Canada needs an innovative intellectual property strategy; Globe and Mail, May 19, 2017

James Hinton and Peter Cowan, Globe and Mail; 

Canada needs an innovative intellectual property strategy

"The recent federal budget signalled a dramatic shift in Canada’s approach to innovation. By announcing a national intellectual property (IP) strategy, the government finally addressed the calls of innovation experts who understand the critical role of IP in a 21st-century economy...

Canadian innovators have only a basic understanding about IP

Canadian entrepreneurs understand IP strategy as a defensive mechanism to protect their products. In reality, IP is the most critical tool for revenue growth and global expansion in a 21st-century economy. Cross-discipline awareness and education is needed so that our innovators know how to generate IP through technology standards, regulatory design, ecosystem-licensing strategies, litigation, trade agreements and so on. Companies should also have access to pro bono and low-cost services at all publicly funded institutions."

American Bar Association Webinar: Trump's Presidency to Date: Effects on IP Law, Business and our Profession, Tuesday, June 6, 2017

American Bar Association Webinar: Tuesday, June 6, 2017

Trump's Presidency to Date: Effects on IP Law, Business and our Profession

Tuesday, June 6, 2017
1:00 pm - 2:30 pm EST
1.50 Non-ethics CLE Credit Hours

How has President Trump's first 100 days affected, and will continue to affect, IP law regarding patents, trademarks, and copyrights?

This webinar will discuss the state of IP law coming into the new presidency and what, if anything, has changed or will change. A panel of IP experts will explore a broad range of IP topics, such as selections for future leadership of the USPTO Office, the US withdrawal from the Trans Pacific Partnership, and the selection of the next Supreme Court Justice. In addition, the panel will review congruencies in historical political events effecting IP law and will further discuss the effects of presidential and legislative policies that may affect all types of IP, business and our profession.

Panelists:

• David Postolski, Gearhart Law, Summit, NJ (Moderator)
• Thomas Stoll, American Bar Association, Washington, DC
• Brigid Harrison, Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ
• Wendell Potter, To Be Fair, Inc.; Tarbell.org, Philadelphia, PA

Creative Commons' annual State of the Commons Report, May 23, 2017

Ryan Merkley, Creative Commons; Welcome to Creative Commons' annual celebration of the global commons movement—our State of the Commons report.

"SOTC explores the wide array of creativity and knowledge that is freely available to the world under CC licenses. Throughout the report, we’ll show how the body of work in the commons has grown and developed this year, and explore the impact the commons is making on our culture.

In previous editions of SOTC, we've focused our efforts on measuring and reporting quantitative data—for instance, the total number of openly-licensed works online, the percentage of CC licenses used across various fields, and the volume of CC-licensed works that are available to the public through the many online sharing platforms where our legal tools are prevalent. That data is still here, but this year we’ve gone further: CC's new organizational strategy is focused on increasing the vibrancy and usability of the commons (not just its breadth and volume), so we’re focusing on the stories and people behind the creativity in the commons as well."

Justices Make It Easier for Companies to Defend Patent Cases; Associated Press via New York Times, May 22, 2017

Associated Press via New York Times; 

Justices Make It Easier for Companies to Defend Patent Cases

"The Supreme Court on Monday made it easier for companies to defend themselves against patent infringement lawsuits in a ruling that places strict limits on where such cases can be filed.

The justices ruled unanimously that patent owners must bring lawsuits only in states where the targeted company is incorporated. The issue is important to many companies that complain about patent owners "shopping" for favorable courts in other parts of the country to file lawsuits."

Biltmore Company wins trademark infringement case; WLOS, May 22, 2017

Jennifer Saylor, WLOS; 

Biltmore Company wins trademark infringement case

"The verdict is in, and the plaintiff, the Biltmore Company, has won a trademark infringement case between it and Biltmore Bride, Prom and Tux.

The Biltmore Company sued the bridal company, claiming trademark infringement and cyberpiracy, as well as unfair and deceptive trade practices."

How to Fight Back Against Revenge Porn; New York Times, May 18, 2017

Niraj Chokshi, New York Times; 

How to Fight Back Against Revenge Porn

"Consider criminal action

Despite increasing awareness about the issue, many officials may still be unaware of legal protections in place for victims of nonconsensual porn, according to the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative. So victims should researchstate laws targeting nonconsensual porn before approaching the authorities.

And while the decision to prosecute lies with the government, victims can help by providing documentation. “In order to have a successful prosecution, you’ve got to have evidence,” Ms. D’Amico said.

Victims may help to strengthen a case, and penalty, by highlighting violations of related laws, including those aimed at child pornography, harassment, stalking, extortion and copyright. The Initiative maintains a list of such laws and encourages victims to bring printed copies when filing a police report."

The World’s Best-Selling Drug Just Lost a Key Patent Battle; Fortune, May 18, 2017

Sy Mukherjee, Fortune; 

The World’s Best-Selling Drug Just Lost a Key Patent Battle

"The rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis medicine has recently been a target of biopharma companies that are trying to make generic Humira copycats called "biosimilars."...

Once the drug does fall off the patent cliff, however, AbbVie could be in for some rough times. Humira sales make up more than 60% of its revenues."