Sat.Jul 02, 2022 - Fri.Jul 08, 2022

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Accepting Crypto Payments for Legal Services

Attorney at Work

Over the past few years, many law firms have started cryptocurrency practice groups. But are these law firms accepting crypto as payment? Some are. The acceptance makes sense because, for better or worse, cryptocurrency is here to stay. Still, cryptocurrency has risks, so make sure you have a clear understanding of cryptocurrency and how your firm can accept crypto payments.

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When it Comes to Patent Reform, Watch What Google Does – Not What it Says

IP Watchdog

The debate over patent reform is heating up again. Last month, Google published a blog post on patent reform, purportedly aimed at promoting American innovation. In it, Google decried the rising tide of “wasteful patent litigation,” railed against the disfavored practice of “forum shopping” and advocated for pending legislation aimed at making it easier for large companies to challenge the validity of patents owned by smaller rivals — all in the name of promoting a patent system that “incentiviz

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Take the Lead (Part 2): Building a Modern Law Firm Intake System

MyCase

As a business owner (unless you’re a pyromaniac), you’re not keen to light heaps of money on fire. And, yet lots of law firms are doing just that. There are a couple of traditional, significant expenses for law firm owners. Those are people and places. You need office space, so you’ve got that long-term lease. But, do you? We’re nearly three years into a global pandemic, and law firms are downsizing everywhere. .

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Protect Your Electronic Contact List From Prying Eyes

Attorney at Work

In April 2022, a headline caught our attention. It referenced a new legal ethics opinion issued by the New York State Bar Association’s Committee on Professional Ethics. Opinion 1240 has this digest statement: “If ‘contacts’ on a lawyer’s smartphone include any client whose identity or other information is confidential under Rule 1.6, then the lawyer may not consent to share contacts with a smartphone app unless the lawyer concludes that no human being will view that confidential information, an

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Leverage Trellis Court Data To Identify More Investment Opportunities

Finance teams find Trellis to be particularly effective in conducting comprehensive due diligence on both individuals and businesses. With our court data solution, financial experts can access critical litigation insights, making it an invaluable resource for informed decision-making in the financial sector.

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Want to Reduce Turnover and Secure Your Law Firm’s Legacy? Be More Transparent

Attorney at Work

With a more transparent work environment — from the interview to the partnership path — you can keep young talent engaged and reduce turnover. The practice of law is not a profession known for its transparency. Once upon a time, aspiring law school grads would join firms, follow whatever protocols had been set for workflow, caseload and billable requirements, and look forward to the subjective and somewhat mysterious process of becoming a partner.

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Get Out! Take an Actual Day Off to Curb Lawyer Stress

Attorney at Work

Lawyer stress influences our ability to think and work. Beyond doubt, we are all experiencing incredible amounts of lawyer stress. This fantastic Twitter thread from Alexis Rockley spells it out so well. The stress is unrelenting, and it is insidious. Even when we think we are fine or “handling it,” lawyer stress influences our ability to think and work.

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USPTO Will Ramp Up Identity Verification Rules for Trademark Filers Starting in August

IP Watchdog

Starting August 6, 2022, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) will require all trademark filers to verify their identities in order to file electronic trademark forms. The move comes as an attempt to stop trademark scam entities and was announced in a blog post penned by USPTO Director Kathi Vidal and Commissioner for Trademarks David Gooder last week.

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American Axle Denied: Patent Stakeholders Sound Off on SCOTUS’ Refusal to Deal with Eligibility

IP Watchdog

As we’re all aware by now, the U.S. Supreme Court denied the petition in American Axle & Mfg., Inc. v. Neapco Holdings LLC late last week, in its last Orders List of the term. This leaves it up to Congress and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to restore any semblance of clarity on U.S. patent eligibility law for now. In a statement sent to IPWatchdog following the denial, the U.S.

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Good Faith Doctrine and NFTs – How a Bored Ape NFT Dilemma May Present Unique Copyright and Contract Issues

IP Watchdog

Can something called a “Bored Ape” be embodied in a non-fungible token (NFT) and be associated with smart contracts? How could this present unique and challenging issues regarding copyright law? Over the course of the last two months, the general public has tracked what started out as a phishing scam involving actor Seth Green’s NFT from the Board Ape Yacht Club.

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Will Dobbs Cure the Plague of Patent Eligibility Nonsense?

IP Watchdog

For anyone surprised about the Supreme Court refusing certiorari in the America Axle v. Neapco case after the Department of Justice (DOJ) (aided by the Solicitor’s Office of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office [USPTO]) submitted its brief for the Supreme Court’s review, the question arises: why would anyone be surprised? The brief at issue is garbage, and one wonders what exactly its purpose was.

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The Tech-Savvy Paralegals Playbook: How To Leverage AI

Speaker: Allison Mears, Adela Wekselblatt, and George Socha

Artificial intelligence is reshaping the legal industry, and paralegals are at the forefront of this transformation. As AI becomes more integrated into legal workflows, paralegals can streamline their daily tasks, enhance efficiency, and add greater value to their firms and organizations. But what exactly does AI mean for paralegals today—and how can you leverage it to your advantage?

