Reviewing the last U.S. Supreme Court 2022 term, the highest court decided several high-profile cases involving intellectual property rights. The keyword among these cases – two trademark, one copyright, and one patent – is “limitation.” What does this mean? The various laws implicated by these opinions do not operate in a vacuum and work in …
Author: Yonaxis
The Enablement Requirement Requires More Than Just “Two Research Assignments,” says SCOTUS
On May 18, 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court released its long-awaited decision in Amgen Inc. v. Sanofi,[1] which touches on a formal requirement for patentability, the enablement requirement. In a unanimous ruling, the Supreme Court held that where a patent claims an entire genus, the specification must enable one skilled in the art to make …
U.S. Patent No. PP35,001 P3 Blueberry Plant Named ‘C15-270’
U.S. Patent No. PP35,001 P3 (‘001) issued on February 28, 2023 for “Blueberry Plant Named ‘C15-270’.” It was issued to inventors Jessica Scalzo & James W. Olmestead and applicants/assignees Costa Berry International Pty Ltd. of Ravenhall, Australia, and Florida Foundation Seed Producers, Inc., of Marianna, Florida. The ‘001 patent is a plant patent under 35 …
U.S. Copyright Office Clarifies Registration of AI-Created Works
In order to clarify policy-related issues involving artificial intelligence and the copyright law issue of authorship, the U.S. Copyright Office, on March 16, 2023, commenced an AI initiative. Included in this initiative was new registration guidance (to be codified as 37 C.F.R. §202) aimed at assisting practitioners and industry members on protection of creative works …
Fed Circuit Holds Claims Directed to Milk Not Patent-Eligible Under §101
On February 13, 2023, in ChromaDex, Inc. v. Elysium Health, Inc.,[1] the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit issued its first opinion of the year dealing with patent eligibility under 35 U.S.C. §101. Unsurprisingly, the Fed Circuit held that the claims lacked patent-eligible subject matter, and concluded the claims were merely isolated formulations of …
Tax Update for Wine, Spirits & Beer Industry
The Craft Beverage Modernization Act (CBMA) was originally enacted in 2017 as part of the Tax Reform Act, and was meant to provide some tax relief for domestic wineries, breweries, distillers, and importers of alcoholic beverages. The tax benefits as enacted in 2017 were set to expire after two years, meaning any tax credits were …
UPC Set to Commence June 1, 2023
At long last, the Unitary Patent (UP) and the Unitary Patent Court (UPC) are set to begin on June 1, 2023. This has been a long-awaited process, which has seen the roll-out delayed not once, not twice, but three times. The UP is expected to a major effect on foreign patent prosecution strategies since, by …
Copyright Office Partially Cancels AI-Created Work
On February 21, 2023, the U.S. Copyright Office issued an unusual ruling partially cancelling the copyright registration originally issued in September 2022, essentially cancelling any part of the work made by an AI machine. A new registration will be re-issued as to the portions in which the human authorship was confirmed, including the selection, coordination, …
8th Circuit Holds One Block Does Not Infringe Another
On January 24, 2023, the Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit held in H&R Block, Inc. v. Block, Inc.,[1] that defendant Block’s trademark was not likely to confuse consumers as to source of the registered service mark of plaintiff H&R Block. This was not a unanimous decision, and one dissent was lodged, noting that …
9th Circuit Expands Service of Process Against Foreign Defendant
On November 14, 2022, in San Antonio Winery, Inc. v. Jiaxing Micarose Trade Co., Ltd.,[1] the Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit held that process may be effected on a nonappearing foreign defendant in a trademark infringement suit through service upon the Director of the USPTO. This was a case of first impression and …