Science and Technology Law Commons^™

Private Or Public Right? Who Should Adjudicate Patentability Disputes And Is The Current Scheme Really Constitutional?, Jasmyne M. Baynard

Marquette Intellectual Property Law Review

“The patent bargain is the foundation upon which the patent system is built: in exchange for protections for an invention, the inventor agrees to make public their inventions so that others may build upon it.” The patent bargain creates a presumption of protection for the inventors, yet categorizing the patent a public right or a private right has diminished expectations for inventors and confusion for the masses. On October 11, 2016, the Supreme Court denied two petitions for writ of certiorari that challenged the constitutionality of Patent Trial and Review Board proceedings on the basis of the patent owner’s Seventh …

An Empirical Study Of Law Journal Copyright Practices, 16 J. Marshall Rev. Intell. Prop. L. 207 (2017), Brian Frye, Christopher Ryan, Franklin Runge

UIC Review of Intellectual Property Law

This article presents an empirical study of the copyright practices of American law journals in relation to copyright ownership and fair use, based on a 24-question survey. It concludes that many American law journals have adopted copyright policies that are inconsistent with the expectations of legal scholars and the scope of copyright protection. Specifically, many law journals have adopted copyright policies that effectively preclude open-access publishing, and unnecessarily limit the fair use of copyrighted works. In addition, it appears that some law journals may not understand their own copyright policies. This article proposes the creation of a Code of Copyright …

Alice-Backed Securitization: Start-Ups’ New Alternative To Venture Capital, 16 J. Marshall Rev. Intell. Prop. L. 246 (2017), Robert Laverty

UIC Review of Intellectual Property Law

As of 2016, the United States software industry added $1.07 trillion in total value to the U.S. economy alone. Today, it’s no mystery that high-tech solutions are embedded in the fabric of our world. Venture Capital has been the dominant source of funding for startup and midsize high-tech firms for the last two decades. However, Venture Capital funding comes at a hefty cost. Young developing high-tech firms are often forced to bargain large shares of their ownership and managerial control to receive the funding they need to realize their potential. But, what if high-tech firms didn’t have to make such …

Blocking Ad Blockers, 16 J. Marshall Rev. Intell. Prop. L. 272 (2017), Tyler Barbacovi

UIC Review of Intellectual Property Law

The prevalence of ad blocking software (software that prevents the loading of web based advertisements) is a growing problem for website owners and content creators who rely on advertising revenue to earn money. While the number of ad block users continues to increase, there has thus far been no significant legal challenge to ad blocking in the United States. This comment examines how a website owner, through a combination of technological improvements and the anti-circumvention provisions of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, could successfully raise a legal challenge against the purveyors of ad blocking software.

If It's In The Game: Is There Liability For User-Generated Characters' Likeness?, 16 J. Marshall Rev. Intell. Prop. L. 291 (2017), Jason Zenor

UIC Review of Intellectual Property Law

In cases like Keller and No Doubt v. Activision, the federal courts held that the use of celebrity's likeness was a violation of the right of publicity. In response, EA Sports suspended production of college sports games. But most games still allow for gamers to create their own avatars. With game systems now being connected, gamers can download user-created content many of which will have the likeness of famous people, thus circumventing the holdings in Keller and No Doubt. Accordingly, this article examines how this type of user generated content fits within the law of appropriation. First, this article discusses …

Restoring Rogers: Video Games, False Association Claims, And The “Explicitly Misleading” Use Of Trademarks, 16 J. Marshall Rev. Intell. Prop. L. 306 (2017), William K. Ford

UIC Review of Intellectual Property Law

Courts have long struggled with how to balance false association claims brought under the Lanham Act with the protections for speech under the First Amendment. The leading approach is the Rogers test, but this test comes in multiple forms with varying degrees of protection for speech. A substantial portion of the litigation raising this issue now involves video games, a medium that more so than others, likely needs the benefit of a clear rule that protects speech. The original version of the test is the simplest and the one most protective of speech. In 2013, the Ninth Circuit endorsed the …

Gotta Catch . . . A Lawsuit? A Legal Insight Into The Intellectual, Civil, And Criminal Battlefield Pokémon Go Has Downloaded Onto Smartphones And Properties Around The World, 16 J. Marshall Rev. Intell. Prop. L. 329 (2017), Andrew Rossow

