3d20ultimaker20original20250.jpg Amazon’s 3-D printing future?
Amazon is taking a keen interest in the possibilities that 3-D printing holds for its future, if its patent applications are anything to go by.
The Verge this week reported on an intriguing patent application by Amazon “for a system that could print goods on-demand in ‘mobile manufacturing hubs’ – trucks outfitted with 3D printers that could rapidly produce and deliver items on their travels.”
Amazon said in its application: “The patents would help improve the delivery process and reduce the warehouse space Amazon needs. Time delays between receiving an order and shipping the item to the customer may reduce customer satisfaction and affect revenues generated."
Foley partner defends faulty brief
The Foley & Lardner partner asked by the Supreme Court to show why he should not be sanctioned for a filing a faulty brief this week gave his response. As noted on the Patently-O blog: “Foley went all out, hiring Paul Clement to write it. Boiled (way way down – it’s 41 pages), the approach was to say that the client wanted this petition this way, and the client is in charge of the goals of the representation. ‘I had no choice and you’re overreacting,’ might be the headline.”
Sigram Schindler’s petition for cert was expected to be denied, given its long, confusing question. But not only was the petition denied, the Supreme Court in December took the unusual step of ordering Schindler’s attorney – Howard Shipley of Foley & Lardner – to “show cause…why he should not be sanctioned”.
The reply submitted this week states: “In this case, attorney Howard Shipley had to reconcile the competing demands of the duty of loyalty that he owed his client and the duty that he owed this Court as a member of the Supreme Court Bar. Mr Shipley’s client had deeply held views about patent law and insisted on articulating his basic argument (that the Federal Circuit was ignoring the guidance of this Court) in his own words, as he had done in prior amicus briefs filed in this Court by other counsel.”
No likeness, no cry
The heirs of reggae legend Bob Marley have had their trial win over merchandisers using Marley’s face without permission affirmed by the Ninth Circuit, says The Hollywood Reporter.
Fifty-Six Hope Road Music, which controls the licensing of Marley’s image, sued AVELA and other companies in 2008 for selling t-shirts of Marley in retailors including Walmart and Target. In 2011, Marley’s heirs won $750,000 in profits, $300,000 in damages and were awarded $1.52 million in attorney fees.
This win was affirmed on February 20. "This case presents a question that is familiar in our circuit," wrote Judge Randy Smith in the opinion. "When does the use of a celebrity's likeness or persona in connection with a product constitute false endorsement that is actionable under the Lanham Act?"
uspto.jpg I’m just here for a trade mark
Marshawn Lynch, running back for the Seattle Seahawks, is seeking a trade mark from the USPTO for the phrase “I’m just here so I won’t get fined”.
Lynch said the phrase more than 20 times in a mandatory press conference before the Super Bowl, which his team lost to the New England Patriots. Rather than having to pay a fine as a result of the press conference, Lynch is looking to make money from it.
ESPN.com quoted Chris Bevans, who runs Lynch's "Beast Mode" apparel line, as saying: "We heard from our fans, and so many of them were saying that they wanted that phrase on the clothing. This is just listening to the marketplace."
Lynch owns four “Beast Mode” trade marks and has filed for four more. He has also filed for a trade mark on the phrase “About that action BOSS”, a phrase he said in last year’s Super Bowl press conference.
redskins20logo.jpg Redskins go on offence
In other NFL intellectual property news, the Washington Redskins have claimed that barring the registration of its controversial name as a trade mark is unconstitutional, reports ESPN.com. The Trademark Trial and Appeal Board last summer cancelled the American Football team’s trade marks because it ruled the name is derogatory to native Americans.
The team’s lawyers wrote in a brief filed this week that the TTAB's decision unfairly singles out the Redskins "for disfavored treatment based solely on the content of its protected speech, interfering with the ongoing public discourse over the Redskins' name by choosing sides and cutting off the debate. This the US Constitution does not tolerate.”
A hearing is scheduled for May 5.
In the Thicke of it
The Wrap has an entertaining overview of proceedings in the “Blurred Lines” copyright trial. Robin Thicke this week took the unusual step of playing a medley of songs in an effort to show how easy it is to view any song as similar to another.
The Wrap noted: “Thicke also said he has been referred to in the past as ‘the white Marvin Gaye,’ which he always considered to be an honor and so he embellished stories to the media to capitalize upon the connection. While there was laughter in the courtroom in response, the Gaye family did not appear amused.”
Blog readers promotion – last chance
Lastly, all week we have been running a special promotion exclusively for our blog readers. Today is the last day of our blog week promotion which offers our loyal blog readers an opportunity to save up to 30% on their subscription to Managing IP. Only 30% of our content is published on this blog and to access all of the content you need to be a subscriber.
This week we have shown you how Managing IP has progressed over the past 25 years and transformed into the publication it is today. We have also introduced our team – James, Michael, Nick, Emma and Peter to show you the faces behind the scenes.
We have also shown you what our customers have had so say about us, who they are and we would like you to join them. To make this decision easier we would like to offer you up to 30% off your subscription to Managing IP. To find out more about this you can email nheath@managingip.com or fill in your details here.
Also on the blog this week:
Some proposed fixes to the US patent system, but is it even broken?
Managing IP’s first 25 years – a timeline
Unitary Patent and UPC – the story so far
Blog readers promotion – last chance
Check out the recently-launched Managing IP US
Join the Managing IP readership!
Managing IP testimonial - Gordon Harris, Wragge Lawrence Graham
Managing IP testimonials – Ted Chwu, Bird & Bird and Catherine Zheng, Deacons
Managing IP testimonials – David Kappos (Cravath) and Francisco Bernardo (ABG Patentes)
The US Patent Forum is coming soon to DC and Silicon Valley
Meet the Managing IP team: James Nurton
Meet the Managing IP team: Emma Barraclough
Meet the Managing IP team: Michael Loney
Meet the Managing IP team: Nick Heath
Meet the Managing IP team: Peter Leung
In our news and analysis this week:
Ericsson files multiple lawsuits against Apple, while Smartflash sues again
Lee’s USPTO nomination clears Senate committee
SIIA says Copyright Office is badly in need of restructuring
EPO statistics: who's up and who's down
Knobbe Martens hires LA partner from St Jude Medical
Texas jury orders Apple to pay Smartflash $533 million
How to work with your engineering colleagues
Olswang hires four-person team in London
Average price paid per patent in US transactions up 10% – report
The law firms used most for US patent filing
IP Clinic: How do we encourage more women to stay and progress in the profession?
Lessons on eligibility from recent SPC rulings
Data: the busiest companies at the PTAB in 2014
Don’t be afraid of bifurcation
Rules that reflect different traditions
