Ather Energy Secures Patent for Light-weight Charging Connector for EVs

An Indian Electric Two-wheelers Company, Ather Energy Pvt. Ltd., has recently secured a patent for a compact, ergonomic, and light-weight charging connector to recharge small EVs (Electric Vehicles) and power banks.

According to the Patent Application filed with the Patent Office in June 2017, the connector will include a charging socket mounted on the hand-held unit with an angular grip for ease of use. The firm also has plans to charge the EVs or storage units and communicate data like the proximity data, weather data, vehicle data, battery data, user data, temperature, etc., among others between the device and the power source.

The company explained that EVs are powered using batteries and need to be recharged after the charge stored in the batteries gets consumed. Currently, most of the commonly used electric devices are required to be taken to charging stations for recharging as almost all charging connectors available for charging vehicles nowadays are big, bulky, and designed for large vehicles like cars, buses, trucks, etc. Moreover, the existing charging stations have a ton of shortcomings such as non-standardized charging connectors, shortage of power supply, and the size and weight of the connectors. The big and bulky charging connectors lack in ergonomics aspect and become less useful for small EVs, Ather submitted.

The company, in the application to obtain Patent Protection for its Light-weight Charging Connector for EVs, also explained that as electric vehicles are increasing worldwide, the problems related to their use and maintenance are also multiplying. And, Ather’s new invention aims at resolving the issues with the size and weight of the connectors, it said, adding that to address and lessen the drawbacks, there’s a need for a compact, light-weight, and ergonomic charging connectors.

Ather Energy has actively been developing AtherGrid, a charging network that not just has a presence in Bengaluru and Chennai, but is in expansion mode as well. Present in around 10 locations in Chennai and 30 locations in Bengaluru, AtherGrid is aimed at providing safe, fast, and reliable charging for all EVs, not only the Ather vehicles.

Like Chennai and Bengaluru, Ather will soon equip other markets with its several fast charging Ather Grid points and experience centers, before the deliveries that are planned in the third quarter of the year 2020. It is predicted that the Ather Grid would be available at locations such as malls, supermarkets, cafes, and tech parks. For more visit: https://www.trademarkmaldives.com

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Greta Thunberg Files Trademark Application to Register Her Name and Movement

Teen climate activist Greta Thunberg has recently revealed that she has filed a Trademark Application to register her name and that of the international school strike movement.

In an Instagram post, the 17-year-old Swede, i.e., Thunberg wrote that she and the other school strikers (her fellow activists) have absolutely no interest in trademarks, but unfortunately, it needs to be done. She said that applying for trademarks is an action she is taking to protect the misuse of her name and that of the movement, which has gone global and catapulted her to international fame. ‘Fridays for Future’ is a global movement founded by her and belongs to everyone taking part in it beyond all the young people. Hence, it can and must not be used for individual or commercial purposes.

She added that the Trademark Protection is essentially needed as her name and the movement’s one are continually being used for commercial purposes without any consent whatsoever. For instance, people, while marketing or selling products, often collect money in her and the movement’s name.

Registering trademarks is also needed to receive assistance in taking legal action against people or companies attempting to use her and the name of ‘Fridays for Future’ movement for purposes, which aren’t in line with the movement’s values, she added.

According to the social media post by the famous activist, the recently filed application covers appeal for Trademark Registration of her name, the ‘Fridays for Future’ movement’s name, and ‘Skolstrejk för klimate’ (which means “School strike for the climate” in Swedish), the slogan on a sign or placard that she held during her weekly solo climate protests outside the parliament of Sweden in 2018, which inspired similar protests by other activists or young people.

Greta Thunberg, who actively took center stage at the Global Economic Forum in Davos this month, and her fellow young activists or strikers in the movement want the politicians to listen to climate scientists. Besides, they want politicians to take appropriate action to curb global warming.

The applicant also said that she, along with her family members, is setting up a non-profit foundation for handling money from things such as book royalties, donations, and prizes. At last, she said that the foundation would aim to promote climatic, social, and ecological sustainability, and also mental health. For more visit: https://www.trademarkmaldives.com

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5 Essential Things Photographers Must Know About Copyright

Have you taken a photograph? Then under Copyright Law of many countries, you own the copyright to that photo. This law is something that affects not just photographers but also those who want to use photos taken or created by someone else. With the ease of taking and sharing images, the concerns related to their unauthorized use have increased much. Hence, comprehending legal rights associated with the photographers and their photographs is more crucial than ever. Let’s have a look at five vital things everyone should know about copyright in photographs.

