Weekly Patent News Bulletin: Qualcomm and L.G Electronics sign patent license agreement, New Balance sues Nautica and more

Patent News Headlines: Kochi based incubation center Maker Village wins ‘Incubation Center of the Year’ award, Famed Shoemaker, New Balance alleges design infringement by well known lifestyle brand Nautica, Qualcomm and L.G Electronics sign new patent license agreement, Hytera’s Motion to Dismiss patent infringement suit fails in US Court and more patent news.

India Patent News Updates

IPPOF awards Maker Village for being an outstanding incubation center in the field of Intellectual Property

The IP Promotion Outreach Foundation (IPPOF) presented an award to Maker Village, India’s biggest electronic hardware incubation center based in Kochi, for its incomparable contribution in the field of Intellectual Property. The award – “Incubation Center of the Year with Prominent IP Culture 2019” recognized the incubators “exemplary structured IP system.” Prasad Balakrishnan Nair, the CEO of the incubator, received the award at a function in Ahmedabad on 23rd August 2019.

Patent Infringement/ Settlement / Licensing / Commercialization

Shoemaker, New Balance alleges Nautica of design and trademark infringement, in USA

Well known shoemaker New Balance has filed a suit for design as well trademark infringement against another well known lifestyle brand Nautica. The suit, filed at the US District Court for the District of Massachusetts, accuses Nautica of infringing  New Balance’s design patent for the “247” shoe in addition to the infringement of the “N” trademark. New Balance in its submissions to the court has stated that an ordinary observer of Nautica’s shoe ‘upper’ and New Balance’s design protected shoes, giving such attention that a footwear purchaser usually gives, would find the two designs to be substantially the same.” New Balance has asked the Court to grant an injunction prohibiting infringement of its design patent and trademark. It has also requested to Court to recall all products of Nautica bearing the “N” mark.

Qualcomm and L.G Electronics strike a new patent licensing deal

 On 20th August 2019, Qualcomm Inc. and L.G Electronics entered into a new licensing agreement that enables the South Korean electronics major to use 3G, 4G and 5G technology developed by the American chipmaker to commercialize its products. The world-wide patent licensing agreement will be effective for a period of five years and is said to be in accordance with “established global licensing terms.” The exact terms and conditions of the licensing deal remain undisclosed.

Hytera’s Motion to Dismiss patent infringement suit fails, trial is expected to begin in November

Motorola Solutions, Inc announced on August 20th that the patent infringement suit instituted by the tech company against Hytera Communications is said to begin in November, this year. The suit was previously stayed as a decision from the International Trade Commission was pending. The U.S District Court of Illinois has now denied Hytera’s Motion to dismiss the case and the trial is expected to begin in the month of November. The seven patents at issue in the U.S District Court include the three patents that have been subjected to a stay order by ITC in addition to Motorola’s U.S. Patent Nos. 6,591,111; 8,032,169; 8,116,284; and 9,099,972. These patents are considered to be significant in the field of high quality communications.

Authored and compiled by Vibha Amarnath

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