Toll free 888-291-5676 May 2016 Global Intellectual Property (IP) Transactions and Litigation Intellectual Property Intelligence   The Defend Trade Secrets Act: What IP-Driven Companies Need to Know When we wrote recently about trade secrets, we noted that enforcement in the United States fell largely to state laws modeled on the Uniform Trade Secrets Act (UTSA), first drafted in 1979. With its signing in February 2016 of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, though, the United States obliged itself to enact legislation that gives trade secret protections teeth at the federal level. Learn more…   Honoring Great American Inventor Lonnie G. Johnson From the trademark protecting “Star Wars” merchandise to the patent protecting the repositionable adhesive on the Post-It® note, the legal protection of intellectual property drives innovation and fuels our economy. In honor of World Intellectual Property Day, we highlight one man who stands as a living example of the creativity that can be unleashed when the law protects and values ideas: standout inventor Lonnie G. Johnson. Learn more…   How to Respond to a DMCA Takedown Notice Any company with a website or a blog knows the power of content. Blog posts, photographs, videos, infographics and more are vital components of today's digital economy – an economy that seems based on the widespread sharing of art, creativity, and ideas. But what if the content being posted was not the site owner's intellectual property to post in the first place? Learn more…   Saluting 'The Most Beautiful Woman' in STEM Heralded as “the most beautiful woman in the world,” screen legend Hedy Lamarr was much more than a pretty face; she also was a brilliant inventor. One of her inventions, in fact, helped to lay the groundwork for the technology that powers the wireless devices we use today. Learn more…   PTAB Grants Rehearing of Patent in Delaware Litigation On Jan. 13, 2016, the U.S. Patent Trial and Appeal Board, in a rare move, granted rehearing of its denial to institute inter partes review of Greatbatch Ltd.'s U.S. Patent No. 7,327,553. The PTAB determined it had abused its discretion and overlooked a challenger's analysis of a claim term in denying the review. What does this illustrate about overall patent strategy in today's new reality for patent infringement litigation? Learn more…   Highlights from Panitch Schwarze   Thomson Reuters Names 9 Panitch Schwarze Attorneys Among 2016 PA and DE Super Lawyers and Rising Stars Panitch Schwarze Belisario & Nadel LLP is pleased to announce that 10 of its attorneys have been named 2016 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars. Intellectual Property attorneys Martin G. Belisario, Alan S. Nadel, Ronald L. Panitch, and William W. Schwarze have been named to the Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list. No more than 5 percent of a state's attorneys are recognized as Super Lawyers each year. Learn more…     Dr. Carly A. Shanahan Discusses Patent Agent Privilege at JPPCLE Dr. Carly A. Shanahan recently spoke at the 32nd annual Joint Patent Practice CLE in New York, which Panitch Schwarze also helped to sponsor. Shanahan appeared as part of a panel focusing on USPTO practice; her session was entitled "In re Queen's University at Kingston: Whether to Recognize Patent Agent Privilege." Learn more… Featured Practice Area – IP Litigation In today's intellectual property arena, litigation is an important legal tool, and Panitch Schwarze's IP attorneys in Philadelphia and Wilmington are skilled at representing both plaintiffs and defendants in IP litigation cases. Our attorneys' experience includes litigation involving patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret, trade dress cases, computer fraud and abuse, cybersquatting and licensing and contract disputes. Panitch Schwarze's widely respected litigation practice has attracted a worldwide clientele, and we represent a wide array of companies from around the globe, in addition to North American companies. Learn more about our IP litigation practice… Featured Industry – Consumer Goods/Retail Our Philadelphia and Wilmington intellectual property attorneys serve many companies in the consumer goods and retail industries, helping them 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. Our intellectual property attorneys handle a wide variety of consumer goods and retail IP and technology matters including appliances, art and photography, athletic equipment and gear, children's products, clothing and textiles, housewares, pet products and pet food and toys. Read more about our experience with consumer goods/retail…     Did You Know? Despite being in use for hundreds of years, patents still are sometimes misunderstood. A patent is an exclusive property right granted by a sovereign authority to an inventor. Crucially, a patent does not give you the right to make your invention; it gives you the right to prevent others from making your invention. An inventor can – and many do – hold a patent and yet never create that invention. Enforcing the rights to a patent is a vital component of any robust intellectual property system. Connect with Us Frequently Asked Questions About IP Q: How long does a patent last? A: The terms of patent protection vary from country to country and with the type of patent. In the United States, for example, a utility patent generally is valid for 20 years as measured from the date of the filing of the application. Learn more about patent terms… Q: Do patent owners have to do anything to maintain patent protection? A: There are two important components of maintaining patent protection. The first is routine; U.S. patent holders are required to pay maintenance fees to the U.S. government to maintain patent validity. The second is more complex.Learn more about maintaining patent protection…   Visit our website at www.PanitchLaw.com One Commerce Square, 2005 Market Street, Suite 2200, Philadelphia, PA 19103 // (215) 965-1330 Applied Bank Center, 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. 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