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Vidal Orders Amicus Briefs in PTAB OpenSky and Patent Quality Assurance Cases

IP Watchdog

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) yesterday afternoon announced that USPTO Director Kathi Vidal will be accepting amicus briefs in the Director Review of both OpenSky Industries, LLC v. VLSI Technology LLC, IPR2021-01064 and Patent Quality Assurance, LLC v. VLSI Technology LLC, IPR2021-01229, both of which have been the subject of scrutiny by members of Congress and patent practitioners.

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Copyright Office Study Finds Protections for News Publishers are Adequate

IP Watchdog

On June 30, the U.S. Copyright Office officially published a report titled Copyright Protections for Press Publishers, which explores existing frameworks in nations around the world providing additional rights under copyright law for news publishers, and includes recommendations regarding similar changes that could be effected under U.S. law. The Copyright Office’s study concludes that, while the news publishing industry is facing significant problems in obtaining adequate funding during the Int

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Patent Filings Roundup: Suits Explode at End of Q2; Fortress 4G LTE Multi-District Litigation Against Auto Industry Goes to Michigan; Rare Derivation Denial

IP Watchdog

Recession woes, war in Ukraine, and rising inflation have to date had little effect on the patent litigation marketplace—emphasizing the “non-correlated” in “non-correlated asset”—and it was borne out in the courts last week, where litigation exploded, with 135 new patent filings, more than double the average—though this keeps with a trend of seeing filings spike at the ends of annual quarters.

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Law Firm Financial Benchmarks for Maximizing Profit

MyCase

Setting law firm financial benchmarks may seem like an unnecessary task. Still, it’s crucial for a profitable business. Key benchmarks uncover areas that either drain or enhance resources, decrease or increase productivity, and (most importantly) lose or gain profit. This piece reveals the background of financial benchmarking, the process of productively setting benchmarks, and financial benchmarking tools your firm can implement today. .

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Uncovering The Hidden Connections: A Patent Family Survival Guide

Speaker: Andrew Klein

Are there mysteries lurking in your family tree? 🕵 No, not a long-lost half-brother - I'm talking about a patent family tree! IP paralegals need fast and easy ways to verify and report on essential data about foreign equivalents of US assets. Join us to master the global scope of key assets to support prosecution, portfolio management, litigation, licensing, competitive monitoring and more!

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Choosing the Right Legal Accounting Software for Your Firm

MyCase

Accounting is critical to running a successful law firm. It helps you collect payments, stay compliant, and make the best financial decisions for your business. But without the right tools in place, the process can be overwhelming to manage. That’s where legal accounting software can help. We’ll explore the ins and outs of this tool in this overview.

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What are Legal Workflow Automation Solutions?

MyCase

Your job as a lawyer is complex. You’re juggling multiple clients, managing an ever-increasing caseload, and tracking hundreds of documents and invoices. It’s not easy to keep things running smoothly. This is where legal automation from workflow software can help. We’ll explore what this concept means, how to introduce the right tools to support this practice and more. .

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Other Barks & Bites for Friday, July 8: CNIPA Publishes Trademark Exhaustion Guidance, SawStop Petition Challenges Double Patenting Doctrine, and European Court Restores ‘BALLON D’OR’ Trademark Rights for Entertainment Services

IP Watchdog

This week in Other Barks & Bites: the European General Court reverses part of a ruling by the European Union Intellectual Property Office, restoring some trademark rights for the “BALLON D’OR” mark; Senator Chuck Grassley urges the U.S. Department of Justice to enforce against counterfeit drug sellers; the European Patent Office publishes its decision rejecting patent applications filed for an artificial intelligence inventor; the Eleventh Circuit rules that a successful defense against inf

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Five Advanced Mingling Techniques for Professional Players

Attorney at Work

If only you’d known how to network at a conference the last time you were at a conference to network. Networking is rough. You did OK. You remembered a few useful things. You used the “rule of three” and the FORD method and your talk was really, really small. You made a handful of connections and you followed up when you got back to your desk.

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AI for Paralegals: Everything You Need to Know (and How to Use It Safely)

Speaker: Joe Stephens, J.D., Attorney and Law Professor

Ready to cut through the AI hype and learn exactly how to use these tools in your legal work? Join this webinar to get practical guidance from attorney and AI legal expert, Joe Stephens, who understands what really matters for legal professionals! What You'll Learn: Evaluate AI Tools Like a Pro 🔍 Learn which tools are worth your time and how to spot potential security and ethics risks before they become problems.

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The Push for Clean Energy Ignores Economic and U.S. Innovation Realities

IP Watchdog

During the last Presidential campaign, then candidate Biden famously promised to put an end to fossil fuels. True to his commitment, President Biden has attempted to make the oil and gas industry less attractive to both corporations and investors. From canceling the Keystone pipeline, to canceling oil and gas leases in Alaska and the Gulf of Mexico, to freezing new oil leases on federal lands, efforts to minimize domestic production of fossil fuel in America have been enormously successful.

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USPTO to Crack Down on ‘Incremental’ Patents in Response to Biden Executive Order’s Drug Pricing Mandate

IP Watchdog

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) yesterday announced in a joint blog post with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that the Office plans to execute a number of initiatives aimed at lowering drug prices, as directed in July 2021 by President Joe Biden’s “Executive Order on Promoting Competition in the American Economy.” The announcement came via a blog post jointly authored by USPTO Director Kathi Vidal and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Robert M.