Indiana Intellectual Property Law News

July 28, 2015

Supreme Court Keeps Brulotte – Post-Expiration Patent Royalties are Still Unlawful Per Se

Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Supreme Court recently decided a patent-royalty lawsuit, Kimble v. Marvel Entertainment, LLC. The Court, divided 6-3, ruled against Kimble.

Stephen Kimble sued Marvel in 1997 for infringing his patent, U. S. Patent No. 5,072,856,

with its “Web Blaster,” a toy that allowed users to mimic Spider-Man’s web-slinging superpower. The litigation ended with a settlement wherein Marvel purchased Kimble’s patent for a lump sum and agreed to pay a 3% perpetual royalty on future sales.

July 24, 2015

Seventh Circuit Trademark Law: WD-40 Did Not Infringe “Inhibitor” Trademark

By Overhauser Law Offices, LLC

Chicago, Illinois – The United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit affirmed the

ruling of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Western Division in the matter of Sorenson v. WD-40 Company, holding that WD-40’s use of “inhibitor” and a crosshair graphic on its product labels did not constitute trademark infringement.

Plaintiff Jeffrey Sorensen founded and is the CEO of a company that produces a line of rust-inhibiting products, which were first sold in 1997. These products contain a substance called volatile corrosion inhibitor (“VCI”). Sorenson owns a federally registered trademark – THE INHIBITOR – for this line of products. He also claims common-law trademark rights to an orange-and-black crosshair design mark that is associated with these products.

July 23, 2015

Indiana Trade Secret Litigation: Angie’s List Alleges Theft of Trade Secrets by Amazon Local and Employees

By Overhauser Law Offices, LLC

Indianapolis, Indiana – Indiana intellectual property lawyers for Angie’s List Inc. of Indianapolis, Indiana sued in the Southern District of Indiana alleging theft of trade secrets. The Defendants in this litigation are AmazonLocal LLC of Seattle, Washington, Michael Albo, Kristin Baker, Dan Beary, Colton Bozigian, Jake Connerton, Adam DiVincenzo, Brandon Goodwyn, Kristen Haught, Justin Hillman, Amit Jain, Joshua Keezer, Olivia Landergan, Daniel Malamud, Raissa Masket, Samantha McDonald, Jason Patrao, Sharon Porter, Darren Reinstein, Billy Restrepo, Michael Shmunis, and Jacquelyn Vail.

In its 42-page complaint, Angie’s List alleges that competing business Amazon Local

and some of its employees misappropriated proprietary information belonging to Angie’s List by fraudulently obtaining membership accounts and, using this members-only access, obtained and misused proprietary information about thousands of service providers about which Angie’s List had gathered data.

July 22, 2015

Indiana Patent Litigation: Lilly Adds Mylan to List of Defendants Accused of Infringing Alimta

By Overhauser Law Offices, LLC

Indianapolis, Indiana – An Indiana patent attorney for Eli Lilly and Company of Indianapolis, Indiana sued in the Southern District of Indiana alleging that Mylan Laboratories Limited of Hyderabad, India; Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc. of Morgantown, West Virginia; and Mylan Inc. of Canonsburg, Pennsylvania (collectively, “Mylan”) infringed Patent No. 7,772,209 (“the 209 patent”), which covers the pharmaceutical product Alimta®.

Lilly is engaged in the business of research, development, manufacture and sale of pharmaceuticals worldwide. Alimta, which is licensed to Lilly, is a chemotherapy agent used for the treatment of various types of cancer. Alimta is composed of the pharmaceutical chemical pemetrexed disodium. It is indicated, in combination with cisplatin, (a) for the treatment of patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma, or (b) for the initial treatment of locally advanced or metastatic nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer.

The drug is also indicated as a single agent for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer after prior chemotherapy. Additionally, Alimta is used for maintenance treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer whose disease has not progressed after four cycles of platinum-based first-line chemotherapy. One or more claims of U.S. Patent No. 7,772,209 cover a method of administering pemetrexed disodium to a patient in need thereof that also involves administration of folic acid and vitamin B12.

This Indiana patent infringement lawsuit arises out of the filing by Defendants of an Abbreviated New Drug Application (“ANDA”) with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) seeking approval to manufacture and sell generic versions of Alimta prior to the expiration of the ‘209 patent. Defendants included as a part their ANDA filing a certification of the type described in Section 505(j)(2)(A)(vii)(IV) of the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, 21 U.S.C. § 55(j)(2)(A)(vii)(IV), with respect to the ‘209 patent, asserting that the claims of the ‘209 patent are invalid, unenforceable, and/or not infringed by the manufacture, use, offer for sale, or sale of Defendants’ ANDA products.

