling.