Banner Witcoff

Banner & Witcoff was recognized by the D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center for its recent work with the Small Business Legal Assistance Program. The Pro Bono Center’s Small Business Legal Assistance Program supports entrepreneurs serving low-income neighborhoods. In 2016, 500 clients received pro bono legal assistance and 476 small businesses and entrepreneurs received legal training through the…

The Slants Perform at the Supreme Court By R. Gregory Israelsen On January 18, 2017, the Supreme Court heard oral argument in Michelle K. Lee v. Simon Shiao Tam. The Supreme Court was the latest stop on The Slants’s federal-court tour as the dance-rock band seeks to register a federal trademark on their provocative name.…

As of Jan. 1, 2017, Darrell G. Mottley assumes the role of chair-elect of the American Bar Foundation’s D.C. Fellows. Mr. Mottley, who was previously the secretary of the organization, will serve in his new role for two years. The Fellows is an honorary organization of attorneys, judges, law faculty, and legal scholars whose public and private…

Banner and Witcoff is recognized as a top firm in the 2017 edition of the World Trademark Review 1000, the premier standalone research directory that focuses exclusively on trademark practices and practitioners. Helen Hill Minsker and Christopher J. Renk also received top individual rankings in the 2017 edition. According to World Trademark Review: Bustling boutique Banner…

Katie L. Becker, Matthew P. Becker, Joseph J. Berghammer, Aaron Bowling, Scott A. Burow, Marc S. Cooperman, Azuka C. Dike, Katie Laatsch Fink, Michael J. Harris, Audra C. Eidem Heinze, Sean J. Jungels, Kevin C. Keenan, Michael L. Krashin, Erik S. Maurer, Matthew J. May, Timothy C. Meece, Janice V. Mitrius, Jon O. Nelson, Binal J.…

Benjamin C. Spehlmann provides perspective on patent protection in the area of biodiesel technology in the article, “Maintaining Effective Patent Portfolios in the Biodiesel Industry.” Click here to read his article.

Robert S. Katz provides an updated discussion on how creators can protect themselves against virtual design theft through design patent, trademark and copyright laws in the December 2016 issue of Design Management Review. Click here to read the article, “Modern Infringements: The Unsavory Side of 3D Printing and Digital Replicas.” A preview is available, but purchase is required…

On December 13, 2016, Banner & Witcoff won dismissal of all patent infringement and false advertising claims against its clients, Volvo Car USA, LLC, Grey Global Group, Inc., The Big Picture Company, 1st Avenue Machine USA, Inc., SCPS Unlimited, LLC, and Mr. Bob Partington. The case, Cannarella v. Volvo Car USA LLC et al., No. 2:16-cv-06195 (Northern…

In a set of decisions on September 29, 2016, and November 16, 2016, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) denied all eight petitions for inter partes review filed by Skechers U.S.A., Inc., aimed at invalidating design patents owned by Banner & Witcoff client NIKE, Inc. (Case Nos. IPR2016-00870, IPR2016-00871,…

John P. Iwanicki discusses how the Supreme Court will approach the question of whether a single genetic testing kit component is sufficient to meet the test of a “substantial portion” of a potentially infringing article in the Medical Device Daily article, “Bright-Line Test in Promega Seen as a No-Go.” Click here to read the article (subscription required).