In its patent infringement complaint, filed by an Indiana patent lawyer, Lilly states that Defendants intends to engage in the manufacture, use, offer for sale and/or sale of Defendants’ ANDA Products and the proposed labeling therefor immediately and imminently upon approval their ANDA filing, i.e., prior to the expiration of the ‘209 patent. Lilly asserts that Defendants’ actions constitute and/or will constitute infringement of the ‘209 patent, active inducement of infringement of the ‘209 patent, and contribution to the infringement by others of the ‘209 patent.

Lilly lists a single count in this lawsuit – infringement of U.S. Patent No. 7,772,209 – and asks the court for:

a) A judgment that Mylan has infringed the ‘209 patent and/or will infringe, actively induce infringement of, and/or contribute to infringement by others of the ‘209 patent;
b) A judgment ordering that the effective date of any FDA approval for Mylan to make, use, offer for sale, sell, market, distribute, or import Mylan’s ANDA Product, or any product the use of which infringes the ‘209 patent, be not earlier than the expiration date of the ‘209 patent, inclusive of any extension(s) and additional period(s) of exclusivity;
c) A preliminary and permanent injunction enjoining Mylan, and all persons acting in concert with Mylan, from making, using, selling, offering for sale, marketing, distributing, or importing Mylan’s ANDA Product, or any product the use of which infringes the ‘209 patent, or the inducement of or contribution to any of the foregoing, prior to the expiration date of the ‘209 patent, inclusive of any extension(s) and additional period(s) of exclusivity;
d) A judgment declaring that making, using, selling, offering for sale, marketing, distributing, or importing of Mylan’s ANDA Product, or any product the use of which infringes the ‘209 patent, prior to the expiration date of the ‘209 patent, infringes, will infringe, will actively induce infringement of, and/or will contribute to the infringement by other of the ‘209 patent; and

e) A declaration that this is an exceptional case and an award of attorneys’ fees pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 285.

Practice Tip: Lilly has also sued all Mylan Defendants for patent infringement of Effient®. It has also won a lawsuit, which was heard by the Federal Circuit, against Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc. for infringing the patented Strattera®.

July 20, 2015

Indiana Trademark Litigation: Trademark Infringement Litigation to Proceed in Federal Court

By Overhauser Law Offices, LLC

Indianapolis, Indiana – An Indiana state court complaint filed by Indiana trademark attorneys for 7E Fit Spa Licensing Group LLC, 7E Holdings 1 LLC, and 7E LLC was removed to the Indianapolis Division of the Southern District of Indiana upon the request of trademark lawyers for Defendants 7EFS of Highlands Ranch, LLC, Spectrum Medspa, Gordon Smith and Jane Smith.

Plaintiffs contend that they entered into various agreements with Defendants, including licensing and operating agreements, and that Defendants breached portions of one or more of the agreements in the operation of Defendants’ Littleton, Colorado business establishment.

Defendants are accused of violating the Lanham Act – 15 U.S.C. § 1114(a), 15 U.S.C. § 1125(a) and 15 U.S.C. § l 125(c) – as well as common law trademark infringement, unfair competition, breach of contract, tortious interference, breach of fiduciary duties and conversion.

July 14, 2015

House Judiciary Committee Approves Patent Reform Bill by Substantial, Bipartisan Vote

By Overhauser Law Offices, LLC

Washington, D.C. – The House Judiciary Committee recently approved the Innovation Act (H.R. 9) by a vote of 24-8. This bipartisan bill takes steps to combat the ever-increasing problem of abusive patent litigation. The legislation addresses abusive practices taking place in federal courts.

The Innovation Act is supported by a wide range of groups that include stakeholders from all areas of the economy representing businesses of all kinds from every corner of the United States, including independent inventors and innovators.

Key Components of the Innovation Act include:

July 13, 2015

Seventh Circuit Copyright Litigation: Appellate Court Dismisses Copyright Appeal as Premature

By Overhauser Law Offices, LLC

Chicago, Illinois – Richard Bell, an Indiana copyright attorney and professional photographer appealed a ruling by the United States District for the Southern District of Indiana, Indianapolis Division to the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. The Seventh Circuit dismissed the appeal for lack of jurisdiction.

In this copyright lawsuit, Bell, a repeat Plaintiff in the federal courts of Indiana, alleged copyright infringement by multiple Defendants in a lawsuit that he filed on his own behalf in the Southern District of Indiana. He asserted that each Defendant had impermissibly displayed a photo that he owns on websites promoting their respective businesses. His copyright infringement complaint sought both damages and an injunction prohibiting future use of the photo.

Defendants moved for summary judgment on the issue of damages. The district court found that Bell could not demonstrate how Defendants had caused him financial harm and, thus, Bell was entitled to no monetary recovery. After that ruling, the trial court issued a judgment against Bell, which Bell appealed to the Seventh Circuit.

