K&L Gates has bolstered its Australian intellectual property team by nabbing a leading IP lawyer and partner from rival Herbert Smith Freehills.
A judge has ordered mining magnate Clive Palmer to pay damages of $1.5 million to Universal Music for his “contemptuous” behaviour in infringing “substantial parts” of Twisted Sister’s 1985 heavy metal hit ‘We’re Not Gonna Take It’ in advertisements for his political party.
The companies behind the top selling Abilify medication have lost their latest bid for documents from the Commonwealth in a multimillion dollar dispute over the delayed listing of generic versions of their drug, with a judge saying the material could be only “of the most marginal relevance”.
Two lawyers facing a lawsuit over their defection from specialist IP firm Pizzeys Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys have failed in their bid to have separate hearings in the case concerning the validity of non-compete clauses in their employment contracts.
DLA Piper has snagged a leading technology partner from rival MinterEllison to join its intellectual property and technology practice.
Food giants Arnott’s and Campbells have hit back in an infringement case over their ‘Plantly’ trade mark, filing a cross-claim that seeks to cancel rival Goodman Fielder’s ‘Plantry’ mark.
Sydney fashion designer Katie Perry has petitioned the court to order singer Katy Perry to hand over unredacted documents in their trade mark fight over the right to use the name for clothing and accessories in Australia, after counsel for the designer criticised the singer for withholding the emails addresses of those who were “not similarly notorious or similarly famous.”
Petrol station operator Ampol has denied accusations by US oil giant Chevron that it is misusing Caltex branding on 175 of its service stations, on the first day of a trial that could see the presiding judge take a road trip to view the alleged offending signage firsthand.
English indie band The xx has lost its bid to block an Australian sunglasses company co-founded by former AFL player Tom Sheridan from registering its ‘xx’ trade mark, with a delegate from the Trade Marks Office finding the band’s reputation did not extend to clothing or eyewear.
Pasta distributor Conga Foods is challenging a ruling that dashed its bid to register its ‘La Famiglia Rana’ trade mark in Australia.