Intellectual Property Law

On January 31, 2022, Plaintiff Whirlpool Corporation filed a trademark infringement lawsuit in the United States District Court, Texas Eastern (Case number: 2:22cv27). This case was assigned to District Judge Rodney Gilstrap and referred to Magistrate Judge Roy S. Payne. Whirlpool Corporation and Whirlpool Properties, Inc. filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against Shenzhen Sanlida Electrical Technology Co., Ltd. and Shenzhen Avoga Technology Co., Ltd. Whirlpool alleged that both Defendants deliberately copied the iconic design of its KitchenAid stand mixers. The company claimed that Defendants sold these look-alike products through major online marketplaces, including Amazon and Wayfair. Whirlpool had used the KitchenAid trademark since 1919 and built significant goodwill over the years. The company asserted that Defendants did not creat

Plaintiff EXOTO Inc. filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against Sunrich Company, LLC, Truescale, Truescale Miniatures, Truescale Miniatures Limited, TSM Model Scale Miniatures, Top Speed Model, Glen Chou, and Cindy Chou. The lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court, California Central (Western Division - Los Angeles). The case was assigned to Judge Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong and referred to Magistrate Judge Stephanie S. Christensen. [Case number: 2:21cv3754] EXOTO, a company specializing in manufacturing and selling 1:18 scale die-cast racecar models, built a strong reputation for quality and precision. Since its launch, EXOTO’s product designs and branding have gained significant success. The com

On June 16, 2023, California Expanded Metal Products Co. (CEMCO), a manufacturer of steel framing and metal products, filed a patent infringement lawsuit against KPSI Innovations, Inc., a fireproofing products company, along with Serina Klein, Kevin Klein, and James A. Klein in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington in Seattle. Judge James L. Robart presided over this case. [Case number: 2:23cv918] The case focused on claims that the Defendants knowingly encouraged customers to violate CEMCO’s patents for fire-resistant construction products, specifically head-of-wall assemblies. This dispute was part of an ongoing conflict over patents originally granted to James Klein, a former CEMCO employee, in 2009. The patents in question included U.S. Patent Nos. 7,681,365; 7,81

On January 27, 2020, Oxygenator Water Technologies, Inc. (OWT) filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Tennant Company (“Tennant”). The case was filed in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota (D. Minn.). The case was assigned to Judge Katherine M. Menendez and referred to Magistrate Judge David T. Schultz. [Case Number: 0:20cv358] Oxygenator Water Technologies, Inc. (OWT), a Minnesota company, accused Tennant, another Minnesota company, of using its patented technology without permission. OWT claimed Tennant’s ec-H2OTM electrolysis modules, found in its floor scrubbers, relied on OWT’s patented method for producing micro and nanob

On July 8, 2022, Plaintiff Headwater Research LLC filed a patent infringement lawsuit in the United States District Court, Texas Eastern (Case number: 2:22cv422). This case was assigned to District Judge Rodney Gilstrap and referred to Magistrate Judge Roy S. Payne. Headwater Research LLC filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. and Samsung Electronics America, Inc. The case involved Samsung’s unauthorized use of Headwater’s patented wireless communication technologies. These innovations optimized data usage, reduced power consumption, and improved connectivity in mobile devices. Dr. Gregory Raleigh, Headwater’s founder, originally developed the patented technology. During a collaboration with Sprint, Headwater shared these innovations with Samsung under confide

On January 15, 2021, Plaintiff Francesca Gregorini filed a copyright infringement lawsuit in the United States District Court, California Central, Western Division (Case number: 2:20cv406). This case was assigned to Judge Sunshine Suzanne Syke and referred to Magistrate Judge Jacqueline Chooljian. Francesca Gregorini, an independent filmmaker, filed a lawsuit against Apple Inc., M. Night Shyamalan, and Blinding Edge Pictures, alleging copyright infringement. She claimed that the defendants unlawfully copied her 2013 psychological thriller The Truth About Emanuel to create the Apple TV+ series Servant. Gregorini had written, directed, and produced Emanuel, which told the story of a troubled young woman hired as a nanny to care for an ultra-realistic doll. The doll, believed by the grieving mo