  1. Copyright is Automatic

If you take a photo, then you automatically become its owner according to the provisions provided in the copyright law of the US and several other nations. As it is automatic and immediate, you needn’t file or publish anything to establish or own your copyright. However, going for Copyright Registration of your photograph is recommended due to several reasons, but it’s not mandatory.

  1. Use of the Copyright Symbol Isn’t Mandatory

Using the copyright symbol on your images at the time you publish them is a good idea. It is a reminder to the viewers that the specific image is protected as your copyright. In other words, it’s a smart step to secure your work from being infringed by those who mistakenly believe that photos without a copyright symbol are available for free use. However, the copyright law of most countries is clear that using the copyright symbol isn’t required to protect your photos. The law states that one’s images belong to him/ her regardless of whether he/ she put the symbol when publishing them or not.

  1. Registering Your Photos With Relevant Copyright Office Offers Additional Protection

Registering your photo with Copyright Office bestows you with extra protection in the Copyright Infringement case. It limits your case to actual damages, i.e., the amount of money that the violation costs you as opposed to statutory damages, i.e., damages valued by the law based on the type of infringement. Since the actual damages are often very difficult to prove and can be very limited in some cases, the ability to obtain statutory damages is a remarkable reason to register your copyright whenever you come up with new and useful work.

  1. It’s Possible to Allow Others to Use Your Photo Without Giving Up the Copyright

You, as a copyright owner, possess the right to license your photo to another party. Copyright licensing refers to a way of permitting someone to use your photo without affecting its ownership. Copyright License Agreements can vary based on the control over the image you want to grant to others. You can grant the right to use your photo for specific purposes for a specific time or broad usage. Besides how you plan to license your photo, you can allow the party to use the same without giving up your ownership. Hence, if someone asks for permission to use your photo, ensure understanding what rights you are granting, along with whether those rights relate to licensed use or copyright.

  1. Use of Photos Doesn’t Always Mean Infringement of Owner’s Copyright

Although the law provides the owner with exclusive rights to reproduce, display, share and distribute his/ her work, there are a few legal provisions under which someone can use a copyrighted photo even without obtaining permission from the original owner. For instance, quoting a portion of any written work or sharing a photo for purposes like educational, reporting, legislative, etc., can be allowed under ‘fair use.’ Nevertheless, fair use is limited in scope, and therefore, most cases where someone uses your work without your consent result in copyright infringement. So, be careful.

As photographers, it’s essential for us to at least have a basic understanding of the Copyright Protection and rights we can enjoy under the law of the respective nation. For further information and questions/ answers related to copyright law, protection, registration, or more, you are recommended to find a good Intellectual Property Attorney. You can also look for a deft Intellectual Property Law Firm as such companies will provide you with the best possible information. These can assist you with almost every concern, from the Copyright Registration Process to the fee required to register your photo and even how to secure other Intellectual property (IP) assets. For more visit: https://www.trademarkmaldives.com

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Apple to pay $85 million to Wilan in Patent Infringement Suit

In a long and drawn-out Patent Infringement lawsuit, Apple has recently been sentenced to pay $85 million to Canadian patent firm Wilan for violating wireless patents.

The case, for which the U.S. District Court for Southern District of California (San Diego) made this latest ruling, has been bouncing around for the past many years. The jury now ruled that Apple did infringe upon the patents and would have to fork over the payment to Quarterhill Inc., the parent organization of Wilan.

Although this seems a hefty amount for Apple to give out, it could have been worse or worst. In the year 2018, a different jury in the same suit decided that Apple should pay Wilan a sum of $145.1 million for damages because of patent infringement.

Nevertheless, Apple disagreed with the 2018’s court verdict saying that the damages were calculated inaccurately. Then, after the previous decision was disputed, a judge agreed with Apple that the damages were unsuitable or high and proposed Wilan to either accept $10 million in damages or go back to court. Well, the case once again went back to court, resulting in the sum of $85 million for Apple.

