slot_machine.jpgIPNews® – The owners of the Stratosphere Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas recently filed a lawsuit for trademark infringement against Marchex which is an online advertising and gaming company. 

Marchex was accused of using a website called AcePlay.com to lure customers in with expectations of finding information on the Stratosphere Hotel & Casino, but where instead directed to other Marchex owned sites and online gaming sites.  A temporary injunction issued to shut the Marchex website down while a final decision is still pending.  To continue reading, click: Stratosphere Sues Marchex Over Trademarks

automobile.jpgIPNews® – Carfax announced this week that it received a Notice of Allowance for a new patent to assist the insurance underwriting industry. 

Carfax data contains over 10 billion records of cars from 34,000 data sources.  If granted, the new patent would utilize Carfax’s existing databases to create a “system and method for insurance underwriting and rating”.  To continue reading, click: Carfax Insurance Patent

concert.jpgIPNews® – Ed Kowalcyzk is being sued for trademark infringement by his former band Live for allegedly using the band name without authorization. 

Kowalcyzk is being accused of trademark infringement, trademark dilution and false designation of origin.  The band is seeking $2 million in damages and an injunction to prevent Kowalcyzk from using the name in his promotional materials and causing confusion among fans.  To continue reading, click: The Band Live Sues Itself

movie-symbol.jpgIPNews® – Paramount Pictures has filed trademark applications for “World War Z” with the USPTO. 

Paramount intends to distribute the wildly popular Zombie series in various video game platforms including: Xbox 360, PS3, Nintendo 3DS, online and in mobile phone games.  The movie will star Brad Pitt.  To continue reading, click: Paramount Pictures Files for World War Z

cellphone_blackberry.jpgIPNews® – In a year of setbacks for the beleaguered Blackberry manufacturer, Research in Motion was found guilty of patent infringement last week after a three-week trial and a week of jury deliberations. 

The decision, handed down last Friday in the Northern District of California, resulted in an award of $147.2 million in damages, approximately $8 for each of the 18.4 million Blackberry devices connected to the Blackberry Server.  The news of its loss was a further setback for RIM, who has had a rough year.  To continue reading, click: RIM Loses Patent Infringement Case

iphone.jpgIPNews® – Apple was recently awarded a patent for its noise-canceling iPhone cases, which incorporate a “windscreen” that reduces wind or any other background noises that may affect call quality. 

According to the patent application, originally filed in January 2011, the case will be formed from plastic, acrylic, polycarbonate, silicon, or rubber, and the screen will likely be made of mesh, foam or a feather-like material.  No release date has been set.  To continue reading, click: Apple Patents New iPhone Case

microsoft.jpgIPNews® – The patent for Microsoft’s latest rendition of its famous Xbox was recently published by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. 

The look and feel of the new Xbox will be ­­­­­closer to a desktop computer with the addition of two smaller gaming consoles that are combined for single use and an upgradeable format that can be completed with an optional third console.  The highly anticipated new Xbox will be capable of simultaneously running multiple apps at once.  To continue reading, click: Microsoft Seeks Patent on Customizable Xbox

lime.jpgIPNews® – Start-up energy drink manufacturer Bodyarmor SuperDrink is being sued by Under Armour for trademark infringement in U.S. District Court in the District of Maryland. 

The answer, filed recently, showed that Bodyarmor filed its trademark application with the USPTO approximately five years ago with no objections from Under Armour.  The drink manufacturer calls the lawsuit frivolous and vows to fight the lawsuit with all its resources.  To continue reading, click: Under Armour Sues BodyArmor Over Trademark

coffee_beans.jpgIPNews® – Green Mountain Coffee Roasters has two patents for its K-Cup technology expiring in September 2012. 

However, despite the dire predictions of industry experts that there will be a glut of cheap K-Cup imitations in the marketplace soon, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters claims that its filters have since been replaced with newer technology.  The coffee company claims taht consumers should avoid any cloned cups because they will produce a lower quality cup of coffee.  To continue reading, click: K-Cup Patents Expiring

basketball.jpgIPNews® – With recent trademark applications filed for terms such as LINSANITY, FEAR THE BROW and THAT’S A CLOWN QUESTIONS, BRO, it appears that professional athletes are increasingly seeking trademark protection.

In a very interesting article written by Doug Williams at ESPN, we learn the origins of the trend and just how far it has gone.  We also happen to be quoted in the article.  To read the story, click Athletes Trademarking the Phrase that Pays