Tuesday, June 20, 2006

Gotta Be Second-Guessing That Decision. Internet.com reports that "Microsoft Loses Another Round in Excel Patent Case." From the article: "The patent, owned by inventor and businessman Armando Amado, covers linking a spreadsheet to a database. He first developed the method in 1990, then offered to license it to Microsoft in 1992 for use in Excel. Microsoft declined the offer."
Yet Another Failed Copyright Suit. E!Online reports in "Judge: 'Syriana' Isn't the Same." From the article: "The judge ruled that the two stories, though both about the CIA and oil company intrigue in the Persian Gulf, were 'obviously different' and that any overlap was coincidental. (Most likely there are enough sordid tales about the oil industry to go around.) He also said that Vergniault failed to accurately prove her claim that she had sent her script to a Canadian production company that supposedly had close ties to Warner Bros."

Monday, June 19, 2006

Seems Like the Telecoms are Duking it Out in Court The AP reports that "Verizon accuses Vonage of infringement." From the article: "Verizon charged that Vonage is infringing on at least seven of its patents regarding Internet phone service, a technology known as voice over Internet protocol, or VoIP. The patents include inventions related to gateway interfaces between a packet-switched and circuit-switched network, billing and fraud detection, call services such as call forwarding and voicemail and methods related to Wi-Fi handset use in a VoIP network, the lawsuit said."

Friday, June 16, 2006

Interesting Application of eBay. Law.com reports that "Microsoft Wins Patent Case With 'eBay' Argument." From the article: "'Z4 does not fit the traditional definition of a patent troll. It is a company that is in the market and making a product and trying to compete with Microsoft, so now it looks like every defendant can use the eBay logic against all companies, regardless of whether they're trolls or not,' McElhinny said."

Thursday, June 15, 2006

Today's a Busy Day for Patent Claims... Reuters reports that "Video technology firm sues cable operators over VOD." From the article: "The Old Lyme, Connecticut-based company said it sued Time Warner Inc., Cox Communications Inc., Charter Communications Inc., and Comcast Corp., alleging the cable operators violated its patent with their video-on-demand services offered to subscribers."
Wasn't It Kinda Obvious After American Idol? E!Online reports in "'So You Think' It's a Copycat?" From the article:
Some of the supposed similarities between the Fox show and the plaintiffs' original idea listed in the lawsuit include:

It's a 60-minute show.
It recruits contestants from around the country.
A panel of professional judges--including a snarky British guy--evaluate the contestants. (That's not exactly how the complaint read, actually?)
Non-competition scenes, such as practice sessions, are woven in with the performance sequences.
The competition involves pairs dancing, as well.

Actually, it's starting to sound a lot like Dancing with the Stars.
Texas, Again. Reuters reports that "C2 files patent suit against US phone giants." From the article: "C2, a patent licensing company, said the suit. filed in a Texas court against AT&T Inc, Verizon Communications, BellSouth Corp, Qwest Communications International Inc, Sprint Nextel Corp Level 3 Communications Inc and Global Crossing Ltd."
When Partnerships Go Bad. Law.com reports on the aftermath of a named partner leaving a firm in "Lawyer's Name Not Entitled to Trademark Protection." From the article: "'The recognition of individual lawyers' names as trademarks without a strong showing of secondary meaning could hinder the creation of new law firms (since, unlike other businesses, law firms are traditionally identified by personal names and not fanciful trade names) and the ability of individuals to practice law in their chosen field without changing their names,' Shapiro wrote."

Monday, June 12, 2006

They're At it Again. Reuters reports that "Qualcomm and Nokia fight over patents again." From the article: "Qualcomm's complaint to the United States International Trade Commission asked for a ban on the import and sale of some Nokia products, which it said included technology that infringed its patents." The AP has more.

Thursday, June 08, 2006

Venue Hopscotch. The Washington Post reports that "Patent Claims Over Apple's IPod Escalate." From the article:

Singapore-based Creative, the No. 2 seller of digital music players in the world, last month sued Apple in U.S. District Court in Northern California, claiming patent infringement. At the same time, the company asked the U.S. International Trade Commission to bar Apple from importing portable digital media players that Creative claims infringe on its intellectual property.

Apple filed a counterclaim in U.S. District Court for Western Wisconsin and followed that up June 1 with a claim in U.S. District Court for Eastern Texas. In its latest suit, Apple says Creative infringed a number of its patents relating to the software and systems on its mobile music player.

Of course, technically, the claim filed in Wisconsin isn't a counterclaim...

Friday, June 02, 2006

eBay's Going to be Back in Court. The AP reports that "Skype accused of patent infringement." From the article: "Net2Phone sued Skype and its parent company, eBay Inc., charging that Net2Phone has lost an unspecified amount of money as a result. Net2Phone, a unit of Newark-based IDT Corp., sued Thursday in U.S. District Court in Newark."
Does Anyone Really Expect a Different Appeals Decision? E! Online News reports in "Ludacris and Kanye's 'Stand Up' Victory." From the article: "Sachs told reporters that an expert witness he had been planning to call to dispute the idea that both songs' use of the phrase 'like that' was more than coincidental would have helped their side. Instead, U.S. District Judge Kevin Castel excluded the musical expert's testimony."

Thursday, June 01, 2006

Now I Wish I Had Heard the RHCP Song... Page Six reports that "Chili Tune Called Petty Theft." From the article: "'The single 'Dani California' [currently No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart] is a huge hit - but there is a major problem,' one source claimed. 'The song has the same chord progression, melody and tempo of Petty's 'Mary Jane's Last Dance.' The song even has a similar lyrical theme.' "