Patent Law in the Year of Covid-19
Stronger Patent Protection? Now More Than Ever.
The Covid-19 threat has reinforced how interconnected our world has become. Human health and our economic livelihood depend on beating the novel coronavirus. And it will be innovators—in research laboratories, at biotechnology and pharmaceutical firms large and small—who defeat it. Innovation will get us through this.
Stronger patent laws encourage and incentivize innovation. Now more than ever our U.S.-based inventors and companies need them. Our inaugural e-newsletter is not the place to rehearse all the reasoning for this position (which you have read or can read more about on my blog!). But I hope you can take a minute or two to review our inaugural AddyHart e-newsletter. It includes news and updates on our firm’s recent activities. Thanks!
MIMI
Laser-Focused on Protecting Innovation
A Year in Review, A Focus on Protecting Innovators and Companies
At the beginning of 2019, Meredith Addy and Robert Hart joined forces to create AddyHart P.C., a boutique intellectual property law boutique specializing in patent litigation and appeals.
We set out to help companies of all sizes, from the Fortune 1000 to entrepreneurs and start-up firms, understand the range of options for protecting their intellectual property. We opened our doors in Atlanta, Chicago, and Irvine on Jan. 2, 2019. And we’ve been busy ever since!
Since our founding, AddyHart has helped one of the world’s largest aeronautical engineering firms handle complex patent litigation at the U.S. Court of Federal Claims and at the Federal Circuit.
In other work:
- We argued for one of the world’s leading audio manufacturers in a case at the Federal Circuit.
- We litigated on behalf of a leading global provider of PET solutions for liquid packaging in multiple U.S. district courts.
- We helped a medical diagnostic company on appeal to the Federal Circuit.
- We won dismissal of an inter partes review petition filed against our client at the USPTO’s Patent Trial and Appeal Board.
- We assisted a global pharmaceutical manufacturer in litigation related to breach of contract.
- We filed a trademark infringement lawsuit on behalf of restaurant holding company against one of the world’s largest fast food companies.
- And last fall we submitted a brief on behalf of amici curiae urging the U.S. Supreme Court to grant certiorari in Athena v. Mayo.
AddyHart has also helped smaller, entrepreneurial companies defend and enforce their intellectual property and understand how best to leverage their holdings—from patents and trademarks to publicity rights and entertainment properties.
Fighting for Triple T’s Smoky Mountain Trademarks
AddyHart Files Lawsuit Against KFC in U.S. District Court in Idaho
Family-owned for over a generation, Triple T Enterprises operates eight restaurants under the name Smoky Mountain Pizzeria Grill in Idaho. Triple T owns a family of SMOKY MOUNTAIN trademarks, and its rights to those trademarks date to the establishment of its first restaurant in Ketchum, Idaho, in 1992.
In December, AddyHart P.C. filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against global fast-food company KFC in U.S. District Court in Idaho on behalf of Boise-based Triple T. Our complaint alleges that KFC willfully infringed Triple T’s SMOKY MOUNTAIN trademarks, creating likelihood of confusion. The complaint names KFC partner companies Grubhub and Postmates as co-defendants, for delivering KFC food product in Idaho. More >>
Gebo Cermex Prevails at PTAB, Quashes IPR
AddyHart Secures Decision to Deny Petition of Alliance Industrial
On March 24, 2020, AddyHart learned that the USPTO’s Patent Trial and Appeal Board had denied a petition to institute inter partes review of our client Gebo Cermex USA’s ‘005 patent for a low-pressure dynamic accumulation table used in conveyor systems in the production, packaging and fulfillment industries. More >>
Addy Again at Top in Chambers USA Rankings
Only Female Lawyer in Band 1 for IP for Second Year in a Row
Chambers USA again in 2020 accorded AddyHart co-founder and partner Meredith “Mimi” Addy a Band 1 ranking for Intellectual Property – Illinois, its highest possible designation. Addy is the only female attorney listed in Band 1 for Intellectual Property in Illinois, and is one of only two attorneys with a firm outside the AmLaw 50 to be accorded the Band 1 ranking. Read our release. >>
Attorney Ben Cappel Joins AddyHart in Chicago
IP Attorney Brings Litigation, PTAB and Licensing Experience
We are pleased to announce that intellectual property attorney Benjamin Cappel has joined AddyHart P.C., bringing his extensive experience in patent law and litigation in the pharmaceutical, medical device, semiconductor, IT, and gaming sectors.
Ben’s previous experience includes acting as senior counsel to the YMCA of the USA, and his prior experience as outside counsel includes district court litigation and trials at the USPTO’s Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB). More >>
AddyHart Files Amici Curiae Brief in Athena v. Mayo
Addy and Knowles Argue for Freenome and New Cures for Cancers
On Nov. 1, 2019, Meredith Addy, co-founder and partner at AddyHart P.C., and Sherry Knowles, founder of Knowles Intellectual Property Strategies, filed an amici curiae brief for Freenome Holdings, Inc. and New Cures for Cancer in support of a petition for certiorari to the U.S. Supreme Court filed by Wilmer Cutler’s Seth Waxman on behalf of petitioner Athena Diagnostics in Athena Diagnostics v. Mayo Collaborative Services. More >>
Climbing the Mountain: Creating Small Firm Success
AddyHart Co-Founder Meredith Addy Joins Panel at Linn Inn
Meredith “Mimi” Addy, co-founder and partner of AddyHart P.C., was a featured panelist at “Free Solo: Should You Scale the IP Legal Mountain Alone?,” a program hosted by The Richard Linn American Inn of Court for Intellectual Property, on September 25, 2019 in Chicago. Addy and her fellow panelists gave an audience of more than 100 peers and colleagues advice on founding and running a small firm. The meeting was hosted by McDermott Will & Emery at its stunning rooftop offices in Chicago’s West Loop. More >>