Banner Witcoff

Banner Witcoff Shareholder Rob Katz will present in a Strafford CLE webinar on Thursday, June 6, from 1 - 2:30 pm EDT. The webinar titled "Leveraging Design Patents to Protect Graphical User Interfaces: Protecting the "Look and Feel" of GUIs, Understanding Current U.S. and Global Prosecution Practices" will examine the advantages of design patent protection over other forms of IP and offer best practices for obtaining meaningful design protection for GUI. Learn more about the event at the link below.

As we close out our celebration of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month, we highlight Ching Wan Tang, Ph.D. Ching Wan Tang, Ph.D., originally from Hong Kong, received his education in Canada and the United States before commencing work at a prominent photography company. Here, he collaborated with Steven Van Slyke and jointly pioneered the organic light-emitting diode (OLED) technology. This innovation revolutionized flat-panel displays, enhancing power efficiency, prolonging battery life, and improving display quality. Today, OLED technology is ubiquitous, finding applications in car radio displays, televisions, smartphones, and various other devices. Find the stories of four notable AANHPI inventors whose contributions have profoundly shaped our lives here: https://bit.ly/3K0zCm8

Banner Witcoff shareholders Camille Sauer and Shambhavi Patel are attending the Femtech and Consumer Innovation Summit on June 5-6 in Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey. The summit seeks to bring together stakeholders at the intersection of healthcare and consumer innovation with the goal of promoting investment, improving solutions, and creating partnerships to facilitate industry expansion. You can learn more by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3UZwo8A

Managing IP quotes Banner Witcoff's Rob Katz in an article discussing the Federal Circuit decision in LKQ Corp v. GM Global Technology Operations. In the article, Rob discusses the need to procure design patents stating, "That's still the primary way to stop third parties from making knockoffs of your commercial products." The subscription-based article can be found by clicking here: https://bit.ly/3QYRwJF

Ross Dannenberg will moderate a panel at the Video Game Bar Association Summit at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles on June 3-4. As AI assistance becomes more prevalent in coding, art development, music, video, and other aspects of the development and publishing cycle, game creators need to be aware of the legal issues that could arise. Ross’s panel will present and discuss some of these legal issues, what game creators and publishers should consider when using AI in their development and publishing processes, and how to mitigate some of the risks associated with the use of generative AI. Read more at the link below. #GenerativeAI #VideoGameLaw #IPLaw #AIinGaming #AIandLaw

The USPTO has issued new guidance for examiners and the PTAB on applying obviousness in design filings, following the LKQ Corporation v. GM Global Technology Operations LLC decision. This update is crucial for professionals involved in design patents. Banner Witcoff's Brad Van Pelt and Darrell Mottley provide a summary and brief analysis to understand the implications of these changes. Read the full article at the link below. #IPLaw #DesignPatents #USPTO #LegalUpdates #PatentLaw

In March, the USPTO issued a request for comments on “Unlocking the Full Potential of IP by Translating More Innovation to the Marketplace,” which included multiple questions relating to IP and green technologies. Brad Van Pelt, Vice Chair of Intellectual Property Owners Association (IPO)'s Green IP Subcommittee, assisted in preparing comments submitted on behalf of IPO. The submission provides examples of ways the USPTO can help facilitate pathways for green innovations to reach the marketplace.   Find the submitted comments here: https://bit.ly/3wQZ6zj Find the USPTO request here: https://bit.ly/3KfLKzJ

On Saturday, May 18th, we participated in the Lawyers Have Heart 10k, 5k & Fun Walk! The event supports the American Heart Association and help advance its nonprofit mission of fighting heart disease and stroke. Check out some of our team members who proudly crossed the finish line!

As we continue celebrating Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month, we share the story of Amar Bose. Amar Bose was an electrical engineer and the founder of Bose Corporation. He began his career at age 13, repairing radios in his basement during WWII. He took that passion to MIT, earning Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral degrees in Electrical Engineering. He is known for inventing groundbreaking audio technology, including customized sound systems for automobiles, active noise-reducing headphones, and the 901 Direct/Reflecting speaker system. In 1987, he was named Inventor of the Year by the Intellectual Property Owners Association. Find the stories of four notable AANHPI inventors whose contributions have profoundly shaped our lives here: https://bit.ly/3K0zCm8

Bloomberg Law quotes Banner Witcoff's Rob Katz in a recent article discussing The Federal Circuit's more relaxed framework for invalidating obvious design patents. Find the full article here: https://bit.ly/3WSHlKs