Forum Shopping in Patent Cases

Forum Shopping in Patent Cases

By David Kline Many defendants in patent infringement cases argue that case law (such as VE Holding in 1990) allowing patent lawsuits to be filed in any district in which the defendant has sales have only encouraged abusive patent litigation. They say this practice,...
The Slants Case and the Trademark Protection Debate

The Slants Case and the Trademark Protection Debate

By David Kline A January 2017 release from Simon Tam’s dance rock group The Slants is called “The Band Who Must Not Be Named” — and for good reason. Despite making music for more than a decade, the world’s first all Asian-American dance rock band had...
Should Willful Infringers Pay Enhanced Damages?

Should Willful Infringers Pay Enhanced Damages?

Mark Finkelstein and Scott Miller Section 284 of the U.S. Patent Act provides that if a defendant has been found to have infringed a patent, “the court may increase the damages up to three times the amount found or assessed” after a finding that the infringement was...
Should Software Patents Be Outlawed?

Should Software Patents Be Outlawed?

By David KlineIn June of 2014, The U.S. Supreme Court issued its most consequential decision on the patentability of software since it upheld the first software patent 33 years previously. In Alice v. CLS Bank, the Court ruled that taking some activity that people...