Welcome to MaxVal’s IP Five in 5, where we highlight the top five IP news stories in under five minutes. This edition includes the EU court’s €13.96 Million fine on Unichem over a patent dispute, a $122 Million verdict against Amazon in an internet-advertising patent case, FTC’s support for a proposed USPTO rule, and more.
Patent Spotlight
EU Court Affirms €13.96 Million Fine on Unichem in Patent Dispute
On June 27, IPCA Laboratories Ltd announced that the Court of Justice of the EU upheld a €13.96 million fine on Unichem Laboratories Ltd. and its subsidiary, Niche Generics Ltd., related to a patent dispute over the drug Perindopril.
Source: CNBC TV18
Amazon Faces $122 Million US Verdict in Internet-Advertising Patent Case
On June 14, a Texas federal jury ordered Amazon to pay approximately $122 million for infringing another company’s internet advertising technology patents. The jury in Waco found that Amazon’s advertising platform violated two patents owned by AlmondNet Inc., which focus on personalized ad targeting.
Source: Financial Express
FTC Backs Proposed USPTO Rule
The FTC submitted a comment endorsing a USPTO rule on disclosing patent settlement agreements to improve oversight of pre-institution agreements by requiring their filing with the USPTO. This measure is intended to bolster the FTC and Department of Justice (DOJ) monitoring of potentially anticompetitive practices.
Source: FTC
Trademark Spotlight
Coca-Cola and Starbucks Reportedly Seek Trademark Extensions in Russia
Coca-Cola and Starbucks have reportedly reapplied to register their trademarks in Russia following their withdrawal in 2022 due to the Ukraine conflict, according to Vedomosti. Coca-Cola submitted three applications in April, and Starbucks filed eight in late May, as reported by the Russian intellectual property agency Rospatent.
Source: Reuters
Copyright Spotlight
YouTube Enhances Audio Eraser Tool for Copyright Management
YouTube has introduced an enhanced eraser tool that allows creators to selectively remove copyrighted music from their videos, preserving dialogue and sound effects. This update enables videos with copyright issues to remain viewable and monetizable by targeting only the affected audio segments.
Source: Business Standard