Justia Law Blog

ITC Rules for Motorola Mobility in Apple iOS v. Android OS Patent War Updated: by

The U.S. International Trade Commission issued an eagerly awaited determination today in the ongoing Apple iOS v. Android OS patent war, giving a win for Motorola Mobility, whose $12.5 billion acquisition by Google is pending. ITC Administrative Law Judge Theodore R. Essex's initial determination was that Motorola's Droids smartphones do…

DHS Paid Contractor $1.16M to Monitor Social Networks, News Media, Blogs & Comments for Dissent Updated: by

A Freedom of Information Act ('FOIA') lawsuit (below) by the Electronic Privacy Information Center ('EPIC') reveals that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security paid contractors to monitor Facebook, Twitter other social networks, blogs, and comments on news media websites. The documents (below) disclose that the federal government paid at least…

It’s a Super PAC World and We Just Vote in It: Super PAC Resources & Links Updated: by

Super PACs a/k/a "Independent-expenditure Only Committees" . . . they seem to be all over the news these days, don't they? These organizations, which came to fame through the 2010 Supreme Court Citizen's United decision, garnered lots of attention right out of the gate. In 2010 alone, almost 80 super PACs…

Kodak Files Patent Lawsuits Against Apple, HTC Updated: by

With a Kodak bankruptcy reportedly in the works, the legendary photography business filed patent infringement lawsuits against Apple and HTC today (see below). Kodak, the designer and builder of the first operating digital camera, alleges that Apple, Inc. is infringing four of its digital imaging patents, and that HTC is…

Fedex Manager’s Lawsuit: I Was Fired for Jury Duty Updated: by

A FedEx Office employee who worked at the company for more than two decades sued his employer, claiming that FedEx fired him specifically because he was performing jury duty. (Read the lawsuit below) Federal law prohibits employers from firing, threatening, intimidating, or coercing any permanent employee who performs jury service.…

‘Snookify Me” App Stems from Snooki’s IP Licensing Deal for Cash, Stock Warrants Updated: by

On the Internet, you don't have to be a rocket scientist to be rich and famous. Popularity can help! Take Snooki for example. The MTV star extended the reach of her intellectual property by licensing rights to her name, images, and more in a "Snookify Me" app for the iPhone…

Smucker’s Sues Lodsys, Says “No!” to Patent Jam Updated: by

The J.M. Smucker Company is mad as hell at Lodsys, and the jam and jelly maker isn't going to take the firm's demands for patent licensing fees anymore. Lodsys is a patent owner that routinely alleges that companies are violating patents in its IP portfolio that cover web commerce, information…

Facebook Discovery Request Denied by Yet Another NY Court Updated: by

Another New York trial court judge recently denied a defense discovery request for access to plaintiffs' Facebook profiles. New York State Supreme Court Justice Philip G. Minardo, sitting on Staten Island, ruled in Temperino v. Turner Construction Co., et al. that "[t]he mere claim that plaintiffs were members of FACEBOOK,…