May the Fourth be with You

May the 4th be with Star Wars Intellectual Property

Since the first film of the Star Wars saga, released in 1977, George Lucas and Lucasfilm have become profoundly adept at dealing with legal matters concerning intellectual property.  With 205…


Budlight Truck

Bud Light Sends Town Crier to Deliver Cease-and-Desist Notice

Bud Light certainly has a sense of humor when it comes to cease-and-desist notices. Modist Brewing, a craft brewing company located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, recently launched a new Mosaic Double…


Oral Arguments Heard by Supreme Court in Oil States Energy v. Greene's Energy

Monday November 27, 2017, the Supreme Court of the United States heard oral arguments in Oil States Energy Services LLC v. Greene’s Energy Group, LLC.  The question before the Court was “whether…


United States Capitol Building

STRONGER Patent Act 2017

In July, the Suiter Swantz staff reported on the introduction of Senate Bill 1390, also known as the STRONGER Patent Act, by Senator Chris Coons of Delaware. The bill is in the first stage of the…


Happy Thanksgiving with pumpkins and leaves

A Thanksgiving Serving of Intellectual Property

Thanksgiving is here once again, a time when family and friends come together and celebrate. Here are a few interesting patents, patent applications, and trademarks to keep in mind before you savor…


Pablo Escobar Tombstone

Escobar, Inc. Suing Netflix for Trademark Infringement

The popular Netflix series Narcos details the life of the notorious Columbian drug lord Pablo Escobar and the Escobar family is not happy about it. Pablo Escobar’s brother, head of hitmen and former…


Light bulb with a brain inside of it

BrainStorm Expands NurOwn Therapy’s Patent Coverage

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) granted BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Inc., a biotechnology company based in the United States and Israel, a Notice of Allowance for their newest…


Close up of dirty football

Redskins Trademark Dispute Ended after Supreme Court Ruling

The ruling from the United States Supreme Court in Matal v. Tam involving the disparagement clause of the Lanham Act has already affected other pending cases. The unanimous ruling by the Supreme…


Intellectual Property Court Decision

Federal Circuit issues decision in Corning v. Fast Felt

On October 11, 2017, the Federal Circuit issued a decision, which addressed issues related to obviousness.  See Corning v. Fast Felt Corp., No. 2016-2613, 2017 WL 4532001 (Fed. Cir. Oct. 11, 2017).…


Men in Banana Costumes

This Copyright Suit is Bananas!

Halloween is right around the corner, hand-in-hand with the purchase of candy and other Halloween accoutrements is the purchase of costumes. Halloween is a big money maker for retailers. It is…


Rob Gronkowski

Gronkowski Sued by Nike over “Spikeman” Logo

Most of those familiar with the National Football League (NFL) are also familiar with the winners of the 2017 Super Bowl, the New England Patriots. One of the most outspoken and recognizable players…


United States Patent and Trademark Office

USPTO as an Independent Agency?

On Friday September 29, 2017, the House Budget Committee issued a 63-page, non-binding budget plan named, Building a Better America: A Plan for a Fiscal Responsibility. One of the proposed items in…