Farrago v. Rawlings Sporting Goods Company, Inc., 2008 WL 880178 (E.D. Mo 2008)

Judge Carol Jackson granted Rawlings summary judgment that Rawlings did not infringe Farrogo's U.S. Patent No. 5,073,986 on a Pad Structure for Relieving Knee Stress, denied Rawlings motion that the patent was invalid for anticipation or obviousness. On the question of literal infringement, Judge Jackson found that an expert's opinion was not enough to create a genuine dispute that the Rawlings product, which was in evidence, had a flat surface. As to infringement under the doctrine of equivalents, Judge Jackson found that holding that a three-sided pad with a curved upper surface equivalent to pad with four periphery surfaces would vitiate the meaning of the "four periphery surfaces" limitation.

Triumph Pharmaceuticals, Inc. v. Frontier Pharmaceutical, Inc.

On March 24, 2008, Matthew L. Cutler of HARNESS, DICKEY filed a patent infringement suit on behalf of Triumph Pharmaceuticals, Inc. against Frontier Pharmaceutical, Inc. See 4:08-cv-00419-RWS.

How Long Will Your Patent Case Be Pending in the Eastern District of Missouri?

How long will your patent case be pending in the Eastern District? An average of 339 days. However there are some variations from Judge to Judge.

Meengya Music et al v. M3, LLC et al

On March 24, 2008, Douglas A. Copeland, of COPELAND AND THOMPSON, brough a copyright infringement action on behalf of Criterion Music Corp., Mars Mountain Music, Meengya Music, Ray Vaughn Music, Inc., Sixx Gunner Tunes, Tommyland Music, and Universal Music Corp. against M3, LLC. See 4:08-cv-00404-CAS.

Missouri Legislature Contemplates Changes to State Trademark Statute

House Bill 1856 and its Senate counterpart, SB1048, propose changes to Missouri's trademark statute. Aside from raising the filing fee to $75 per class, changes include the introduction of limitations on registrability modeled after Section 2(d) of the Lanham Act, and the introduction of intent-to-use trademark applications. The latter does not appear to be completely thought out, since a facsimile of use is still a requirement for filing.
See, http://www.house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills081/bills/HB1856.HTM for the House version, and http://www.senate.mo.gov/08info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=65359 for the Senate version

Munchkin, Inc. et al v. Furminator, Inc.

On March 17, 2008, Graham L. W. Day and Keith J. Grady of POLSINELLI AND SHALTON, P.C., filed a patent infringement suit on behalf of Munchkin, Inc. and Kim Laube & Co., Inc., against Furminator, Inc. See: 4:08-cv-00367-RWS

Interscope Records et al v. Does 1 - 6

On March 14, 2008, John D. Ryan of Lathrop and Gage filed a copyright infringement action on behalf of Arista Records LLC, Atlantic Recording Corporation, BMG Music, Capitol Records, Inc., Elektra Entertainment Group, Inc., Interscope Records, Motown Record Company, L.P., Sony BMG Music Entertainment, UMG Recordings, Inc., Warner Bros. Records, Inc., Zomba Recording, LLC, against Does 1-6. See 4:08-cv-00355-CEJ

Anheuser-Busch, Inc. v. VIP Products LLC

On March 14, 2008, Gary A. Pierson, II of Husch Blackwell Sanders, LLP filed a trademark infringement suit on behalf of Anheuser-Busch, Inc. against VIP Products. See 4:08-cv-00358-TCM

UMG Recordings, Inc. et al v. Whalan

On March 11, 2008, John D. Ryan of Lathrop and Gage filed a copyright infringement action on behalf of Sony BMG Music Entertainment, UMG Recordings, Inc., Warner Bros. Records, Inc., Zomba Recording, LLC, against Whalan. See 4:08-cv-00340-CEJ

BMG Music et al v. Hieken

On March 11, 2008, John D. Ryan of Lathrop and Gage filed a copyright infringement action on behalf of BMG Music, Capitol Records, Inc., Sony BMG Music Entertainment, UMG Recordings, Inc., Virgin Records America, Inc., and Warner Bros. Records, Inc. . against Heiken. See 4:08-cv-00339-CEJ

BMG Music Entertainment et al v. Braun

On March 11, 2008, John D. Ryan of Lathrop and Gage filed a copyright infringement action on behalf of Arista Records LLC, Capitol Records, Inc., Interscope Records, Sony BMG Music Entertainment, UMG Recordings, Inc., Warner Bros. Records, Inc. . against Braun. See 4:08-cv-00338-CEJ

UMG Recordings, Inc. et al v. Smith

On March 11, 2008, John D. Ryan of Lathrop and Gage filed a copyright infringement action on behalf of BMG Music, Interscope Records, Sony BMG Music Entertainment, UMG Recordings, Inc., and Warner Bros. Records, Inc. against Smith. See 1:08-cv-00037-CEJ

Sensient Technologies Corporation et al v. SensoryFlavors, Inc. et al

On March 10, 2008, Paul F. Linn of Michael and Best (Milwaukee, WI) and William M. Corrigan, Jr. of ARMSTRONG TEASDALE, LLP, filed a trademar infringement suit on behalf of Sensient Technologies Corporation and Sensient Flavors LLC against SensoryFlavors, Inc., Performance Chemicals & Ingredients Co. See 4:08-cv-00336-ERW
SensoryFlavors, Inc., Diehl Food Ingredients, Inc. , Highlander Partners, L.P. and Performance Chemicals & Ingredients Co. are being represented by Suzanne Campbell of Andrews Kurth LLP (Dallas, TX) and David S. Corwin of Devereux and Murphy

Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. et al v. Vantrease

On March 5, 2008, Karen R. Thorland LOEB AND LOEB, LLP (Los Angeles, CA), and John D. Donnelly and David W. Harlan of SENNIGER POWERS, filed a copyright infringement suit on beahlf of Disney Enterprises, Inc., Lucasfilm Ltd., Paramount Pictures Corporation, Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, and Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. against Vantrease. See 1:08-cv-00033-CAS

Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. et al v. Montgomery

On March 5, 2008, Karen R. Thorland LOEB AND LOEB, LLP (Los Angeles, CA), and John D. Donnelly and David W. Harlan of SENNIGER POWERS, filed a copyright infringement suit on beahlf of Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation and Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. against Montgomery. See 1:08-cv-00032-HEA.

Paramount Pictures Corporation et al v. Burke

On March 5, 2008, Karen R. Thorland, of Loeb and Loeb, LLP (Los Angeles, CA) and John D. Donnelly and David W. Harlan ofSENNIGER POWERS filed a copyright infringement action on behalf of Paramount Pictures Corporation and Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. against Burke. See 1:08-cv-00029-CAS

Staples v. Johns Manville, Inc.

On March 3, 2008, Keith A. Rabenberg and Marc W. Vander Tuig of Senniger, Powers, filed a patent infringement suit on behalf of Lawrence L. Staples against Johns Manville, Inc.. See: 4:08-cv-00306-JCH