Juniper, Nintendo, ‘Geaux,’ Google: Intellectual Property 

Juniper Networks Inc. (JNPR)’s 2011 infringement case against Palo Alto Networks Inc. involving Internet security systems has been settled, according to a May 28 court filing.

In the initial complaint, Sunnyvale, California-based Juniper had accused Palo Alto Networks of infringing six patents. In March, the suit resulted in a mistrial after a jury failed to reach a decision on all three of the remaining disputed patents.

Palo Alto Networks, based in Santa Clara, California, and founded by former Juniper employees, will pay $75 million in cash as well as $100 million in common shares and warrants to buy common stock, according to a May 28 statement from Juniper.

The case is Juniper Networks Inc. v. Palo Alto Networks Inc. (PANW), 11-cv-01258, U.S. District Court, District of Delaware (Wilmington).

 

Trademark

Super Mario Drives Benz Kart as Nintendo Expands Licensing

Super Mario’s new kart is a Daimler AG (DAI) Mercedes-Benz with all-wheel drive.

Nintendo Co.’s mustachioed plumber appears in a commercial for Japanese audiences launched last week as part of the Kyoto-based company’s campaign to expand licensing of its characters outside video games. The ad coincides with the release of Mario Kart 8, in which players will be able to drive a Mercedes for the first time.

President Satoru Iwata said in January that the company would “actively” expand its character licensing business as it struggles to retain customers for its Wii U console and titles from inexpensive games on smartphones.

University of Louisiana Lafayette Joins LSU With ‘Geaux’

The University of Louisiana at Lafayette, located in the heart of the state’s Cajun country, registered the phrase “Geaux Cajuns” as a trademark.

The mark is to be used with clothing, including neckties, caps and T-shirts, according to the database of the U.S. Patent and trademark.

The registration, accomplished in April, follows Louisiana State University’s January 2012 registration of “Geaux Tigers” as a mark for clothing, household utensils, sports equipment, stuffed toys, Christmas ornaments and eye black to reduce sun glare for outdoors and sports activities.

In both cases, “geaux” is pronounced “go” and is a nod to Louisiana’s Francophone heritage. The slogans are used to rally the schools’ sports teams.

 

Copyright

Google Asked by U.K. Official to Fight Harder Against Pirates

Google Inc. (GOOG), owner of the world’s most used Internet search engine, was urged by a British government official to be more active against online piracy, the Telegraph reported.

Mike Weatherly, a former music executive and a Conservative member of Parliament, issued a report to the government’s culture secretary May 29, asking Mountain View, California-based Google to “show market leadership” against infringing websites, according to the Telegraph.

Weatherly, who is adviser on intellectual property issues to Prime Minister David Cameron, asked Google to work with the content industries to prevent advertisers from placing ads on pirate sites, the Telegraph reported.

 

Trade Secrets/Industrial Espionage

Tech Companies Tell Massachusetts to Ban Non-Compete Agreements

Officials from Spark Capital and Priceline Group Inc. (PCLN)’s Kayak unit were among those urging Massachusetts legislators to ban non-compete agreements, National Public Radio’s WGBH reported.

They told lawmakers that such agreements keep wages low and inhibit innovation, according to WGBH.

Opponents, including the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, expressed concerns that the absence of such agreements may increase trade-secret misappropriation litigation, according to WGBH.

 

Source: bloomberg

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