baseball.jpgIPNews® – The New York Yankees have rights to the nickname Evil Empire and can prevent other companies from registering the name as a trademark, according to a recent ruling by the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board.

Evil Enterprises filed a trademark application for BASEBALL’S EVIL EMPIRE, which the Yankees opposed.  Though the Yankees have never attempted to register the nickname or use it in commerce, the board ruled that the name has become so synonymous with the Yankees that the team has rights to the trademark.

To continue reading, click: Yankees have Rights to Evil Empire without Trademark Registration

dna-strand.jpgIPNews® – In a San Francisco federal court on Wednesday, Complete Genomics argued that it is not infringing Illumina’s patents that cover technology related to DNA-sequencing kits.

Illumina filed a lawsuit against Complete Genomics in 2010 for allegedly using Illumina’s patented gene probe technology in its testing kits without authorization.  Complete Genomics asked U.S. District Judge Elizabeth LaPorte to grant its motion for summary judgment, arguing that it had provided sufficient evidence to prove that the probes it uses do not infringe.

To continue reading, click: Complete Genomics Claims It Did Not Infringe DNA-Sequencing Kit Patents

zynga.jpgIPNews® – “FarmVille” creator Zynga Inc. filed a lawsuit against Imagenesis Corp. claiming that the company’s soon-to-be released game “MafiaVille” infringes its VILLE trademarks.

Zynga argued that Imagenesis’ use of the name MafiaVille would be confusing to players and cause them to believe the game is made by or associated with Zynga.  Zynga also alleged that Imagenesis purposely chose the name to exploit the goodwill Zynga has built in connection with its popular “Ville” games. 

To continue reading, click: ‘FarmVille’ Creator Sues Competitor for Infringing VILLE Trademark

ebay.jpgIPNews® – Advanced Auctions LLC filed a lawsuit against eBay Inc. for allegedly infringing one of its patents related to the display of auction information online.

Advanced Auctions claims that in the last hour of each of its auctions, eBay automatically updates the time remaining in the auction and the current highest bid.  Advanced Auctions claims that the use of this technology infringes its “Real Time Auction with End Game” patent and eBay has continued to use the technology even after Advanced Auctions gave eBay notice of the infringement. 

To continue reading, click: eBay Sued for Infringing Online Auction Patent

diamond_ring.jpgIPNews® – Tiffany & Co. filed a lawsuit claiming that Costco Wholesalers Corp. infringed its trademarks by marketing and selling unauthorized engagement rings using the Tiffany name.

Though Costco agreed in December to cease all use of the Tiffany’s name, Tiffany is still suing Costco for its profits and treble damages.  In addition, Tiffany wants the judge to require Costco to make a public statement that it infringed Tiffany’s trademarks and to notify all customers that purchased the unauthorized rings that they did not purchase an authentic Tiffany’s engagement ring.

To continue reading, click: Tiffany Sues Costco for Trademark Infringement over Engagement Rings

download.jpgIPNews® – MyMedicalRecords has filed a lawsuit against the online medical information provider WebMD for infringing patents related to secure online storage of patient’s medical records.

According to the complaint, WebMD asked MyMedicalRecords for assistance in 2007 with expanding its portal that allows users to store personal medical information online.  MyMedicalRecords claims that WebMD ended the talks and then began improving its portal using MyMedicalRecords patented technology without its consent.

To continue reading, click: Online Health Records Company Sues WebMD for Patent Infringement

cosmetics.jpgIPNews® – Mary Kay Inc. has filed a lawsuit against Michael Kors LLC in order to prohibit the company from registering MK as a trademark to be placed on a charm that will be affixed to Estee Lauder makeup bags.

Mary Kay and Michael Kors have battled over the MK trademark before and came to a coexistence agreement in 2005 that prohibited Michael Kors from using the trademark on cosmetic products and requiring the company’s full name to appear near the trademark.  Mary Kay claims that Michael Kors is breaching both terms in the coexistence agreement with its trademark application for an MK charm.

To continue reading, click: Mary Kay, Michael Kors Battle Over MK Trademark

circuit-chip-processor.jpgIPNews® – Tela Innovations Inc. has filed lawsuits with the Delaware federal court and the International Trade Commission alleging that five technology giants, including Nokia Corp. and LG Electronics Inc., have infringed seven of its patents by importing and selling smartphones containing integrated circuits manufactured using its patented technology.

California-based Tela claims that Motorola Mobility LLC, HTC Corp., and Pantech Co. Ltd., in addition to Nokia and LG, have copied Tela’s manufacturing method for optimizing the layout of an integrated circuit.  Tela is asking the court for damages and for an injunction barring the companies from importing infringing goods. 

To continue reading, click: Nokia, LG Accused of Infringing Integrated Circuit Patents

ukulele.jpgIPNews® – Viacom International Inc. urged a Los Angeles judge to dismiss a lawsuit brought by Gibson Guitar Corp. for infringing a trademarked “Flying V” electric guitar, claiming that the allegedly infringing ukuleles were never sold in the United States.

Viacom, owner of the Nickelodeon television network, filed a motion to dismiss claiming the v-shaped ukuleles were manufactured in China and distributed only in Asia, Europe and South America thus there is no subject matter jurisdiction in the United States.  The ukuleles feature Viacom’s character SpongeBob SquarePants.

To continue reading, click: Viacom Asks Judge to Dismiss Gibson’s Trademark Infringement Lawsuit

supplements.jpgIPNews® – Neptune Technologies & Bioressources Inc. has lodged a complaint against several krill oil supplement manufacturers, claiming their products infringe its patent.

In its complaint to the U.S. International Trade Commission, Neptune claimed that a group of companies are selling products that infringe on its patented method of extracting oil from krill.  The company is requesting an order preventing the alleged infringers from importing, marketing or selling their krill oil products in the United States.

To continue reading, click: Krill Oil Manufacturer Sues Competitors for Patent Infringement