Friday, February 14, 2014

(BN) Honeywell, Budweiser, VKontakte: Intellectual Property

(Bloomberg ) A verdict finding Honeywell International Inc. (HON) didn't infringe a Solvay SA (SOLB) patent covering a technology to replace ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbon refrigerants was upheld by a federal appeals court.

In September 2011, a jury in Delaware found that Morris Township, New Jersey-based Honeywell didn't infringe Solvay SA's patent 6,730,817. Honeywell argued that Russian inventors came up with the idea first and worked with Honeywell before Solvay sought its patent.

The case is Solvay SA v. Honeywell International, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. The lower court case is Solvay SA v. Honeywell International Inc., 1:06-cv-00557, U.S. District Court, District of Delaware.

Korean Scientist, Once Disgraced, Receives U.S. Stem-Cell Patent

Hwang Woo-suk, the South Korean scientist who lost his post at Seoul National University after it was found he faked some of his research results, was awarded U.S. patent 8,647,872 Feb. 11, which was based on his research, Korea's Arirang News reported.

The patent covers the NT-1 embryonic stem cell line, created by transferring a human cell into a female egg, according to Arirang News.

Experts say the granting of the patent doesn't mean the process has been proved scientifically, Arirang News reported.

Trademark

Lush Seeks U.K. Toiletries Mark Using Amazon Official's Name

Lush Retail Ltd., the U.K.-based cosmetics company, registered the name of an Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN) official as a trademark for toiletries after winning a dispute with the online retail giant, RetailWeek reported

Last week a U.K. court sided with Lush on its claims that Seattle-based Amazon diverted customers looking for its products to other company's products, according to Retail Week.

Lush registered the name "Christopher North" for perfumes and related items with the U.K.'s Intellectual Property Office, RetailWeek reported. North heads Amazon's U.K. operations, the trade publication said.

Anheuser-Busch's Canadian Unit Accused of 'Ambush Marketing'

Anheuser-Busch InBev NV (ABI)'s Labatt Brewing unit was accused of "ambush marketing" by the Canadian Olympic Committee, Toronto's Globe & Mail newspaper reported.

The committee said the brewer's advertising campaign in Canada for Budweiser, featuring scenes of Moscow and a Budweiser "Red Light" blimp designed to look like a hockey goal light, create a false association with the Sochi Olympics, the newspaper said.

A Labatt spokesman told the newspaper that the Budweiser Red Light isn't related to any one league or event.

The Canadian Olympic Committee's official beer sponsor in Canada is Molson Coors Brewing Co. (TAP), the Globe & Mail Reported.

Disney Sued by Stuffed-Animal Company Over 'Toy Story' Character

A Walt Disney Co. (DIS) unit was sued for trademark infringement by a New Jersey maker of stuffed animals over a bear featured in the film studio's "Toy Story 3."

Diece-Lisa Industries Inc. said in a complaint filed Feb 10 in federal court in Texas that the "Lots-O'-Huggin'" character in the 2010 film infringes trademarks for its "Lots of Hugs" bears.

The New Jersey company asked the court to award it Disney's profits related to the alleged infringement, as well as attorney fees and litigation costs. Diece-Lisa also asked for an order barring Burbank, California-based Disney from using "Lots-O'- Huggin'" or "Lotso" marks or characters.

Disney didn't respond immediately to an e-mailed request for comment on the lawsuit.

The case is Diece-Lisa Industries Inc. v. Disney Enterprises Inc., 14-cv-00070, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas (Marshall).

Copyright

VKontakte Named 'Notorious Market' by U.S. Trade Representative

VKontakte, the Russian social-media website, is one of 22 entities on a list of "notorious markets" compiled by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.

The list identifies companies that enable copyright infringement and trademark piracy on a commercial scale, causing "significant financial losses for rights holders," the U.S. Trade Representative said in a report yesterday.

The Russian social media company has a business model that "appears to include enabling the unauthorized reproduction and distribution, including streaming, of music and other content," according to the report.

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