The case revolves around two wireless communication patents held by Wilan. One related to ‘a method and apparatus for allocating bandwidth in any broadband wireless communication system’ (U.S. Patent numbered 8457145). Other associated ‘with communication systems and with methods and systems for implementing adaptive call admission control’ (U.S. patent numbered 8537757).

According to the long history of animosity amid the two companies, Quarterhill has often taken Apple to courts but mostly turned unsuccessful in its fight, as judges not usually convinced that its patents entitled to gain from the sales of devices such as iPhones.

Apple has also been accused of infringing on patents by many other companies. For instance, Apple has been involved in a long legal fight with Qualcomm over royalties for the Intel modems deployed in certain iPhone models. Moreover, there’s a claim from an Israeli company named Corephotonics Ltd. that Apple imitated its dual-lens camera technology for the iPhone. Apple, on the other hand, has also brought Samsung into the court over claims that the South Korean multinational conglomerate copied its iPhone.

Although it seems likely that Apple will appeal this latest ruling, the company has not yet announced whether it plans to do so or not. For more visit: https://www.trademarkmaldives.com

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8 Significant Trademark Terms You Must Know

In the present era of rapid advancements and cut-throat competition, the importance of Intellectual Property (IP) is exponentially increasing. Besides significance, thefts and unauthorized uses of IPs are also multiplying, thus making the owners think about the protection of their valuable IP. Amongst the several ways in which one can safeguard his/ her IP assets, trademark registration appears to be the easiest one when it comes to the protection of the businesses’ unique brand names, logos, or slogans. Apart from preventing the use of one’s hard work without his/ her permission, the trademark serves him/ her business with remarkable goodwill and reputation. And this is what makes it the foremost choice of many entrepreneurs and companies worldwide.

Trademark is assuredly emerging as one of the excellent kind of IP and interests more and more businesses, you still need to comprehend some frequently used terms while planning obtaining protection for your mark. In this article, we will explain a few important trademark terms in simple and understandable language.

  1. Trademark

 It can be anything like a sign, symbol, name, sound, or word that distinguishes its proprietor’s products or services from that of others.

  1. Class

A trademark class represents a distinct group of goods and services. As per the NICE Classification, which is an international classification system followed by most registries, the class of goods and services to which the trademark pertains must be specified in the application. There are many trademark classes, and each class holds various goods or services, which are not always obvious from the class name. Under NICE Classification, goods and services are divided into 45 classes, out of which 1-34 define goods while 34-45 include services.

  1. Priority Claim

Priority claim refers to a right given by the majority of countries worldwide to the applicant of a trademark that has been filed for the very first time. Under this, the applicant applying for registration of a mark for the first time is granted the right to claim priority while filing applications to register the same mark in other countries within six months from the date of the first filing. If priority is claimed, the second application would be considered as having been filed on the same date of the first filing. As a consequence, the applicant will enjoy prior rights against applications filed by other parties from the date of filing in the first nation.

  1. Infringement

Trademark Infringement is an issue, which occurs when a mark that’s identical or confusingly similar to another company’s trademark is used without the owner’s permission.

  1. Trademark Journal

 It is where the mark is published if the application hasn’t been refused by the duty officer during the trademark registration process. In this way, the Trademark Law provides the public with a legal opportunity to file an opposition against the registration of the associated mark. Note that the opposition should be filed within a limited period before Trademark Protection is granted.

  1. License

It is an agreement amid a trademark owner (licensor) and another party (licensee), where the licensor allows the licensee to make specific and limited use of his/ her trademark. These licenses are often subject to royalty payments.  

  1. Symbols ® and ™

The symbols ® and ™ represent that the term on which these are put is someone’s trademark. ® means that the trademark is registered with the associated registry, and this symbol cannot be used before the Trademark Registration Process is completed. However, ™ can be used if the company is using its mark as a trademark even though it hasn’t yet applied for their mark.

  1. Distinctiveness and descriptiveness

As the prime purpose of a trademark is to identify its origin, it must be distinctive to the consumers to be accepted by the registry. In general, arbitrary trademarks like Blackberry and fanciful trademarks like Nike are considered as the most distinctive ones. Along with being distinctive, your trademark should be descriptive, i.e., it describes some characteristics like the quality, quantity, value, origin, or intended purpose of the goods or services. Descriptive trademarks cannot be secured as a trademark unless their extensive usage enables them to have acquired distinctiveness.