The Seventh Circuit declined to hear the matter on the grounds that it lacked jurisdiction, noting that the district court had ruled on the issue of damages but not on the issue of injunctive relief. The appellate court would not have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1291 until a “final decision” had been reached. In turn, such a “final decision” required that the litigation had been concluded on its merits.

Practice Tip: Bell’s approach here is curious. First, he appealed the district court’s ruling. Then, he apparently argued to the Seventh Circuit that his own appeal was premature because the district court’s judgment had not been final. As the appellate court noted, “Bell is correct: the court did not resolve his claims for injunctive relief. As such, the district court’s ruling was not final, and Bell’s appeal is premature.”

Practice Tip: Richard Bell has sued hundreds of defendants for copyright infringement in the Indiana federal courts. Previous blog posts regarding his litigation include:

• Bell Rings in the Holiday Weekend with a New Copyright Lawsuit
• Bell Files New Copyright Infringement Lawsuit
• Bell Sues Georgia-Base FindTicketsFast.com for Copyright Infringement
• Richard Bell Files Two New Copyright Infringement Lawsuits
• Court Prevents Copyright Plaintiff Bell from Outmaneuvering Legal System; Orders Bell to Pay Almost $34,000 in Fees and Costs
• Three Default Judgments of $2,500 Ordered for Copyright Infringement
• Court Orders Severance of Misjoined Copyright Infringement Complaint

• Richard Bell Files Another Copyright Infringement Lawsuit

July 10, 2015

Patent Quality Chat Webinar: Face-to-Face Examiner Interviews and a Demonstration of USPTO Tools

By Overhauser Law Offices, LLC

Alexandria, Virginia – The United States Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”) will hold its next in a series of Patent Quality Chats on Tuesday, July 14th, with its second Chat on this month’s topic – Face-to-Face Examiner Interviews: A Demonstration of USPTO Tools hosted by Director of Technology Center 2400 Timothy Callahan. Mr. Callahan will be demonstrating USPTO tools for virtual, face-to-face interviews and discussing various initiatives for enhancing the quality of Examiner-Applicant interviews while collecting feedback and listening for new stakeholder ideas on the same.

The USPTO held its first Patent Quality Chat webinar in June; that month’s topic was Clarity of the Record, hosted by Deputy Commissioner for Patent Examination Policy Drew Hirshfeld. Deputy Commissioner Hirshfeld discussed various patent examiner training modules covering the topics of 35 U.S.C § 112, functional claiming, and making the record clear; he also reviewed the Clarity of the Record Quality Initiative. A video recording of this 1-hour inaugural event can be found here and is also linked on the USPTO’s Patent Quality Chat webpage where the slide presentation from the June 9th event can also be found.

Regularly scheduled on the second Tuesday of each month, these Patent Quality Chats are a lunchtime webinar series designed to provide information on various patent quality topics and to continue the dialogue between the USPTO and its stakeholders about enhancing patent quality.

July 9, 2015

Patent Office Issues 194 Patents To Indiana Citizens in June 2015

By Overhauser Law Offices, LLC

The U.S. Patent Office issued the following 194 patent registrations to persons and businesses in Indiana in June 2015, based on applications filed by Indiana patent attorneys:

PAT. NO.		Title
D733,329		Wall panel
D733,328		Wall panel
9071116		Apparatus for installing stator winding conductors
9070987		Connector with secure wafer retention
9070518		Starter system
9070023		System and method of alerting a driver that visual perception of pedestrian may be difficult
9068949		System and method for multiplex spectroscopic imaging
9068338		Lift station flow diverter and method of using same
9068123		Multipurpose coke plant for synthetic fuel production
9068038		Extrudable pressure sensitive adhesive composition and methods for preparing the same

July 7, 2015

Indiana Patent Litigation: Lilly and Lupin in Federal Court Anew, Patent Infringement of Axiron Now Alleged

By Overhauser Law Offices, LLC

Indianapolis, Indiana – In conjunction with non-Indiana co-counsel, an Indiana patent attorney for Eli Lilly and Company, Eli Lilly Export S.A. (collectively, “Lilly”) and Acrux DDS Pty Ltd., sued in the Southern District of Indiana alleging that Lupin Ltd. of Mubai, India and Lupin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. of Baltimore, Maryland infringed on various of Plaintiffs’ patents, including U.S. Patent Nos. 8,419,307; 8,177,449; 8,435,944; 8,807,861; and 8,993,520. These patents have been issued by the U.S. Patent Office.

Lilly is engaged in the business of research, development, manufacture and sale of

pharmaceutical products worldwide. Acrux is engaged in the development and commercialization of pharmaceutical products. They sell their products worldwide. The Lupin Defendants are generic pharmaceutical companies that develop, manufacture, market, and distribute generic pharmaceutical products for sale.

