As previously reported by Home Textiles Today, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has announced a “record civil penalty” of $3.175 million against a retailer who failed to tell the truth about whether the products it sells...more
5/7/2024
/ Advertising ,
Civil Monetary Penalty ,
Compliance ,
Country of Origin ,
Customs and Border Protection ,
Enforcement Actions ,
False Advertising ,
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ,
Internal Controls ,
Made in the USA ,
Manufacturers ,
Marketing ,
Williams-Sonoma
Toppan Interamerica, a commercial printer in Henry County, Georgia recently filed two lawsuits alleging that California-based Whalen Furniture is infringing Toppan’s copyrights for decorative wood grain paper for furniture. ...more
Wayfarers Chapel, a Rancho Palos Verdes church, sued Malibu wedding chapel Calamigos Ranch on trademark and trade dress infringement grounds, as well as unfair competition. Interestingly, Wayfarers Chapel alleged in their...more
The U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina rejected several claims brought by Design Gaps, Inc. a Charlotte custom cabinetry company against a former employee and a competitor. Design Gaps, Inc. v....more
The USPTO has finalized plans to create a design patent practitioner bar, which will expand who is allowed to practice before the USPTO. The agency published a final rule in the Nov. 16 Federal Register making the change...more
Furniture manufacturer admits intentionally copying designs, asks Supreme Court, What does copying really say about trademark status of design?
While offering a new design for sale without obtaining a patent often means...more
A New York-based design studio has filed a Federal lawsuit asserting infringement of one of its “most prominent and coveted products”; namely, a frosted glass orb chandelier. According to the complaint filed August 8, 2023,...more
Charity seeking to register product designs as trademark icon not met the “very high burden” for showing acquired distinctiveness -
On September 1, 2023 the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) issued a nonprecedential...more
Kohler Co. v. Sweethome d/b/a Sweethome247.com, Case No. 2:23-cv-06889 (C.D. California, Aug. 22, 2023) -
The Kohler Co. is pursuing design patent infringement claims for one of its many fixtures. The Wisconsin-based...more
Customer safety related to preventing tip-over accidents is a top priority for furniture manufacturers and federal regulators alike. In April 2023 the ASTM 2057-23 voluntary standard became mandatory when the CPSC determined...more
Plaintiff alleges infringing sales also breached exclusive manufacturing agreement -
New York corporation Hudson Furniture, Inc. claims a former manufacturer violated Federal and state law by selling and offering for sale...more
Lurline Bay LLC v. Harbor Classic LLC, Case No. 23-cv-05652 (C.D. California, July 13, 2023) -
Recently, we wrote about a Chicago-area furniture retailer Darvin Furniture & Mattress suing e-commerce company Wayfair for...more
LKQ Corporation, Keystone Automotive Industries, Inc. v. GM Global Technology Operations, LLC, Case No. 21-2348 (U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, June 30, 2023) -
The Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit...more
Darvin Furniture And Appliance Of Orland Park, Inc. V. Wayfair LLC, Case No. 1:23cv4121 (N.D. Illinois, June 27, 2023) Darvin Furniture And Appliance Of Orland Park, Inc., a Chicagoland retailer which does business as Darvin...more
AR Design Innovations LLC v. Rove Concepts Ltd., Case no. 2:23cv310 (E.D. Texas, June 26, 2023) -
Virtual and augmented reality technology increasingly is finding a place in a wide range of industries, and home...more
Manufacturers are encountering myriad challenges as they address delays sourcing materials and producing goods, while meeting the expectations of retailers and consumers who expect fast delivery. The challenges present...more
For months, global patent practitioners have been expecting China to announce sweeping, significant changes to the nation’s system of intellectual property laws—and they were not disappointed.
On Oct. 17, the Standing...more
Are you starting a new company or business venture? Launching an exciting new product or expanding into a new business line? Congratulations. Just remember, if you wind up with a high-growth opportunity, it can often pay big...more
4/8/2017
/ Copyright ,
Copyright Registration ,
Exclusive Licenses ,
Intellectual Property Protection ,
Inventors ,
IP Assignment Agreements ,
IP License ,
Joint Inventors ,
Patent Applications ,
Patents ,
Startups ,
Trademark Registration ,
Trademarks ,
Transfer of Title
Are cheerleading outfits functional “useful items” that normally are ineligible for copyright protection? Or do they contain distinct design elements that allow for copyright ownership?
...more
A great deal has been made of the distinct policy differences between Democratic Presidential Nominee Hillary Clinton and Republican Nominee Donald Trump in such areas as immigration, national defense, crime and taxation. But...more
9/26/2016
/ China ,
Cyber Crimes ,
Hillary Clinton ,
Innovation ,
Intellectual Property Protection ,
International Relations ,
Patent Applications ,
Patent Trolls ,
Popular ,
Presidential Elections ,
Technology ,
Trans-Pacific Partnership ,
Trump Administration ,
TTIP ,
USPTO ,
Young Lawyers