The above information will hopefully prove beneficial for you, no matter whether you want to register your trademark or provide your Registered Trademark as a license to any third party. In other words, the data will help you in protecting as well as monetizing your trademark. For more visit: https://www.trademarkmaldives.com

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Amazon Gets Patent for Robots That Drop Off Items on Delivery Routes

Amazon.com is already working on robots that deliver packages, but a newly issued patent includes a far more ambitious scheme that covers storage compartment vehicles, which can roam the footways to make multiple deliveries along their routes.

As detailed in the Patent Application published recently, Amazon’s proposed SCVs could pick up the items for not just deliveries but return as well. If the plan gets fully implemented, it could address the final 50 feet or last mile challenge for delivery systems by having customers arrive at the footways, tap the needed security code on their smartphones, and open up the precise doors to collect the items they have ordered. Delivery agents could load the SCVs with items and set them loose from the loading area to make the required dropoffs. The robots could locate themselves at deliberate locations for pickups or move to the areas where the customers live. No matter whether the robots go to the customers or vice-versa, doors would get opened and closed using a unique security code registers with the cloud-based control system of SCVs. Besides, each storage compartment would cover a protective air bladder that could be inflated to cushion the package inside. Assets like cameras, microphones, biometric scanners, GPS devices, and other gizmos could also be installed on the robots to monitor their surroundings, provide navigational data, etc. Installation of these assets would also be beneficial in ensuring that the robots don’t get messed with anybody and deliveries get to the right customers.

Amazon said that its patent applications explore the comprehensive possibilities of new inventions, but those inventions don’t always get turned into real-life products and services as detailed in the applications. Furthermore, the inventions never see the light of day in some cases. Hence, there’s no guarantee that we would see the mentioned SCVs roaming the street anytime soon.

That being said, the storage compartment vehicle covered in the scheme is not all that much of a stretch beyond Amazon Scout delivery robots, which are being tested in the north of Seattle in Snohomish County and other climes also.

Drawings provided in the patent application showed that the proposed device is reminiscent of the Dalek cyborgs from the ‘Doctor Who’ TV series, but bristles with boxes instead of bristling with weapons.

Much about the tanklike tracks that make the SCV move along a wide range of slopes and rough terrain had already been revealed in the patent application filed two and a half years ago by Seattle-area inventors, including Wicksell Metellus, Kristopher William Bell, Julius Chen, Wesley Scott Lanka, and Ryan Scott Russell.

There’re even models outfitted with propellers for aerial deliveries, or floats for marine delivery applications.

Amazon Robotics is increasing by leaps and strides, but filling the footways, waterways, and flightpaths with robots on delivery routes would present a whole new level of automation. Let’s hope for the best! For more visit: https://www.trademarkmaldives.com

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Nintendo New Patent Details Touch Pen Attachment For Switch Joy-Con

With Nintendo’s new patent that has unveiled a touch pen plug-in, the company appears to be planning to bring brand new features to the Switch’s controllers Joy-Con.

Published recently by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), the new patent reveals that the Japanese video game company wants to provide the Nintendo Switch console’s Joy-Con controller with a touch pen plug-in that can be connected to Joy-Con and used on the touch screen.

According to the images and descriptions of the new touch pen feature shown in the Patent Application, the pen attachment would be located on the right side of the console’s controller. Although the pen plug-in appears pretty similar to the Galaxy S Pen, it is possible to say that this holds a controller to control the screen and maintain a difference. The patent further states that the touch pen will make the Joy-Con vibrate when objects are touched on the screen. It also demonstrates the way in which the stylus-like feature can draw thin or thick lines on the screen, along with the ability to draw lines by pushing the X button on the Joy-Con.

Assuredly, this pen appears to be a functional add-on in comparison to a normal stylus. With the new design, the users will be able to use both the Joy-Cons together. Besides, they can enjoy additional control options in games. The pen plugin holds the ability to vibrate when interacting with any object, thus giving direct feedback.

