Patent and Copyright Rulings in Tech and Music
CAFC Vacates Indefiniteness Ruling on TrackTime Patent, Affirms Invalidity Finding on Related Patent in Amazon Dispute (Ipwatchdog)
Summary: The Federal Circuit vacated a district court’s indefiniteness ruling on TrackTime’s ‘978 patent, finding that the lower court should reconsider whether the term ‘executable program code’ is a means-plus-function limitation in light of the intervening Dyfan decision. The court also affirmed a jury verdict that claim 9 of the related ‘638 patent was anticipated by the LiveNote transcript management program, rejecting TrackTime’s arguments that the prior art lacked a mobile computing device or touch-sensitive interface. The case returns to Delaware for further proceedings on the ‘978 patent’s validity.
Why it matters: The Dyfan-based remand signals that the Federal Circuit is tightening the standard for applying Section 112(f) to software patents, potentially narrowing a common invalidity defense for defendants facing claims on user-interface functionality.
Context: TrackTime’s patents cover ‘tap-to-jump’ navigation in multimedia transcripts, a feature now common in e-book and podcast apps. The Dyfan decision (2022) clarified that courts must consider extrinsic evidence of how skilled artisans understand claim language before applying means-plus-function treatment.
"The court stated that, on remand, the focus of the Section 112(f) analysis should be on whether the disputed limitations, read in full and in context, recite enough structure to perform the claimed functions." — IPWATCHDOG
Commentary: The CAFC’s instruction to consider ‘extra-patent usage’ and whether the limitations ‘name or describe a class of structure’ raises the bar for defendants seeking to invalidate software patents as indefinite. For patent prosecutors, the decision reinforces the value of including explicit algorithms in the specification, even for terms like ‘executable program code’ that may seem structural on their face. Amazon’s win on anticipation via LiveNote is a reminder that well-documented prior art—especially user guides and tutorials—can still defeat claims even when the patentee argues missing elements like touch sensitivity.
Date: July 05, 2026 12:15 PM ET
URL: https://ipwatchdog.com/2026/07/05/cafc-vacates-indefiniteness-ruling-on-tracktime-patent-affirms-invalidity-finding-on-related-patent-in-amazon-dispute/
AI Sentiment Score: Positive (40%)
AI Credibility Score: 10.0/10 — High
Scores and text generated by AI analysis of the source article indicated.Reggaeton artists’ unoriginality argument falls short in Jamaican producers copyright suit (Courthousenews)
Summary: A federal judge denied summary judgment in a copyright suit brought by Jamaican producers Steely and Clevie against dozens of reggaeton artists including Bad Bunny and J Balvin, allowing a jury to decide whether the genre’s foundational ‘dembow’ drum pattern is original enough to be protected. The ruling turns on competing expert analyses of the 1989 instrumental ‘Fish Market,’ which the producers claim was unlawfully copied in thousands of songs. The judge found genuine disputes of material fact on originality and protectability, rejecting arguments that the plaintiffs had stitched together a ‘Frankenstein’ work from multiple tracks. The case now heads toward trial, with potential liability for major labels and streaming platforms if infringement is proven.
Why it matters: This ruling threatens to upend the economic structure of reggaeton, a genre worth billions, by exposing its biggest stars and labels to damages for using a rhythm they long considered unprotectable public domain.
Context: The ‘dembow’ rhythm originated from ‘Fish Market,’ a B-side track later used in Shabba Ranks’ ‘Dem Bow,’ and became the backbone of reggaeton. The case has been closely watched as a test of how copyright law applies to foundational musical building blocks in Latin urban music.
[Summary note] A federal judge denied summary judgment in a copyright suit brought by Jamaican producers Steely and Clevie against dozens of reggaeton artists including Bad Bunny and J Balvin, allowing a jury to…
Commentary: The judge’s refusal to kill the case at summary judgment is a significant win for the plaintiffs, forcing defendants to face a jury on the originality question rather than having it dismissed as a matter of law. The ‘shapeshifting’ defense—that the plaintiffs are combining elements from different recordings—may struggle at trial if the plaintiffs can point to a single, fixed 1989 recording as the source. Labels and streaming services should be watching closely: a finding of infringement could trigger retroactive licensing demands across the entire reggaeton catalog, reshaping royalty flows from Latin music’s most dominant genre.
