iphone.jpgIPNews® – A federal jury has found both Apple and Samsung liable to each other for patent infringement.

The result of this particular bout is one of many in the ongoing war between Apple and Samsung, with many speculating that it will have little effect on the overall contest for market share control between the two.  As they battle it out over the $300 billion global smartphone market, Samsung remains a strong leader with an impressive 31% share, compared to Apple’s 17%.  To continue reading, click: Recent Patent Ruling Likely Won’t Phase Apple or Samsung

football.jpgIPNews® – Former NFL linebacker Shawne Merriman is in a legal fight with Nike.

The Ex-San Diego Chargers player filed a trademark lawsuit against Nike, alleging that the company’s new “Lights Out” campaign infringes on his decades old nickname.  Nike has yet to respond to the allegations.   To continue reading, click:  Former NFL Star Shawne Merriman Takes on Nike Over Use of “Lights Out” Trademark

airplane-airbusa380.jpgIPNews® – Boeing has a patent for technology that can overtake planes mid-flight from the ground, disabling access to power controls for anyone onboard the aircraft.

The patent, which was granted to Boeing years ago,  evidences the company’s possession of technology that many have thought to be non-existent.   With the missing Malaysia Airlines plane, some are suggesting that remote takeover is a possibility.  To continue reading, click:  Boeing Autopilot Patent Questioned in Missing Malaysia Flight MH370

Glass-google.jpgIPNews® – Tech giant Google has faced an uphill battle in obtaining trademark protection over the word “Glass” for its next big product.

The Silicon Valley powerhouse filed a response to the USPTO’s sweeping refusal of the GLASS trademark application, arguing that there was no likelihood of confusion between “Glass” and other similar trademarks and that the  trademark is not merely descriptive.  With a variety of styles including those named “curve”, “bold” and “thin,” it appears that no matter what the outcome for the “Glass” trademark, Google Glass is well on its way.    To continue reading, click:  Google Runs into Trouble in Attempt to Secure Trademark Protection for “Glass”

home-price.jpgIPNews® – It was bad news for Zillow recently as the patent for its home valuation estimator was severely whittled down by the USPTO, which found the majority of its claims unpatentable.

The  U.S. Patent Trial and Appeal Board made the findings as part of its decision in Microstrategy, Inc. v. Zillow, Inc., which is expected to have negative implications for Zillow in its much publicized lawsuit against Trulia.   Trulia appears armed and ready for a fight, stating: ” If Zillow appeals the Microstrategy ruling and wins, which is unlikely, we have different grounds on which the patent is invalid.”   To continue reading, click:  USPTO Throws Out Most of Zillow’s “Z-Estimate” Patent Claims

football.jpgIPNews® – The USPTO has denied an investment firm’s trademark application for “Johnny Football,” paving the way for Johnny Football himself to use the name.

Johnny Manziel, winner of the 2012 Heisman Trophy , is seeking to federally protect the Johnny Football trademark through his company, JMAN2 Enterprises, LLC.  The win comes with the NFL Draft approaching next month.  To continue reading, click:  Manziel Scores Trademark Rights to “Johnny Football”

face.jpgIPNews® – Judging by one of its new patent applications, if IBM has its way, it looks like computers may one day have more emotional intelligence than some humans.

The detailed filing goes into particulars of exactly how a computer program would take a variety of sensory, physical and environmental indicators and balance them to come up with an aggregate assessment of what the user’s emotion is at that moment.  The aggregate data would then be usable by apps which can perform customized actions to fit the user’s mood.  To continue reading, click:  IBM Looks to Patent Technology that Reads Human Feelings

whistle.jpgIPNews® – The Old Spice whistle appears to be the next famous sound to be awarded trademark protection.

The company most known for its men’s grooming products branded with a nautical marketing theme made the move to protect its iconic jingle earlier this year.  The whistle, which has become a mainstay of Old Spice’s marketing campaign, has remained remarkably unchanged despite the brand’s decades long history.    To continue reading, click:  Proctor and Gamble Looks to Protect Old Spice Whistle as Sound Trademark

Thumbnail image for iphone.jpgIPNews® – Apple’s newest patent acquisition will allow users to listen to a voicemail as it is being left on their iPhone and pick up in the middle of the recording if desired.

The patent, which was assigned to Apple by another tech company, will likely be implemented in the next round of iPhones, which are expected to encompass a whole line of new features and extras. The voicemail screening capability will expand a user’s ability to screen calls, which is largely accomplished now through caller ID. To continue reading, click: Apple’s Latest Patent Allows for Voicemail Screening

music.jpgIPNews® – The battle over “I Am” has finally been resolved between Pharrell Williams and Will.i.am.

Williams, who has been involved in a muddle of intellectual property disputes as of late, one famously surrounding his involvement in Robin Thicke’s hit Blurred Lines, had expressed his desire to “talk things out” with Will.i.am.  While the details of whatever talk they (or their people) had remain secret, it seems that both have finally found a way to compromise on “I Am.”     To continue reading, click:  Pharrell Williams and Will.i.am Call it Quits in Trademark Fight