by Audrey Millemann

In Net MoneyIN, Inc. v. Verisign, Inc., 545 F.3d 1359 (Fed. Cir. 2008), the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals clarified the test for anticipation under 35 U.S.C. §102(a).

The patents in the case covered systems for conducting credit card transactions over the internet. The existing systems involve four different entities: a customer, the issuing bank for the customer’s credit card, a merchant, and the merchant’s bank. The inventor developed his system in response to two problems with the existing systems. First, the existing systems required prospective purchasers to send their confidential credit card information to an unknown merchant over the Internet. Second, in the existing systems, the banks that had issued the customers’ credit cards imposed stringent requirements on merchants.
 

Continue Reading Federal Circuit Clarifies Requirements for Anticipation of Patent Claims

By Audrey A. Millemann

The beginning of the year is a good time to review your clients’ intellectual property needs. The first and most important thing to do is to determine what intellectual property the client has. Once the intellectual property has been identified, the means of protecting it can be analyzed and a plan for establishing protection set up. 

What is Intellectual Property?

Almost anything can constitute intellectual property. IP may fall into one or more of the following categories: inventions that can be patented, expression that is copyrightable, names or logos that are trademarks, and information that is a trade secret.

Continue Reading Intellectual Property Basics

By Scott Hervey

 

The holiday season means something different for each of us. For some it’s a time for eggnog, parties and mistletoe. For others, it’s a time for cease and desist letters, seizure actions and lawsuits. Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Clause, and his lawyers stand ready to sue those who use his marks and other intellectual property without permission.

 

 

Continue Reading Christmas – A Time For Fruitcake and Infringement Actions

By Jeffrey Pietsch

 

Trademark infringement occurs when a third party uses a mark in a way that infringes upon a trademark owner’s exclusive right and use of a trademark. Often, the third party will use a similar mark in a way that confuses consumers as to the source of the goods and services. For example, a fast food restaurant named “Wendi’s” would likely cause confusion with “Wendy’s.” Trademark infringement can occur only when it is likely that consumers will be confused as to the source of the goods. The purpose of this article is to examine the test and factors that courts use to determine if such infringement exists.

Continue Reading Trademark Infringement: Factors Considered in Consumer Confusion

by Scott Cameron

 

eBay describes itself on its website as: “The World’s Online Marketplace®, enabling trade on a local, national and international basis. With a diverse and passionate community of individuals and small businesses, eBay offers an online platform where millions of items are traded each day.” Nearly anything can be bought and sold on eBay. However, the Ninth Circuit recently announced that one thing you do not buy on eBay is personal jurisdiction.

 

The decision, Boschetto v. Hansing, 539 F.3d 1011 (9th Cir. 2008), begins by stating that the “appeal presents a question that remains surprisingly unanswered by the circuit courts: Does the sale of an item via the eBay Internet auction site provide sufficient ‘minimum contacts’ to support personal jurisdiction over a nonresident defendant in the buyer’s forum state?” In the Ninth Circuit it does not.

Continue Reading You Can’t Buy Personal Jurisdiction On eBay