Nevertheless, many games lack the touch screen features of the Switch. Hence, if Nintendo wants to bring this new feature to the console, it should plan to release the games that are compatible with the same. It is because if the company doesn’t launch games with touch functionality, it would be arduous to use the plugin widely.

Well, Nintendo’s patenting such a touch pen plugin does not mean that the plugin will surely come. Several manufacturers, especially Nintendo, often patents features that won’t be launched. Moreover, even if the patent turns into a reality, it isn’t easy to predict when this will happen.

There is one more possibility that the pen plugin has been patented for the Nintendo Switch Pro, a subject of rumors floating recently. Following the announcement of Microsoft and Sony’s next-generation consoles, Nintendo may be making plans for a more powerful Switch. For now, we can wait and see. For more visit: https://www.trademarkmaldives.com

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What Can Impact Intellectual Property Trends in 2020?

Till now, when it’s around 20 days from the start of the year 2020, you hopefully be aware of statistics from 2019, no matter whether in association to Intellectual Property (IP), brand protection, or anti-counterfeiting. Nevertheless, besides gaining information about the past year, it is vital to consider some of the key IP and brand protection trends for 2020, and the new decade beyond.

In 2020, we undoubtedly expect to hear more about the US-China trade talks, and the European (EU) Copyright Directive. However, this is not all. We can come across many other trends and stories that would be significant for brands and how they secure themselves from IP infringement in this year.

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

2020 is expected to be the phase when many companies move from experimenting with new tools and technologies to their broader implementation. The scope of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) looks to increase and affect the interactions brands used to have with consumers and counterfeiters.

It appears as if the sophistication of conversational AI interactions will enhance, resulting in improved communication between businesses and consumers. It further may improve buying patterns. On the other hand, ML will become more advanced in regards to image recognition, data clustering, and web scraping. It means that data monitoring and IP enforcement will benefit comparatively more from automation, allowing machines to fight the scams in addition to human expertise.

Blockchain

Blockchain and its operative use in anti-counterfeiting can be the other key area of growth in 2020. As technology is becoming cheaper day by day, the world would see it into the hands of many more businesses. Widespread adoption and embedding of blockchain-based smart contracts system will make the technology to execute a license for the use of original creator’s IP, scale automatic payment, and ensure that he/ she gets the correct compensation for his/ her unique work. Apart from assisting the users in making profits by earning more money and saving financial resources on getting agents to manage IP, blockchain technology would work even to prohibit content piracy, one of the common challenges creators often encounter. Indeed, 2020 and other upcoming years are expected to provide blockchain technology with advancements that would help you monetize your IP in several new ways.

Social Media Expansion: WeChat, TikTok, Etc.

For a long time, online platforms have dominated the talks about the availability and impacts of counterfeit and copied goods. As these platforms have been one of the easiest ways for consumers to shop, they have created spaces where fake sellers of infringed products or services could anonymize their identities. Previously, online platforms like social media sites, including Facebook, Twitter, etc., were a secondary option for counterfeiters and sellers of violated products. Nonetheless, with the introduction of additional social commerce-oriented extensions, they gained importance. Social media channels are remarkably difficult for Intellectual Property Law enforcement to target as communications on these channels are private. Moreover, there is no ID transparency rule, and accounts can be made using false information. All these facts make it important for the brands to enlist the support of an experienced IP Attorney. They can also partner with a specialized Intellectual Property Law Firm that can provide online monitoring and IP enforcement. This is what we expect to see more in 2020.

Another thing to watch in 2020 will be the increase in both the size and scope of spaces like WeChat, TikTok and more. As counterfeits and IP abuse, especially Copyright Infringement, is common on online sites and channels, brands need to be cautious about ‘how can they deal with such issues.’ Intellectual Property Law Firm in Maldives or any country appears to be the best helping hand to battle against the problems caused by counterfeiting and IP abuse in this advanced but malicious decade. For more visit: https://www.trademarkmaldives.com

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Federal Govt. Gives $100k Grant to Protect Australian Prosecco with GIs

Fighting to let Australian winemakers continue using the name Prosecco, the federal government has recently given a $100k grant to researchers at Monash University for exploring the legal basis to protect wines with Geographical Indications (GIs) in trade agreements.

Dan Tehan, the federal education minister, announced that with the grant for the Australian Research Council’s Linkage Projects, they want the university to provide recommendations on GI claims to the Australian government and industry bodies.

