In our Fall 2021 issue, we reported on the Second Circuit’s decision in 1-800-Contacts, Inc. v. Federal Trade Commission, 1 F.4th 102 (2d Cir. 2021). In that case, the Second Circuit reviewed the online contact lens retailer’s practice of filing trademark infringement lawsuits against competitors who purchased 1-800-Contacts related “keywords” so that their own paid advertisements would appear in the search results of consumers searching online for 1-800’s website. 1-800 typically then entered into settlement agreements […]

In Sawstop Holding LLC v. Vidal, the Federal Circuit upheld the USPTO’s interpretation of the Patent Term Adjustment (PTA) statute that limits the availability of PTA for time spent appealing an Examiner’s rejection. The decision may lead to more scrutiny of Patent Trial and Appeal Board decisions that “affirm” an appealed rejection on the basis of “a new ground of rejection.” The decision also may encourage applicants to structure their appeals such that a favorable […]