Monday, April 2nd 2012 by Aaron K. Reinhardt In 2011, President Obama signed the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act into law.  The most striking change this law brings to the patent system is the change from a first-to-invent to a first-to-file system.  While this change has certainly receives the most attention, it might not have the greatest …

Monday, April 2nd 2012 by Barbara L. Herrera The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has released a new report titled, “Protecting Consumer Privacy in an Era of Rapid Change: Recommendations for Business and Policymakers.” In this detailed report, the FTC is calling for many changes to help improve and protect consumer privacy while more companies and industries are tracking consumer information …

Monday, April 2nd 2012 by Tony S. Botros Returning from a vacation in Mexico, Davis House was questioned and briefly detained at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport.  House’s bags were searched and Custom Agents ordered House to turn over all of his electronics, including his laptop.  House was also ordered to give up his passwords and encryption keys, which he refused.  …

Monday, April 9th 2012 by Brandy G. Barrett According to a recent decision of the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (PTO), the answer is “no.” In In re Prosynthesis Laboratories, Inc., decided on March 23, 2012, Prosynthesis Laboratories applied for federal trademark protection for the mark CHINA FREE with Design (as …

Monday, April 9th 2012 by Joel Bronstein The past week did not finish with a happy ending for internet service customers involved in the illegal use of pornographic videos.  In the U.S., District Court Judge Mary A. McLaughlin of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania ruled that internet service providers (“ISPs”) were required to disclose the names of subscribers …

Monday, April 9th 2012 by Jennifer K. Kanzelberger The Chapel Hill Town Council made history last week by becoming the first jurisdiction in the nation to pass a measurecreating a blanket ban on all cell phone use while driving.  Limitations on permissible uses of cell phones behind the wheel are commonplace.  In fact, North Carolina (where Chapel Hill is …