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7th October , 2009 APPLE BATTLES WOOLWORTHS OVER SIMILAR LOGO Apple has initiated a legal battle against Woolworths, the largest retailer in Australia, whose new logo resembles the well-known Apple symbol. Woolworths mentions that its new logo is a stylized "W" or a piece of fresh produce. Apple considers that the logo is too similar to its own and is all set to convince IP Australia, the Federal Government agency that governs trademarks, to stop Woolworths' application from proceeding further. Apple is furious because Woolworth has applied for a blanket trademark that would allow the company to brand itself on any product as the application includes a wide class for electrical goods and technology, making it a direct competitor for Apple if the retailer starts manufacturing computers or music players. Hans Hulsbosch, the logo's designer, said Apple is taking trademark protection "to the extreme." He further said that "based on this logic, they would have to take action against every fruit-seller."
Berklee College of Music is suing Music Industry Educators Inc., a Florida company that offers online music education to colleges, claiming it lifted content from the Boston school’s own Web sites. They claim that Music Industry Educators Inc. copied material, including course descriptions and listings of music associations, career resources and internships from www.berklee.edu and Berklee’s online music education site, www.berkleemusic.com, and used the content on its own sites without permission. According to a copyright infringement lawsuit, the shield used by the Florida Company also resembles the one that Berklee uses on its diplomas, websites and promotional material, and logos that designate Berklee’s certificate programs.
Biostar Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a Xianyang-based manufacturer and supplier of pharmaceutical products and medical nutrients has received a patent from China's State Intellectual Property Bureau for its Aoxing Ganbao product. Aoxing Ganbao is a traditional Chinese herbal product that is complementary for its Xin Aoxing Oleanolic Acid Capsule to treat Hepatitis B. Ganbao is applied topically to cure Hepatitis B conditions by nourishing the liver and reducing inflammation. The product is attached to the waist of the patient with herbs facing the navel. The retail price of Aoxing Ganbao is $20 approximately and is distributed to pharmacies. This patent will prevent its competitors from producing similar products for 20 years. "We are very pleased to receive this patent approval for our Aoxing Ganbao Product, which we expect to further improve the Aoxing brand name. As a complementary product, Aoxing Ganbao will further increase the sales of our flagship Hepatitis B product, Xin Aoxing Oleanolic Acid Capsule," said Mr. Wang Ronghua, Chairman and CEO of Biostar Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
MiCardia® Corporation, Irvine, California has been granted a patent for Shape Memory Devices and Methods for Reshaping Heart Anatomy by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Mr. Samuel Shaolian, Chief Technical Officer at MiCardia, Founder and co-inventor, describes the patent as allowing for systems, methods and devices capable of reshaping the anatomy of the heart by implanting shape memory elements. This is MiCardia's ninth patent and it will help in managing disease caused by induced dilation of the ventricles of the heart and the associated reduced contractility of the heart muscle resulting in heart failure. MiCardia's technology allows adjustable implants in the heart. If the shape of the ventricles can be remodeled so that blood can be pumped out more efficiently, it may be possible to stop heart failure. MiCardia's first Dynaplasty® devices will be available in early 2010 in Europe.
Boston Scientific Corporation has settled more than a dozen lawsuits involving Johnson & Johnson, including the Palmaz-NIR suit. All the disputes involved intellectual property in the interventional cardiology arena. Boston Scientific will pay $716 million to Johnson & Johnson in regard to the settlement. The settlement payment is within Boston Scientific's existing reserve for the Palmaz-NIR suit and will be made from existing cash on hand. The settlement includes cross licenses for all the patents in the suits, other than the Palmaz patent, which has expired. President and Chief Executive Officer of Boston Scientific, Mr. Ray Elliott said, "We are pleased we have been able to significantly reduce the amount of outstanding litigation we have with Johnson & Johnson."
Nutraceutix, Inc., a probiotics and nutritional supplements company based in Redmond, Washington, has been issued a patent by the Chinese Patent for BIO-tract technology. It is the fourth international patent, that the technology has been awarded. Many patent applications are still pending in different countries. This technology is based on BIO-tract's ability to protect sensitive probiotic organisms from stomach acids that denature unprotected probiotic organisms on their way to optimal release sites in the intestinal tract. BIO-tract tablets when ingested form a protective layer which shields probiotic organisms from the acidic conditions of the stomach. The tablets release the organisms at optimal rates determined by formulation.After reaching the intestinal tract, President and CEO of Nutraceutix, Mr. Steve Moger, comments: "Years ago, we recognized the need for an effective probiotic and nutraceutical delivery technology -- one that draws upon proven pharmaceutical principles, yet is economically feasible in the nutritional supplement marketplace.”
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