Intellectual Property Law and Copyright Laws

Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code (Section 409A) imposes strict rules governing the timing of deferred compensation payments, such as when and under what circumstances such payments can be made.

The landscape of tariff enforcement is intensifying, creating significant compliance, financial, and operational challenges for importers.

Nike's Air Max 95 sneaker featuring orange, green, and red stripes has sparked a federal trademark lawsuit from 7-Eleven, which claims the design unlawfully copies its distinctive tri-color branding. The convenience store chain argues that the shoe's color scheme, combined with its July 11 release date and "corner store" marketing references, creates consumer confusion about an unauthorized collaboration.

The Federal Circuit addressed whether a patent claiming priority to a provisional application can maintain that earlier filing date when the provisional disclosed a C2-C12 alkyl substituent but the issued patent broadened the claim to C1-C12 alkyl. This case examines the written description requirement and its impact on priority dates in pharmaceutical patent disputes, particularly where an intervening public disclosure by a competitor falls between the two filing dates.

The Federal Circuit examined whether a patent claim requiring return information to be initiated "without assistance by a user" excludes scenarios where users establish internet connections. The court's interpretation of this claim language and its analysis of the specification and prosecution history determined the validity of patents covering technology for recovering lost or stolen computers.

As the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office expands its use of artificial intelligence in patent examination, innovators face new challenges in how they prepare patent applications. Marshall Gerstein's Michael Anderson examines how AI-based search tools could reshape patent prosecution and offers practical guidance to help applicants stay ahead of the curve as AI becomes an increasingly important part of the examination process.

Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code (Section 409A) imposes strict rules governing the timing of deferred compensation payments, such as when and under what circumstances such payments can be made.

The landscape of tariff enforcement is intensifying, creating significant compliance, financial, and operational challenges for importers.

RSL Media has introduced the Human Consent Standard, a machine-readable protocol allowing individuals to declare whether AI systems may use their creative works, identity, likeness, voice, characters, or marks. While endorsed by major entertainment industry figures and organizations, the voluntary standard's effectiveness depends on pending federal legislation like the NO FAKES Act, voluntary adoption by AI developers, and its ability to withstand contractual pressures that could undermine its protective fu

As artificial intelligence tools become integral to legal practice, they introduce unprecedented vulnerabilities to attorney-client privilege and confidentiality protections. Recent U.S. court decisions reveal conflicting interpretations of whether documents generated using public AI platforms retain privileged status, raising critical questions about data retention policies, third-party disclosure, and the fundamental nature of confidential legal communications in the digital age.

Although a refined description may not be in hand when the complaint is filed, it should be prepared without delay so as to be available when the need to specify the substance of the trade secrets arises.

Defense contractors using artificial intelligence in government contract performance face a critical question about intellectual property rights. While AI-assisted work doesn't automatically transfer proprietary systems to the government, vague transparency and explainability clauses in contracts can quietly expand disclosure obligations and erode decades-old trade secret protections.