UIC Review of Intellectual Property Law

Our society, and its millennials, have entered the digital age, whereby almost everything is conducted and perpetuated through electronic devices. Smartphones have dominated the mobile device market and have allowed its users to download mobile applications and games to the device. Pokémon Go, is the latest trend in mobile gaming and the start to a bright future of augmented reality. But what happens when augmented reality meets the physical world? Do our modern-day statutes and laws extend into the cyberspace that it is augmented reality? What happens when a user of an augmented reality game enters onto the property of …

The Ambush At Rio, 16 J. Marshall Rev. Intell. Prop. L. 350 (2017), Adam Epstein

UIC Review of Intellectual Property Law

The purpose of this article is to explore the role of the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) codified marketing policy known as Rule 40 which emerged to prevent ambush marketing of its biennial events. Rule 40 has quickly evolved into a controversial rule for athletes, coaches and sponsors alike who are involved in the Olympic Movement. The IOC believes that social media is a ubiquitous threat to its intellectual property during the Olympic Games akin to traditional print and television ambush marketing campaigns. As a result, the 2016 Rio De Janeiro (Rio) Summer Olympic Games represented the most intense clash between …

The Courts' Interpretations Of Legitimate Business Purposes, With Applications To Lexmark, 16 J. Marshall Rev. Intell. Prop. L. 411 (2017), W. Lesser

UIC Review of Intellectual Property Law

Courts frequently must assess 'intent'. This article applies to the interpretation the intent of "legitimate business purposes" as a justification for restrictive use licensing agreements for patented products. Generally, the 'first sale' doctrine terminates the use rights of the patent holder. However, if the sale is conditioned on some use limitations and violators of those terms are liable for infringement. The courts, suggested in Mitchell v. Hawley (1872) and formalized in Mallinckrodt v. Medipart (1992), have allowed use restrictions based on license terms. Restrictions are disallowed under the affirmative defense of patent invalidity, such as from an antitrust violation. This …

It’S My Mark, I Can Offend If I Want To! The Waning Of The Government’S Power To Protect Its Citizens From Widespread Discriminatory Marks, 16 J. Marshall Rev. Intell. Prop. L. 505 (2017), Paul Sanders

UIC Review of Intellectual Property Law

There is an inherent tension between the First Amendment and trademark law. For over 100 years the United States Patent and Trademark Office has protected American citizens from Marks of ill repute. In the wake of the In re Tam decision, this may become more difficult if not impossible. This comment analyzes In re Tam, as well as explores the First Amendment guarantee of free speech and trademark law, and how each intersects with each other. Additionally, this comment proposes solutions that will allow the government to continue protecting its citizens from Marks that should have no place in commerce.

Candidates Shouldn’T “Cruz” Through Political Campaigns: Why Asking For Permission To Use Music Is Becoming So Important On The Campaign Trail, 16 J. Marshall Rev. Intell. Prop. L. 457 (2017), Courtney Willits

UIC Review of Intellectual Property Law

Music has always been used by candidates running for political office as a way to advertise themselves to potential voters. Throughout the years, a battle between political candidates and musicians has grown due to problems caused by music licensing. Currently, an issue in law exists between politicians who obtain proper music licenses versus musicians who have a right of publicity, stating they do not want to be associated with certain candidates' political views. This comment analyzes the recent copyright case against former 2016 presidential candidate Ted Cruz, and the role it could play in this area of law. Additionally, this …

Putting Yourself In The Shoes Of A Patent Examiner: Overview Of The United States Patent And Trademark Office (Uspto) Patent Examiner Production (Count) System, 17 J. Marshall Rev. Intell. Prop. L. 32 (2017), Naira Rezende Simmons

UIC Review of Intellectual Property Law

The mission of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is to ensure that the Intellectual Property system contributes to a strong global economy, encourages investment in innovation, and fosters entrepreneurial spirit. In order to ensure that the large volume of newly filed patent applications are examined in a reasonable timeframe, the USPTO has a system for determining the average amount of time an examiner should spend examining a patent application. Under the current production system, productivity is assessed based on Production Units (“PUs”) achieved relative to the Examiner’s production goal. The production goal is calculated for each examiner …

The Global Protection Of Traditional Knowledge: Searching For The Minimum Consensus, 17 J. Marshall Rev. Intell. Prop. L. 42 (2017), Aman Gebru

