Flash Digest: News in Brief

By Andrew Crocker

DHS Civil Liberties Office Validates Suspicionless Border Searches of Electronics

Obama Criticizes Patent Trolls

Python Software Foundation Fights Competing Trademark in Europe

Sixth Circuit Requires District Court to Estimate Loss in Trade Secrets Disputes

United States v. Howley
By Ron Gonski – Edited by Daniella Adler

The Sixth Circuit unanimously affirmed in part and vacated and remanded in part a ruling by the Eastern District of Tennessee, which found that defendants Howley and Roberts stole trade secrets and committed wire fraud in connection with Goodyear’s tire-manufacturing technology.

FilmOn Sues Aereo for False Designation of Origin and False Endorsement under the Lanham Act

FilmOn v. Aereo
By Alex Shank – Edited by Michelle Sohn

Online TV site FilmOn.com, Inc. (“FilmOn”) filed a complaint against competitor Aereo, Inc. (“Aereo”) on counts of false designation of origin and false endorsement under the Lanham Act on February 7, 2013 in the United States District Court of the Central District of California. FilmOn also seeks declaratory judgment that it does not violate the Act and that any trademark right in the name “Aereo” claimed by Aereo is invalid.

Department of Justice White Paper Reveals United States Position on Lethal Force Operations Targeting U.S. Citizens Abroad

By Mary Grinman – Edited by Laura Fishwick

On Monday, February 4, NBC made public an unsigned and undated Department of Justice (“DOJ”) White Paper, which concludes that the United States can lawfully use lethal force in a foreign country against a senior operational leader of al-Qa’ida or an associated force who is a U.S. citizen under certain conditions.

Flash Digest: News in Brief

By Pio Szamel

En Banc Federal Circuit Hears Arguments on Scope of Software Patents

Economists at St. Louis Fed Publish Paper Arguing Patents Should Be Abolished

3D-Printed 30-Round Magazine Unveiled, Named After Andrew Cuomo