At issue in this patent litigation are U.S. Patent Nos. 8,419,307; 8,177,449; 8,435,944; 8,807,861; and 8,993,520. These patents are alleged to cover a testosterone metered transdermal solution used to treat males for conditions associated with a deficiency or absence of endogenous testosterone. This pharmaceutical product, trademarked as Axiron®, is marketed and sold by Lilly.

Plaintiffs contend that the Abbreviated New Drug Application No. 208061 submitted in the name of Lupin Ltd. to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for approval to market a generic version of Lilly’s Axiron product constitutes patent infringement.

In its complaint, filed by an Indiana patent lawyer, Lilly alleges the following counts:

• Count I for Patent Infringement: Direct Infringement of U.S. Patent No. 8,419,307
• Count II for Patent Infringement: Inducement To Infringe U.S. Patent No. 8,419,307
• Count III for Patent Infringement: Contributory Infringement of U.S. Patent No. 8,419,307
• Count IV for Patent Infringement: Direct Infringement of U.S. Patent No. 8,177,449
• Count V for Patent Infringement: Inducement To Infringe U.S. Patent No. 8,177,449
• Count VI for Patent Infringement: Contributory Infringement of U.S. Patent No. 8,177,449
• Count VII for Patent Infringement: Direct Infringement of U.S. Patent No. 8,435,944
• Count VIII for Patent Infringement: Inducement To Infringe U.S. Patent No. 8,435,944
• Count IX for Patent Infringement: Contributory Infringement of U.S. Patent No. 8,435,944
• Count X for Patent Infringement: Direct Infringement of U.S. Patent No. 8,807,861
• Count XI for Patent Infringement: Inducement To Infringe U.S. Patent No. 8,807,861
• Count XII for Patent Infringement: Contributory Infringement of U.S. Patent No. 8,807,861
• Count XIII for Patent Infringement: Direct Infringement of U.S. Patent No. 8,993,520
• Count XIV for Patent Infringement: Inducement To Infringe U.S. Patent No. 8,993,520
• Count XV for Patent Infringement: Contributory Infringement of U.S. Patent No. 8,993,520
• Count XVI for Declaratory Judgment: Infringement of U.S. Patent No. 8,419,307
• Count XVII for Declaratory Judgment: Infringement of U.S. Patent No. 8,177,449
• Count XVIII for Declaratory Judgment: Infringement of U.S. Patent No. 8,435,944
• Count XIX for Declaratory Judgment: Infringement of U.S. Patent No. 8,807,861

• Count XX for Declaratory Judgment: Infringement of U.S. Patent No. 8,993,520

Plaintiffs ask the court for judgment in their favor as follows:

a) United States Patent Nos. 8,419,307; 8,177,449; 8,435,944; 8,807,861; and 8,993,520 are valid and enforceable;
b) Under 35 U.S.C. § 271(e)(2)(A), Defendants infringed United States Patent Nos. 8,419,307; 8,177,449; 8,435,944; 8,807,861; and 8,993,520 by submitting ANDA No. 208061 to the FDA to obtain approval to commercially manufacture, use, offer for sale, sell, or import into the United States Lupin’s Generic Product prior to expiration of said patents;
c) Defendants’ threatened acts of commercial manufacture, use, offer for sale, or sale in, or importation into, the United States of Lupin’s Generic Product prior to the expiration of United States Patent Nos. 8,419,307; 8,177,449; 8,435,944; 8,807,861; and 8,993,520 would constitute infringement of said patents;
d) The effective date of any FDA approval of Lupin’s Generic Product shall be no earlier than the latest of the expiration date of United States Patent Nos. 8,419,307; 8,177,449; 8,435,944; 8,807,861; and 8,993,520 and any additional periods of exclusivity, in accordance with 35 U.S.C. § 271(e)(4)(A)
e) Defendants, and all persons acting in concert with Defendants, shall be enjoined from commercially manufacturing, using, offering for sale, or selling Lupin’s Generic Product within the United States, or importing Lupin’s Generic Product into the United States, until the expiration of United States Patent Nos. 8,419,307; 8,177,449; 8,435,944; 8,807,861; and 8,993,520 in accordance with 35 U.S.C. §§ 271(e)(4)(B) and 283;) This is an exceptional case and Plaintiffs should be awarded their costs, expenses, and disbursements in this action, including reasonable attorney fees, pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §§ 285 and 271(e)(4); and

g) Plaintiffs are entitled to any further appropriate relief under 35 U.S.C.§ 271(e)(4).

The case was assigned to Judge Sarah Evans Barker and Magistrate Judge Debra McVicker Lynch in the Southern District of Indiana and assigned Case No. 1:15-cv-01047-SEB-DML.

Practice Tip: Information on Lilly’s lawsuit against the Lupin Defendants, which asserts patent infringement relating to the drug Effient, can be found here.