Articles News & Research

Friday, May 10, 2019

The USPTO will now permit registration of marks identifying goods derived from “hemp” so long as the applications specify that the goods contain less than 0.3% THC.  Until recently, the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) has refused registration of trademark applications identifying goods encompassing marijuana (or parts of the plant Cannabis sativa L.

Thursday, May 9, 2019

The Court of Appeal for the Fourth Circuit provided a reminder of the potential dangers of downloading photographs and other images from image-sharing websites in Brammer v. Violent Hues Prods., LLC, --- F.3d ---, 2019 WL 1867833, 18-1763 (4th Cir. Apr. 26, 2019).  Mr. Brammer, a commercial photographer, brought a copyright infringement action after learning that one of his photographs depicting the Adams Morgan neighborhood of Washington, D.C.

Tuesday, April 30, 2019

In Chargepoint, Inc. v. Semaconnect, Inc., the Federal Circuit affirmed the ruling of Senior Judge Marvin J. Garbis of the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland that four patents directed to charging stations for electric vehicles were ineligible for patenting under 35 U.S.C.

Wednesday, April 24, 2019

The Maryland State Bar Association published an article by Berenato & White’s attorney David S. Taylor in its March 15, 2019 Bar Bulletin.  The article discusses the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office’s 2019 Guidance concerning patent eligible subject matter.  Mr. Taylor has been a frequent contributor to the Bar Bulletin over the past year.

Tuesday, April 23, 2019

Berenato & White is proud to announce that it will be presented with the Rudy Award for “Partner of the Year” by the Dingman Center of the University of Maryland.  The award reflects Berenato & White’s commitment to supporting the University of Maryland and its students.  This is only the second time that the Dingman Center has presented an award in the Partner of the Year category.  The awards-presentation ceremony is to be held on May 2, 2019 in the Pownall Atrium of Van Munching Hall, University of Maryland, College Park.

Friday, April 5, 2019

In an action between competing mortgage lenders, the plaintiff asserted in its Complaint that the defendant misappropriated trade secrets under the Maryland Uniform Trade Secrets Act (“MUTSA”) by hiring the plaintiff’s employees, and encouraging and assisting those employees to transfer internal personnel and financial information to the defendant.  The defendant moved to dismiss the complaint for failure to state a claim, specifically arguing that the Complaint did not identify a trade secret.  U.S. District Court Judge George L.

Thursday, March 14, 2019

On March 4, 2019, the U.S. Supreme Court decided Rimini Street, Inc. v. Oracle USA, Inc., No. 17-1625, --- S.Ct. --- (Mar. 4, 2019), a case addressing the remedies available to a prevailing party under the Copyright Act.   One of the remedies under the Copyright Act involves a discretionary award of “full costs.”  The Court looked to the statutes governing awards of costs (28 U.S.C.

Thursday, February 21, 2019

Corinne Marie Pouliquen, a partner at Berenato & White, will testify March 13, 2019 in Annapolis in support of SB 507 – Income Tax – Angel Investor Tax Credit Program.  SB 507 will allow Maryland angel investors a tax credit for certain investments in qualified innovation businesses.  The goal of SB 507 is to foster innovation in Maryland, particularly for start-ups.  SB 507 is supported by various organizations, including the Rural Maryland Council, and the University of Maryland’s Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship.

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