On January 9, 2020, Plaintiff SSI Technologies, LLC filed a patent infringement lawsuit in the United States District Court, Wisconsin Western (Case number: 3:20cv19). This case was assigned to District Judge James D. Peterson and referred to US Magistrate Judge Anita Marie Boor. SSI Technologies, LLC (SSI), a Wisconsin-based company, filed a patent infringement lawsuit against KUS Dongguan Zhengyang Electronic Mechanical LTD (KUS), a Chinese company. SSI alleged that KUS manufactured, sold, imported, and used DEF quality sensors that directly infringed U.S. Patent No. 9,535,038. The patent protected technology designed to minimize aeration interference in ultrasonic fluid sensing systems. SSI claimed KUS marketed and displayed the infringing products, including at the Integer Emissions Summit

On July 13, 2021, Plaintiff Nippon Shinyaku Co., Ltd. filed a Patent Infringement lawsuit in the United States District Court, District of Delaware (Case number: 1:21cv1015). Judge Jennifer L. Hall presided over this case. Nippon Shinyaku is a renowned pharmaceutical company from Japan. It initiated a patent infringement lawsuit against Sarepta Therapeutics, Inc., a Delaware-based corporation. The lawsuit accuses Sarepta of breaching contract and violating multiple patents. These patents are related to Nippon Shinyaku’s groundbreaking exon-skipping therapies designed to treat Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). The dispute began after Sarepta filed seven Inter Partes Review (IPR) petitions with the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB). Sarepta sought to invalidate Nippon Shinyaku’s patents. Nippo

On Aug. 31, 2021, RV manufacturer Forest River, Inc. filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against trailer manufacturer inTech Trailers, Inc. in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana, South Bend Division. The complaint alleged that inTech Trailers infringed Forest River's trademarks, including the DELLA TERRA mark and the Forest River Mountain Design mark, by using confusingly similar marks "Terra" and a new mountain design to brand and sell its recreational vehicles (RVs). Judge Damon R Leichty presided over this lawsuit. [Case number: 3:21cv645] Forest River, founded in 1996, aimed to enhance outdoor experie

Lindis Biotech, GmbH filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Amgen Inc. for the willful infringement of its patented immunotherapy regimen for cancer treatment. The case was filed in the United States District Court, Delaware (Wilmington). Judge Gregory B. Williams presided over this case. [Case number: 1:22cv35] Lindis Biotech, GmbH ("Lindis") developed a patented immunotherapy regimen to address major challenges in cancer treatment. This innovative approach uses bispecific antibodies to target cancer cells, minimize harm to healthy tissue, and prevent excessive immune responses. Unlike traditional therapies like chemotherapy and radiation, which often damage healthy cells and suppress immunity, Lindis’s regimen offers a safer and more effective alternative. Dr. Horst Lindhofer and Dr. Marcus M. Heiss, the inventors behind Lindis’

On August 31, 2022, Plaintiff Arm Ltd. filed a Trademark Infringement lawsuit in the United States District Court, Delaware (Case number: 1:22cv1146). Judge Maryellen Noreika presided over this case. Arm Ltd. is a global leader in microprocessor intellectual property. The company has consistently pioneered innovative processor architectures, known for their performance and energy efficiency. Over the years, Arm has established a robust licensing framework. This framework grants companies access to its cutting-edge technology through Technology License Agreements (TLAs) and Architecture License Agreements (ALAs). In 2019, Nuvia, Inc., a start-up founded by former engineers from major tech companies, entered into agreements with Arm. The goal was to develop custom processors based on Arm’s advanced architecture. These agreements explicitly prohib

On May 21, 20119, Plaintiff Michael Gaffney filed a Copyright Infringement lawsuit in the United States District Court, New York Southern (Foley Square)[Case number: 1:18cv8770]. This case was assigned to Judge George B. Daniels and referred to Magistrate Judge Ona T. Wang. Photographer Michael Gaffney filed a lawsuit against Muhammad Ali Enterprises LLC (MAE), Authentic Brands Group (ABG), and other defendants, accusing them of willfully infringing on his copyright-protected photographs of Muhammad Ali. As Ali’s photographer from 1977 to 1978, Gaffney captured thousands of iconic images showcasing the legendary boxer’s career and personality. These photographs held immense historical and commercial value, with rights solely belonging to Gaffney. Despite the expiration of a licensing agreemen