Toll free 888-291-5676 August 2017 Global Intellectual Property (IP) Transactions and Litigation Intellectual Property Intelligence   Recognizing Inventor Howard Head Try as he might, tall and lanky Howard Head never could claim to be truly proficient at the sports he loved. But he could say that he changed them forever. Head, who was a client of our IP attorney and founding partner Alan S. Nadel, recently was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame for his contributions to the sports of skiing and tennis. Read more…   SCOTUS Rules Trademark Disparagement Clause Unconstitutional The U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled that the U.S. Trademark Office's refusal to register "The Slants" as a trademark for an Oregon-based rock band was unconstitutional. This is a case the trademark attorneys at Panitch Schwarze have been watching closely, as this landmark decision is expected to reshape U.S. trademark law significantly. Read more…   UPC Update: UK Elections Likely to Delay Start of Unitary Patent System As we have discussed previously, European Union member countries are completing the final steps to implement an intergovernmental system that will streamline the process for securing and enforcing patent rights across Europe. Having a simpler, centralized system in place will open up a new patent portfolio management strategy for small and medium-sized IP-driven companies. Read more…   U.S. Supreme Court Upsets 30 Years of Precedent, Changing Where Companies Can Be Sued for Patent Infringement The U.S. Supreme Court recently changed the playing field regarding where patent owners can file infringement lawsuits against accused infringers. The May 2017 decision in TC Heartland LLC vs. Kraft Food Brand upends nearly 30 years of established practice. The effect of this decision will be to move most patent lawsuits out of the Eastern District of Texas, causing future patent lawsuits to be filed where companies actually reside by incorporation or principal place of business, such as the District of Delaware. Read more…   Highlights from Panitch Schwarze       6 Panitch Schwarze Attorneys Named Among U.S. News and World Report 2018 'Best Lawyers in America' The 2018 Best Lawyers include Ronald L. Panitch, William W. Schwarze, Martin G. Belisario, Alan S. Nadel, John D. Simmons and Stephen E. Murray. The Best Lawyers in America® is one of the legal profession’s oldest and most respected peer-review publications. They have been recognized for their excellence in the practice areas of patent litigation, intellectual property litigation, patent law, trademark law, and copyright law. Learn more…     John D. Simmons and Bridget H. Labutta Attend Global IP Conference Attorneys John D. Simmons and Bridget H. Labutta attended the May conference of the International Trademark Association in Barcelona, Spain. During the conference, more than 10,200 brand management, trademark, and other IP professionals met for five days of intense learning, business strategy meetings, and networking. Learn more…     Marquis Who's Who Honors IP Attorney with Lifetime Achievement Award The Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award has been conferred on IP attorney Jeffrey W. Gluck. Bestowed by the editorial board of Marquis Who's Who, the award celebrates the outstanding achievements of its honorees. Learn more…     Chambers USA Ranks Panitch Schwarze Among Top IP Attorneys for 2017 Chambers and Partners, which produces referral guides to leading lawyers around the world, again has ranked the following attorneys individually for their prowess in IP law: Martin G. Belisario, Clark A. Jablon, Alan S. Nadel, Ronald L. Panitch, William W. Schwarze. Learn more…     John D. Simmons to Lead Philadelphia IP Law Association As an intellectual property law firm with offices in Philadelphia and Wilmington, Panitch Schwarze is proud that its attorneys serve as leaders of the local legal community. The firm is proud to announce that partner John D. Simmons has been elected to serve as president of the Philadelphia Intellectual Property Law Association (PIPLA). Learn more…     The Legal Intelligencer's 'Top Verdicts of 2016' Includes Win by Panitch Schwarze Partner Philadelphia and Delaware patent litigation attorney John D. Simmons represented Dominion Resources in Dominion Resources Inc. and Virginia Electric and Power Co. v. Alstom Grid Inc. The verdict was included in The Legal Intelligencer's "Top Pennsylvania Verdicts of 2016." Learn more…     Featured Practice Area – IP Litigation Knowledge, experience, and preparation distinguish our firm's attorneys within the field of IP litigation. As such litigation frequently involves highly technical issues, it is imperative that an attorney fully understand and effectively communicate relevant information to the client, judge, and jury. Our attorneys possess the technical knowledge and communication skills necessary to translate highly complex information to a less technologically versed judge and jury. The professional experiences and academic qualifications of our attorneys place them at the vanguard of their respective fields in terms of technical expertise and makes them well-equipped to engage in successful advocacy for every client. Read more about our IP Litigation practice… Featured Industry – Financial / Banking Panitch Schwarze Belisario & Nadel LLP serves the financial and banking industries, helping businesses safeguard and enforce their intellectual property. We take the time to get to know our clients and their businesses, to determine what needs to be trademarked, if there is anything that needs to be patented, and if there are any trade secrets to protect. Read more about our experience in the Financial / Banking industry…     Did You Know? Lonnie Johnson, inventor of the patented Super Soaker® water gun, recently was interviewed for CBS News by Mo Rocca. A longtime inventor and client of Panitch Schwarze, Johnson began his career at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. He accidentally invented the Super Soaker while attempting to build a new water pump. He also is the inventor of the nerf gun. Read more… Connect with Us Frequently Asked Questions About IP 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… Q: How do I find out if my invention was already out there? A: For an invention to be "patentable", it must be useful, novel and nonobvious. To find out if there are prior art disclosures or patents, we typically conduct a prior art search either in-house or through services that focus on such searching. 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. This newsletter is intended for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice on any subject matter. The contents of the email do not necessarily represent the opinions of Panitch Schwarze Belisario & Nadel LLP or its clients. If you require legal advice, you should retain competent legal counsel to advise you. If you would like to retain Panitch Schwarze Belisario & Nadel LLP, please contact one of our lawyers, who will be pleased to discuss how our firm can assist you. An attorney-client relationship will arise between you and our firm only if we specifically agree to act for you. 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