Worldwide: Intellectual Property

A Boston-based jewelry company, with a storefront steps away from Seyfarth's Boston offices, is at the center of a trademark dispute that is all too familiar.

On Wednesday, March 11, 2026, United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) Director John Squires issued a memorandum announcing that when making institution decisions in inter partes review (IPR) and post-grant review (PGR) proceedings, he would consider whether accused or licensed products and components were manufactured in the United States, as well as whether the petitioner was a small business that had been sued for infringement.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) published Supplemental Guidance for Examination of Design Patent Applications Related to Computer‑Generated Interfaces and Icons...

On March 2, 2026, Mr. Gilbert Hyatt, owner of 75 patents, filed a petition for writ of certiorari with the Supreme Court challenging the Federal Circuit's affirmance...

USPTO institution decisions are no longer just about prior art. Over the past year, the Director has steadily expanded discretionary institution analysis to account for broader policy considerations...

In US Pat. No. 7,679,637 LLC v. Google LLC, No. 2024-1520, 2026 WL 174922 (Fed. Cir. Jan. 22, 2026)...

Texas Business Court Highlights Risks To Trade Secret Ownership Arising From Joint Development Agreements

The Fifth Circuit affirmed summary judgment on the plaintiff's trade secrets claims under the Defend Trade Secrets Act (DTSA) and Louisiana Uniform Trade Secrets Act (LUTSA)...

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming workflows for a growing number of professionals. According to a Pew Research Center survey, approximately 1 in 5 workers in the United States now say they use AI in their work.

For the second time in less than a year, the USPTO, along with the DOJ's Antitrust Division, has stepped into a patent case pending in the Eastern District of Texas.

ClicknClear is a music licensing and technology company that issues licenses for musical works and sound recordings to groups who perform choreographed routines with music...

Intellectual property licensing, distribution and collaboration agreements are widely used to expand businesses and reach new markets. While they offer flexibility, they carry a frequently overlooked regulatory risk.