Civil Law

More PTAB Arthrex Remands?

New Director to Review Hirshfeld Decisions?

Patent Owners that had the option to avail themselves of the new Director Review process under former interim Director Hirshfeld have been crying foul to the Federal Circuit. Their argument being that the Arthrex holding required a Senate confirmed Director Review, and that an interim Director (promoted from within) did not meet that criteria. Argument was heard a month or so back at the Federal Circuit on this issue.

Since that time, Senate confirmed … Read the rest

Civil Law

Remember the Pandemic? Latest Wave Causes New Issues for Employers

It’s not over.

We all knew that, though some of us — including me — were hoping for a least a bit of a respite during the spring and summer months.

No such luck.  Indeed, after two years of avoiding the illness, we recently had a “visit” of COVID to our house; thankfully, the one family member who got it had fairly mild symptoms.

This latest wave is a bit stealthier because of the widespread use of at-home tests and … Read the rest

Civil Law

COVID-19 Outbreak on Norwegian Dawn – NCL Stays Mum

As of yesterday, there have been a minimum of around 120 guests who tested positive for COVID-19 aboard the Norwegian Dawn, according to a trusted, long-term reader of Cruise Law News on the ship who wishes to remain anonymous.

The NCL cruise ship left New York (Cape Liberty Bayonne NJ) on April 28th for travel to  ports in Halifax, Nova Scotia (Canada), Reykjavik (Iceland), Belfast (Northern Ireland), Dublin (Ireland),  IJmuiden (Netherlands),  Bruges (Belgium), and Le Havre (France) with the … Read the rest

Civil Law

Global Legal Insights Publishes “Cartels 2022”, featuring contributions from Partners Zhan Hao and Song Ying

AnJie Partners Zhan Hao and Song Ying were once again invited to pen the China chapter for Global Legal Insights: Cartels 2022 (“Cartels 2022”), which has been published recently. Cartels 2022, published by the Global Legal Group (“GLI”), aims at providing global legal professionals with an overview and insights into the laws and practices relevant to cartels (referred to as “monopoly agreements” in China) in different jurisdictions.

Based on the relevant rules and enforcement practices of monopoly agreements in China, … Read the rest

Civil Law

Colorado Adopts Regulations to Prevent Insurers from Stopping ALE and Replacement Cost Benefits

Colorado has suffered major wildfire catastrophes. There are not enough contractors to handle the repairs. As a result, Colorado issued new regulations for insurers regarding the handling of these claims.

The most important part of the Colorado bulletin is the following:

Section 5 Rules

In the event of a catastrophic disaster, an insurer shall waive any waiting periods related to ALE benefits for those policyholders whose residence requires repair or replacement or if the policyholder permanently relocates.

In the event

… Read the rest
Civil Law

Years in the making: New York issues two sets of “final draft” corporate tax reform regulations

On April 29, 2022, the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance issued two sets of “final draft” regulations relating to the corporation franchise tax reform that took effect for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2015. Since the sweeping corporate tax reform was enacted, the Department has published a series of proposed updates to the Article 9-A corporation franchise tax regulations, but the two sets of regulations issued on April 29 are the first to be … Read the rest

Civil Law

Korea Trademark Act Amendments

The Korean Intellectual Property Office has put out a useful guide to recent Korea Trademark Act amendments.  Below is a summary of amendments effective as of April 20, 2022:

Extension of Trial Request Period.  The time to request a trial against an amendment rejection or a final rejection has been extended from 30 days to three months.

Petition for Restoration of Trademarks.   The grounds to restore trademark rights that have been extinguished due to invalidity of trademark procedures … Read the rest

Civil Law

Senate Grows Impatient with PTAB

Tillis/Hirono Demand Answers on OpenSky

Barely on the job for a week, Director Vidal is already being politically pressured to address a festering issue of patent policy.   That issue—the use of a recycled IPR petition as a means to collaterally attack large damage verdicts— is a self-inflicted wound for the agency.  The OpenSky business model wouldn’t exist absent the ill conceived expansion of discretionary denial practices under former Director Iancu.

Senator Tillis (a vocal supporter of Director Iancu) sent a … Read the rest