According to researchers at Monash University, Australia’s Prosecco exports, which worth $60 million annually, are prophesied to rise to around $500 million over the next decade. The research team includes Professor Moira Paterson, Professor Mark Davison, Dr. Caroline Henckels, and Dr. Lisa Spagnolo, from Monash University’s Faculty of Law.

A specialist in Intellectual Property Law (IP Law), Dr. Enrico Bonadio from the City University of London, has also participated as a member of the team. The legal specialists investigated the criteria, evidence, and procedure required to establish a GI of wine, as utilized in trade agreements and legal disputes.

However, the EU (European Union) wants wine producers to prohibit marketing wine labeled as Prosecco. It claimed that the term Prosecco is a GI for a sort of wine being locally made in northern Italy and isn’t considered as a grape variety.

Professor Davison said that if Prosecco is the name of a grape variety and isn’t a GI, the prohibition of its use in trademarks on Australian Prosecco would possibly contravene Article 2.1 of the Technical Barriers to Trade Agreement and Article 20 of the TRIPS Agreement. He added that they’re grateful to the Federal Government for the financial support to develop a legal framework and associated guidelines to defend GIs for wines, and to aid the Australian wine manufacturing industry in dealing with Geographical Indication Infringement claims and Geographical Indication Registration issues.

Since the early 2000s, Prosecco has been produced in Australia and used worldwide as a grape variety until 2009. But then in the same year, it was recognized as a GI under Italian Geographical Indication Law through the creation of a Denominazione di Origine Controllata across the Veneto and Friuli regions.

Later in the year 2013, the European Commission attempted to register Prosecco as a Geographical Indication in Australia but failed after the Winemakers’ Federation of Australia successfully argued that it was the name of a grape variety. For more visit: https://www.trademarkmaldives.com

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Tech Industry Urges SCOTUS To Reverse Verdict in Google v. Oracle Copyright Battle

A group of technology organizations and companies have recently come forth with support for Google in its Copyright Infringement battle against Oracle. The group, including Mozilla, Medium, Reddit, Cloudera, along with others, filed a joint “friend of the court” brief in which they urged the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) to reverse a Federal Circuit Court’s verdict that Google infringed on Oracle’s copyright to Java API code in its Android Operating system.

The Google v. Oracle fight dates back over a decade, with a core concern being whether Copyright Laws bar the common practice of software reimplementation, the process of developing new software to carry out certain functions of a legacy product. However, with the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit decision stating that the functional elements of application programming interfaces (APIs) are subject to copyright, Oracle won the most recent iteration of the fight.

The brief stated that ‘innovation and competition’ is the engine of the healthy internet, and software development is the field that fuels it. For the past many years, the software engineers have been relied on reimplementation, emphasizing reuse of functional protocols like the software interfaces to create competitive alternatives to incumbent industry players and develop new software without fear of copyright infringement.

The companies argued that the federal court’s decision against Google stifled decades of industry practice and upended the established expectations of developers, investors, and consumers. They urged the SCOTUS to reverse the lower court’s finding and allow Java APIs to be free from copyright or at least be accessible for fair use.

Abigail Phillips, head of the Mozilla Foundation’s legal department, said that the brief made its argument from the perspective of not just small and medium companies but even open-source tech organizations. She wrote that the consequences of the Court’s ruling in favor of Oracle are especially dire for small software developers who are already suffering due to their size and relatively limited resources. Hence, the overall result will be worst, i.e., the future would see fewer innovations from small and medium companies, along with the reinforcement of the positions of large enterprises in the tech industry. The future, as a result of this decision, would also experience a decline in incentive among big companies to improve their products and services.

At last, the brief stated – the tech industry believes that a healthy internet relies on the Supreme Court (SC) reversing the Federal Circuit Court’s decision and reaffirming the current status of play for software development, where copyright doesn’t stand in the path of software developers reusing SSOs (structure, sequence, and organization) for API packages in socially, technologically, and economically beneficial ways.

Besides this recently filed brief, an application requesting SCOTUS to reconsider the earlier judgment of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit had been filed by Google as well. However, the final showdown amid Google and Oracle is set to take place in March. For more visit: https://www.trademarkmaldives.com

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