What forces are contributing to the proliferation of IP disputes?
Innovation in IP-focused industries is an important sector of the economy. Litigation may be a cost of doing business, but can also act as a brake on growth. The Government Accountability Office has identified at least one cause for the increase in IP lawsuits. A recent report criticizes the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s emphasis on the number of patents issued versus the quality of those patents. IPRs have also increased in number since the passage of the America Invents Act. The premise for some suits can appear almost comical. Stephen Colbert has been told by Viacom lawyers to cease using his alter-ego from The Colbert Report on CBS’ Late Show, despite the fact that substantial ownership interests in both companies are held by Sumner Redstone.
If you are engaged in IP litigation or need an analysis of the financial implications of your intellectual property, the experienced IP professionals at Asterion can assist you.
Would you know how to respond to the seizure of your assets?
Two recent headline-grabbing cases show how far-reaching the impact of asset seizures can be. The Department of Justice is seeking the proceeds from the film The Wolf of Wall Street, alleging ties to a billion dollar Malaysian corruption scandal. In the KickassTorrents case, although seven domains were seized and shuttered in an effort to shut down a popular site for pirated films, several clones have already emerged.
If you need to develop a financial strategy in response to the possible or actual loss of assets or need an analysis of assets obtained through foreclosure or seizure, consider contacting Asterion.
On the Lighter Side: Who says there’s no such thing as the perfect crime?
If breaking the law has ever crossed your mind, here’s the place to do it.
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Spotlight on IP Damages and Economic Consulting
Asterion, Inc. (“Asterion”) has extensive experience providing expert and consulting advice related to the financial and economic issues of evaluating intellectual property (“IP”).