Date: July 02, 2026 09:45 PM ET
URL: https://www.courthousenews.com/reggaeton-artists-unoriginality-argument-falls-short-in-jamaican-producers-copyright-suit/
AI Sentiment Score: Negative (57%)
AI Credibility Score: 10.0/10 — High
Scores and text generated by AI analysis of the source article indicated.SEP Litigation Trends Show Why Brazil Remains a Serious Patent Enforcement Venue (Ipwatchdog)
Summary: Recent SEP litigation in Brazil demonstrates that the country’s patent enforcement system is maturing, with courts increasingly using early technical scrutiny and court-appointed experts to handle complex disputes. Cases like IP Bridge v. BYD, InterDigital v. Disney, and Ericsson v. Lenovo/Motorola show a shift toward procedural evolution that balances speed with technical rigor. This trend is making Brazil a more predictable and credible venue for global patent enforcement, particularly for technology companies evaluating multi-jurisdictional strategies.
Why it matters: For patent owners and implementers, Brazil’s evolving procedural framework—especially the use of early expert reports before injunctive relief—reduces uncertainty and increases the enforceability of SEPs, making it a serious alternative to traditional venues like the US, Europe, or China.
Context: Brazil has long been a large market but was often viewed as procedurally unpredictable for patent litigation. Recent SEP cases, including Nokia v. Oppo (which led Oppo to exit the market) and Huawei v. MediaTek (which resulted in a global license within six months), signal a shift toward more efficient and technically grounded outcomes.
"“Recent SEP litigation in Brazil highlights both the strengths of Brazil’s patent system and its capacity for continued evolution.” Over the past year, while advising clients on standard essential patent (SEP) matters." — IPWATCHDOG
Commentary: The key takeaway is not that Brazil has become ‘pro-patent’ but that it is becoming more predictable—a more valuable attribute for litigation strategy. The use of dual experts in IP Bridge v. BYD (one for technical infringement, one for FRAND economics) is a procedural innovation that could become a model for other jurisdictions. However, the system’s reliance on court-appointed experts means that the quality of those experts and the consistency of their appointment across different courts will determine whether this trend sustains or fragments.
Date: July 02, 2026 09:15 AM ET
URL: https://ipwatchdog.com/2026/07/02/sep-litigation-trends-show-why-brazil-remains-a-serious-patent-enforcement-venue/
AI Sentiment Score: Positive (50%)
AI Credibility Score: 10.0/10 — High
Scores and text generated by AI analysis of the source article indicated.SCOTUS Grants Cert Petition on Trademark Strength Inquiry Over SG Brief Urging Denial (Ipwatchdog)
Summary: “RiseandShine argued that fixing the apparent circuit split was critical to prevent forum shopping by parties who prefer to avoid juries.” Today, the U.S. Supreme Court granted a petition for writ of certiorari filed by nitro cold brew coffee company RiseandShine Corporation, doing business as RISE Brewing, challenging the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit’s application of the likelihood of confusion test in RiseandShine’s trademark infringement case against PepsiCo’s “Mtn DEW Rise Energy” energy drinks.
Why it matters: This matters for Policy, Legal & Regulatory because it gives a concrete current signal to track: “RiseandShine argued that fixing the apparent circuit split was critical to prevent forum shopping by parties who prefer to avoid juries.” Today, the U.S.
Context: “RiseandShine argued that fixing the apparent circuit split was critical to prevent forum shopping by parties who prefer to avoid juries.” Today, the U.S. Supreme Court granted a petition for writ of certiorari filed by nitro cold brew coffee company RiseandShine Corporation, doing business as RISE Brewing, challenging the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit’s application of the likelihood of confusion test in RiseandShine’s trademark infringement case against PepsiCo’s “Mtn DEW Rise Energy” energy drinks.
"“RiseandShine argued that fixing the apparent circuit split was critical to prevent forum shopping by parties who prefer to avoid juries.” Today, the U.S. Supreme Court granted a petition for writ of." — IPWATCHDOG
Commentary: The real consequence will depend on whether this changes enforcement, liability, or the operating room for major platforms and institutions.
Date: June 29, 2026 12:15 PM ET
URL: https://ipwatchdog.com/2026/06/29/scotus-grants-cert-petition-on-trademark-strength-inquiry-over-sg-brief-urging-denial/
AI Sentiment Score: Negative (50%)
AI Credibility Score: 10.0/10 — High
Scores and text generated by AI analysis of the source article indicated.Post ID: 7de4d133