UIC Review of Intellectual Property Law

The protection of traditional knowledge (TK) – the know-how, skills, innovations and practices of indigenous peoples and local communities has been a subject of heated debate in many international forums. TK has proved to be useful as an input in modern industries. For instance, pharmaceutical companies have used medicinal TK to develop drugs more quickly. Despite its value, TK faces an alarming rate of loss and there are many initiatives that attempt to preserve it for posterity. However, almost every major issue on TK protection is contentious, including whether international TK protection is necessary or if domestic legislation alone would …

Samsung V. Apple, Life Technologies V. Promega, Sca Hygiene Products V. First Quality Baby Products, Tc Heartland V. Kraft, Impression Products V. Lexmark, And Sandoz V. Amgen: The U.S. Supreme Court Decides Six Patent Cases In 2016-17, 17 J. Marshall Rev. Intell. Prop. L. 162 (2017), Sue Ann Ganske

UIC Review of Intellectual Property Law

The United States Supreme Court decided six very important patent cases in the 2016-17 term, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. v. Apple Inc., called the “design patent case of the century,” Life Technologies Corp. v. Promega Corp., an international supply chain patent case, SCA Hygiene Products v. First Quality Baby Products, LLC, where the doctrine of laches was not a defense in a patent infringement case, TC Heartland LLC v. Kraft Foods Group Brands LLC, which dealt with patent venue statute, Impression Products, Inc. v. Lexmark International, Inc., which held that the authorized first sale of a patented item exhausts the …

Avoiding The Rabbit Hole: An Ontological Model For Determining Section 101 Patent-Eligibility Under Alice, 17 J. Marshall Rev. Intell. Prop. L. 192 (2017), Alan J. Gocha

UIC Review of Intellectual Property Law

In Alice Corp. Pty. v. CLS Bank International, 134 S. Ct. 2347 (2014), the Supreme Court established a two-part test for determining whether a patent claim is directed at the patent-ineligible category of abstract ideas. Unfortunately, however, the Supreme Court in Alice offered little clarification as to what constitutes an abstract idea—leaving innovators and competitors uncertain as to their legal rights. Likewise, instead of creating a definitive test, the Federal Circuit has proceeded by engaging in self-referential argument by analogy. This article, Avoiding the Rabbit Hole: An Ontological Model for Determining Section 101 Patent-Eligibility under Alice, argues that the Supreme …

Traditional Knowledge Digital Library: "A Silver Bullet" In The War Against Biopiracy?, 17 J. Marshall Rev. Intell. Prop. L. 214 (2017), Seemantani Sharma

UIC Review of Intellectual Property Law

India has long been a victim of the emotionally expulsive wrong of biopiracy at the behest of Western corporations. Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL), a digital repository of traditional medicinal knowledge was a reaction to this act of “unjust enrichment”. While there is ample scholarly discourse on the biopiracy of Indian traditional knowledge (TK), there is scant literature critically evaluating TKDL as a tool for the protection of TK. This paper attempts to highlight some of the defects and inadequacies pervading TKDL, which inhibits its characterisation as a “silver bullet” in the war against biopiracy. Though laudatory, TKDL with its …

Tc Heartland Llc V. Kraft Foods Group Brands And The Big Debate About East Texas: How A Delaware Case Leaves Patent Venue Unsettled And Presages As Applied Challenges To The Constitutionality Of Narrow Venue Interpretations, 17 J. Marshall Rev. Intell. Prop. L. 232 (2017), Jesse Snyder

UIC Review of Intellectual Property Law

Lack of sanguinity for patent holders was manifest after the Supreme Court’s May 22, 2017, opinion in TC Heartland LLC v. Kraft Foods Group Brands LLC. Yet whether TC Heartland—a case from the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware—represents a fait accompli against forum shopping remains debatable. Writing for the Court in a unanimous opinion, Justice Clarence Thomas rejected the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit’s interpretation that an intervening amendment to the general venue statute broadened the scope of venue for patent cases. The patent venue statute, 28 U.S.C. § 1400(b), provides that “[a]ny civil …

Avoiding The Chaos Of Maryjane - A Conventional Approach To Intellectual Property Protection Of Marijuana, 17 J. Marshall Rev. Intell. Prop. L. 278 (2017), Kaylee Willis

UIC Review of Intellectual Property Law

Whether you are considering the ever-popular recreational use, or recent medicinal developments, marijuana is a highly discussed controversial substance. With revenue from marijuana into the billions of dollars, it is no wonder it has been trying to reach into the intellectual property arena. This comment specifically looks into the patent arena and the obstacles that come with an attempt to seek, and enforce protection of marijuana-based patent applications. With the USPTO’s plant and utility patent options, there is perhaps more than one way to pass marijuana-based substances as patent-eligible subject matter. The largest obstacle for this type of intellectual property …

