Toll free 888-291-5676 January 2017 Global Intellectual Property (IP) Transactions and Litigation Intellectual Property Intelligence   Top IP Cases to Watch in 2017 As 2017 gets underway, here is a roundup of the IP lawsuits and legal disputes that the Philadelphia and Delaware IP lawyers at Panitch Schwarze are watching, including a massive, $8.8 billion software copyright case, Oracle America Inc. v Google Inc. Learn more…   USPTO Closer to Recognizing Patent Agent Privilege? A key element of our justice system, the attorney-client privilege, was put in place to ensure that every citizen can obtain sound legal advice. But what about patent agents? Are their communications with clients privileged, too? This remains a contentious issue in the courts. Learn more…   Trademarks Update: Supreme Court to Decide Constitutionality of Disparagement Provision The U.S. Supreme Court is poised to answer a question that has plagued federal trademark law for decades: Does the government have the right to refuse to register trademarks which it has deemed “disparaging?” And, given that the First Amendment prohibits our government from restricting speech, does it make sense to have the U.S. Trademark Office approve or deny trademark registrations on grounds that may limit speech? Learn more…   Highlights from Panitch Schwarze   Belisario Re-Elected to Board of World Trade Center of Greater Philadelphia Martin G. Belisario will continue to serve on the board of directors of the World Trade Center of Greater Philadelphia and will continue to serve as the organization’s secretary. The mission of the World Trade Center of Greater Philadelphia is to accelerate global business growth for companies in the region. Learn more…     Panitch Schwarze Named a 2017 'Best Law Firm' by U.S. News – Best Lawyers Panitch Schwarze again has been named a "Best Law Firm" by U.S. News – Best Lawyers® for 2017, achieving national rankings in the practice areas of intellectual property litigation, trademark law, patent litigation and patent law. Learn more…     Founding Partner Honored by Philadelphia Bar Association We are proud to announce that founding partner Ronald L. Panitch has been honored by the Philadelphia Bar Association in recognition of his 50 years of distinguished service to the bar. Learn more…     Partner Jeffrey W. Gluck Attends AIPPI World Congress Panitch Schwarze IP attorney Jeffrey W. Gluck attended the 2016 AIPPI World Congress in Milan, Italy this past fall. The annual gathering brings together leading IP practitioners from around the world to discuss trends and topics in international intellectual property protection. Learn more…     Panitch Schwarze Named ‘Top IP Firm’ by Philadelphia Business Journal The business publication ranked 25 Philadelphia-area law firms based on the number of attorneys practicing intellectual property law in the city. Read more… Featured Practice Area – Patents With the rapid advancement of new technologies in virtually all areas of science, patents continue to be one of the most important ways to protect intellectual property rights. Our attorneys recognize this and use their wealth of experience and knowledge to successfully guide clients through the patent process. Widely recognized as leaders in the field of intellectual property law, our attorneys are adept at handling all aspects of the patent process. Learn more about our Patents practice… Featured Industry – Technology / Software The Philadelphia and Delaware IP attorneys and advisors at Panitch Schwarze Belisario & Nadel serve the technology and software industries, helping companies safeguard and enforce their intellectual property. Our attorneys handle a wide variety of technology and software intellectual property matters including gaming / electronic games, cameras / camera lenses, e-commerce products, internet applications, mobile phones / devices / apps, security, and software. Read more about our experience with Technology / Software…     Did You Know? Patent activity in the United States continued at a robust pace in 2016, with 304,126 utility patent grants, the highest number granted in a single year, according to an analysis by IFI CLAIMS. As in the past 24 years, IBM again holds the No. 1 spot, with 8,088 patents granted, an increase of nearly 10 percent over 2015 and the most any company has acquired in a calendar year. Rounding out the top five patent recipients for 2016 are Samsung, Canon, Qualcomm, and Google. These trends clearly show that patent protection remains a vital part of the business strategy for the world’s leading companies. Connect with Us Frequently Asked Questions About IP Q: What's the difference between a patent and a trademark? A: A patent protects new and nonobvious inventions whereas trademarks protect branding associated with goods or services. Read more… Q: What is the value of trademark searches? A: Before filing an application for a trademark registration, it is prudent for applicants to first conduct a trademark search to identify potential conflicts that might arise as a result of their adoption and use of a desired mark. Read More…   Visit our website at www.PanitchLaw.com One Commerce Square, 2005 Market Street, Suite 2200, Philadelphia, PA 19103 // (215) 965-1330 Wells Fargo Tower, 2200 Concord Pike, Suite 201, Wilmington, DE 19803 // (302) 394-6030 Copyright © Panitch Schwarze Belisario & Nadel LLP Panitch Schwarze Belisario & Nadel LLP is a premier intellectual property law firm based in Philadelphia, Pa and Wilmington, De. The firm provides individuals with intellectual property and trademark law legal counsel and representation in copyrights, IP protection, licensing, litigation, patents, trade secrets, trademarks and related matters. The firm prides itself on leadership within the profession and a strong record of success. In some states, this correspondence may be considered attorney advertising. Transmission of this document is not intended to create, and receipt does not establish, an attorney-client relationship. 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