North America
How IP-literate is popular culture?
Film and TV writers like to think that they’re pretty hot on the research front. But do they know their IP terminology? Matt Packer casts a critical eye over some recent examples...  »
US border force strengthens ties with trademark owners over fakes
Work sharing plan will create quick-reference scheme for confirming legal status of imports...  »
A compulsory weakening of the patent system?
Two high-profile decisions to requisition patents from pharmaceutical companies may conflict with key provisions in international IP agreements, writes Matt Packer...  »
Obama intervenes to toughen government e-discovery rules
A crisis at the US Securities and Exchange Commission has forced national agencies to take electronic information issues as seriously as companies and law firms do, writes Nick Huber...  »
Will fans Perish in Nuclear Blast of web company’s IP suit?
Heavy Metal band left red-faced before supporters over song rights action by mystery plaintiff...  »
USPTO mulls secrecy measures for key types of patent data
America’s IP registry quizzes stakeholders on whether technical details for patents with potential benefits for domestic economy should continue to be published...  »
Google answers searching questions on IP ownership
Company clarifies that rights in content submitted to cloud-storage facility will remain with their creators...  »
US shutdown for non-lawyer ownership debate
American Bar Association dramatically closes door on alternative business structures for law firms...  »
Donkey Kong and a very different kind of brand confusion
Standard branding mix-ups tend to end up in court. But there are other sagas over product names and logos that are just the result of innocent misunderstandings, writes Matt Packer...  »
Microsoft wields trademark law as weapon in malware battle
Distribution methods for harmful programs land Zeus racketeers a brand-abuse lawsuit...  »