Finnegan Ip Law Podcast Series

Several changes to the U.S. Federal Rules of Civil Procedure that may impact patent litigation are set to take effect on December 1, 2015. In particular, the amended rules will affect the scope of discovery and document requests. In this podcast, Finnegan partner Jeffrey C. Totten discusses these scheduled rule changes.

While the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro are a year away, official sponsors of the games are already working hard to protect their sizable investments. The Olympics, like other major sporting events, have strict rules regarding who can associate themselves with the games. In this podcast, Finnegan partner Danny M. Awdeh discusses best practices companies should employ to protect their trademark as an official Olympic sponsor.

In the sports and fitness industries, technology is not only advancing games and activities, but the equipment itself is a technological innovation. Products like fitness wearables, sports equipment, apparel, and footwear are now manufactured with embedded technology that helps improve training and performance. Like any emerging product sector, protecting and enforcing intellectual property is critical to the success of high-tech equipment. In this podcast, Finnegan attorneys Danny M. Awdeh and Aaron L. Parker discuss IP considerations for sports and fitness products.

The use of marijuana for medicinal purposes has been legalized in 23 states and Washington D.C., and recreational use has been legalized in Alaska, Colorado, Oregon, Washington, DC and Washington state. A number of other states are also considering initiatives that would introduce legalized marijuana for medicinal and recreational purposes. As a result, legal production and trade of marijuana is an emerging industry, with very distinct IP considerations. Finnegan attorney Mark Sommers discusses potential trademark concerns for the emerging industry.

On May 19, 2015, the United States Patent & Trademark Office made several “ministerial” changes to the rules governing Patent Trial and Appeal Board trial proceedings. Some of these rules will have significant implications for PTAB trials. Finnegan attorneys Daniel C. Cooley and Joshua L. Goldberg discuss the updates made to the Rules of Practice for Trials before the PTAB and what these changes mean for the patent owners and petitioners.

High profile cyber thefts have recently brought trade secret protection to the mainstream. Congress is currently considering several pieces of legislation that aim to better protect the trade secrets of U.S. businesses. Finnegan partner John M. Williamson discusses the value of trade secrets, the current landscape of trade secret law, and how proposed trade secret legislation could impact U.S. companies moving forward.

On December 16, 2014, the USPTO issued guidance on subject matter eligibility of claims under Section 101 in view of the Supreme Court’s decisions in Alice, Myriad and Mayo. Finnegan attorneys Leslie McDonell and Linda Thayer explain these guidelines and discuss the potential impact they will have on patent claims.

In part four of our Federal Circuit podcast series, Finnegan attorney Michael Jakes discusses the trend of the Supreme Court overturning Federal Circuit cases.

In part three of our Federal Circuit podcast series, Finnegan attorneys Kathleen A. Daley and Jason L. Romrell discuss PTAB appeals before the Federal Circuit and the types of issues the court will be reviewing in the next few months.

In part two of our Federal Circuit podcast series, Finnegan attorneys Dori J. Hines and Michael J. Flibbert discuss four noteworthy Federal Circuit patent cases—Biosig v. Nautilus; Consumer Watchdog v. Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation; Apple v. Virnetx; and Apotex v. UCB—and their potential impact on IP law.    

Today’s changing IP landscape is unprecedented. Stakeholders have a growing array of global tools that bring enormous opportunities, but also challenge traditional portfolio management and enforcement strategies. In part three of a three-part podcast series on patent landscapes, Finnegan attorney Eric P. Raciti discusses key considerations for large companies when performing a patent landscape.

In part one of our Federal Circuit podcast series, Finnegan attorneys James R. Barney and Erik R. Puknys take a look at the newest appointees to the bench at the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit -- Judge Richard Taranto, Judge Raymond Chen, and Judge Todd Hughes -- and discuss how their presence may impact the court moving forward.

Today’s changing IP landscape is unprecedented. Stakeholders have a growing array of global tools that bring enormous opportunities, but also challenge traditional portfolio management and enforcement strategies. In part two of a three-part podcast series on patent landscapes, Finnegan attorney Eric P. Raciti discusses key considerations for early-stage companies, including some of the pitfalls a startup should be aware of when performing a patent landscape.

Today’s changing IP landscape is unprecedented. Stakeholders have a growing array of global tools that bring enormous opportunities, but also challenge traditional portfolio management and enforcement strategies. In part one of a three-part podcast series on patent landscapes, Finnegan attorney Eric P. Raciti discusses the fundamentals of a patent landscape.

Medical device manufacturers are faced with unique intellectual property challenges. Manufacturers can spend years bringing a medical device to market and often rely on investors for commercialization. Potential investors carefully examine device makers' patent portfolios to ensure their intellectual property is in good order before making significant financial decisions. Eric P. Raciti and Aaron J. Capron discuss the importance of patents for medical device manufacturers and the steps they can take to enhance their marketability.

Estimated to be a $5 billion market by 2016, wearable devices are growing in popularity with consumers. However, they present new IP considerations for the companies involved in creating the applications that support wearable devices. Aaron J. Capron discusses the growing trend of wearable technology and the IP considerations involved.

Establishing a successful enterprise requires creating and protecting an intellectual property portfolio. For startups, this process presents a unique set of challenges that larger and established companies may not face. Darren M. Jiron discusses best practices for startups to develop their IP portfolio and protect their IP from competitors.

Since its inception in September 2012, The Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) has significantly impacted how U.S. patents are challenged and litigated. However, for many practitioners and patent owners, the PTAB has caused concern, with some referring to the PTAB as a "patent death squad." Erika H. Arner and Tim P. McAnulty discuss recent PTAB trends and share statistics that may offer new hope for practitioners and patent owners.

Over the last several years, IP cases have reached the U.S. Supreme Court with greater frequency. In the 2013 term, the Supreme Court made several critical decisions in cases that will have a substantial effect on businesses seeking to acquire patents. Finnegan attorney James R. Barney discusses the implications of these Supreme Court decisions.

Mark Sommers discusses the TTAB decision to cancel six federal registrations for trademarks that include the work "Redskins." In Blackhorse v. Pro Football Inc. the TTAB ruled the term "Redskins" is disparaging when use in professional football services. This decision was about "right to register," not "right to use," which Mark Sommers explains in the discussion.