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Revenge of the Trolls: Back to Square One for Apple

“To live is to war with trolls,” said Henrik Ibsen. Well, Apple Inc (“Apple”) has recently reached an impasse in its war against patent holding firm or “patent troll” Lodsys, LLC.

To Poach a Mockingbird: Harper Lee’s Trade-mark Battle

So much for southern hospitality. Celebrated American author Harper Lee finds herself embroiled in a trademark clash for the right to register the title of her own 1961 Pulitzer-winning novel, To Kill a Mockingbird.

Call for Applications – Research Assistant Position (Copyright & IP Research)

Professors David Vaver and Giuseppina D’Agostino are seeking a JD student to assist in general research of a copyright project, to help prepare some teaching materials for a short intensive course on international copyright principle, and other general IP research, to commence forthwith.

Canada and US Continue to Diverge on Geolocational Privacy

Just because technology now exists to track a person through their mobile phone does not mean you are legally entitled to do so.  This was the main conclusion by the Supreme Court of New Jersey in their unanimous, groundbreaking geolocational privacy decision in State v. Earls.

17 Year-Old Patent Causing Problems for Podcasters

Is a podcast analogous to a cassette tape recording of a magazine article? Jim Logan of Personal Audio thinks that it is, and that it thereby infringes his patent.

Time for a Change? Fraser Institute Urges Canada to Strengthen its Pharmaceutical IP Laws

A little over a week ago, the Fraser Institute, a prominent and independent Canadian public policy think tank, released a report calling for a strengthening of intellectual property protection for pharmaceuticals in Canada. The report claims that the changes would produce an increase in trade opportunities and access to foreign markets that would generate an […]

Now You See It, Now You Don’t: Patent Litigation After Virgin v Zodiac

In one of the most keenly observed United Kingdom patent lawsuits in recent memory, Virgin Atlantic Airways Limited v Zodiac Seats UK Limited, the European Patent Office (“EPO”) and the UK Supreme Court (“UKSC”) have performed what may be construed as a precedent-setting disappearing act.

Interflora – The Latest Legal Decision in the Blossoming Google AdWords Debate

The verdict is in for the lengthy European trade-mark battle between British flower competitors Marks and Spencer (M&S) and Interflora regarding Google AdWords and trade-mark infringement. Victory goes to the trade-mark holder, Interflora.

Will I Am: Pharrell Williams and Will.i.am In Trade-Mark Dispute

Pharrell may currently hold the #1 and #2 spots on Billboard’s Hot 100, but in the past few weeks, he made headlines due to his ongoing trade-mark dispute with Will.i.am (coincidentally, the last band to hold both the #1 and #2 spots was Will.i.am’s band, The Black Eyed Peas).

Cracking Down on Green Mountain Trolls

Watch out, patent trolls – the Attorney General of Vermont is coming to get you. Vermont recently became the first US state to enact an anti-“patent trolling” law.