The Medium Is The Message, Steven Ferrey

Suffolk University Law School Faculty Works

The Medium matters; Details matter. Two important, somewhat overlooked Supreme Court decisions, reconfigured the law on the most important technology in the United States. One decision of the Court was unanimous, and together these decisions determine the future of American power. The two Supreme Court decisions created a simultaneous legal equation with a clear independent variable, a dependent variable, and a constant term now to be solved in the regulation of energy in America.

The independent variable is the new technological ‘medium’ of fast-evolving renewable electric generation options, to mitigate global climate warming and to preserve the Planet.

The U.S. …

Holding The Fbi Accountable For Hacking Apple's Software Under The Takings Clause, Mark S. Levy

American University Law Review

Smartphones have swiftly replaced most-if not all-conventional methods of sending, receiving, and storing personal information. Letters, address books, calendars, and trips to the bank have been rendered obsolete by tools such as text messaging, digital contacts, iCal, and mobile banking apps. Although these digital alternatives are convenient, they are not immune from attack. Therefore, to remain competitive, technology companies must maintain safe and secure platforms on which users may freely store and share their personal information.

Apple Inc., for example, strives to protect its users' intimate information, consequently earning a reputation for prioritizing security. Like a king protecting his castle, …

The Privacy, Probability, And Political Pitfalls Of Universal Dna Collection, Meghan J. Ryan

SMU Science and Technology Law Review

Watson and Crick’s discovery of the structure of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) in 1953 launched a truth-finding mission not only in science but also in the law. Just thirty years later–after the science had evolved–DNA evidence was being introduced in criminal courts. Today, DNA evidence is heavily relied on in criminal and related cases. It is routinely introduced in murder and rape cases as evidence of guilt; DNA databases have grown as even arrestees have been required to surrender DNA samples; and this evidence has been used to exonerate hundreds of convicted individuals. DNA evidence is generally revered as the “gold …

The Wisdom Of Universal Dna Collection: A Reply To Professor Meghan J. Ryan, Arnold Loewy

SMU Science and Technology Law Review

No abstract provided.

Lost Esi Under The Federal Rules Of Civil Procedure, Jeffrey A. Parness

SMU Science and Technology Law Review

In 2006, Federal Rule of Civil Procedure (FRCP) 37(e) came into effect, declaring that lost electronically stored information (ESI) could not prompt “sanctions … on a party” absent “exceptional circumstances.” Sanctions were limited to where the loss resulted from “the routine, good-faith operation of an electronic information system.” Effective December 1, 2015, Rule 37(e) now contemplates limited “measures … to cure the prejudice” caused by lost and irreplaceable ESI arising from a party’s failure “to take reasonable steps to preserve,” where the lost ESI “should have been preserved in the anticipation or conduct of litigation.” For more culpable conduct, the …

Is Your Roommate A Felon? Considering The Effect Of Criminalizing Password Sharing In Nosal Ii, London Ryynanen England

SMU Science and Technology Law Review

No abstract provided.

Vmg Salsoul, L.L.C. V. Ciccone: The Ninth Circuit Strikes A Pose, Applying The De Minimis Exception To Music Sampling, Jacob Quinn

SMU Science and Technology Law Review

No abstract provided.

You Can Run But You Can't Hide: Cell Phone Tracking Data Do Not Receive Fourth Amendment Protection, Merissa Sabol

SMU Science and Technology Law Review

No abstract provided.

Foreword, Xuan-Thao Nguyen

SMU Science and Technology Law Review

No abstract provided.

Thinking About The Trans-Pacific Partnership (And A Mega-Regional Agreement On Life Support), Peter K. Yu

SMU Science and Technology Law Review

No abstract provided.

Much Ado About The Tpp’S Effect On Pharmaceuticals, Emily Michiko Morris

SMU Science and Technology Law Review

No abstract provided.

Patents, Industrial Designs, And The Trans-Pacific Partnership: Articles 18.37–18.46 And 18.55–18.56, David O. Taylor, Aaron Pirouznia

SMU Science and Technology Law Review

This essay summarizes the articles of the Trans-Pacific Partnership dealing with patents and industrial designs, and compares and contrasts those articles with U.S. law and the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS).