Recently in Intellectual Property Category

The Department of Justice's Office of Justice Programs (OJP) today announced that in fiscal year 2010 nearly $4 million was awarded to enable state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies and prosecutors to address education, deterrence, enforcement and evidence gathering for prosecution of intellectual property crime in coordination with federal efforts.  Over $2 million in discretionary awards, announced today, were made to 13 state and local jurisdictions.

"IP enforcement is more than just protecting businesses from economic loss - it is also about protecting Americans from dangerous goods ranging from counterfeit pharmaceuticals to lead-tainted jewelry," said Laurie O. Robinson, OJP's Assistant Attorney General. "The Department of Justice is implementing a strategy that includes federal, state and international partners to combat this type of crime."

The funding to the 13 state and local jurisdictions provides support for:

• Enforcing criminal intellectual property laws, including the reimbursement of expenses incurred in performing criminal enforcement operations, such as overtime payments and storage fees for seized evidence.
• Educating the public to prevent, deter, and identify criminal violations of intellectual property laws.
• Establishing task forces to include state, local law, or tribal enforcement entities, or both, exclusively to conduct investigations and forensic analyses of evidence and prosecutions in matters involving criminal intellectual property laws.
• Assisting state, local, and tribal law enforcement officers and prosecutors in acquiring computer and other equipment to conduct investigations and forensic analyses of evidence in matters involving criminal intellectual property laws.

The local award recipients are:

• County of Fresno (Fresno, CA) ($49,992)
• Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (Los Angeles, CA) ($200,000)
• County of Sacramento (Sacramento, CA) ($200,000)
• Miami Shores Village (Miami Shores, FL) ($64,885)
• Attorney General's Office, Mississippi, (Jackson, MS)  ($166,365)
• North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State (Raleigh, NC) ($199,978)
• Bronx County District Attorney (Bronx, NY) ($113,103)
• New York City (NY, NY) ($192,200)
• The New York County District Attorney's Office (NY, NY) ($199,800)
• Houston Police Department (Houston, TX) ($200,000)
• City of San Antonio (TX) ($200,000)
• Chesterfield County, VA (Chesterfield, VA) ($200,000)
• Virginia Department of State Police (Richmond, VA) ($149,907)

"Intellectual property crime is not a victimless crime - it affects every American citizen," notes Jim Burch, Acting Director of OJP's Bureau of Justice Assistance.  "Dangerous counterfeit products and lost retail revenue resulting from intellectual property crimes pose significant threats to the safety and economic security of the American people."

Awards were also made to the City of Los Angeles Police Department, the National Crime Prevention Council, The National Association of Attorneys General and the National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C).  The announcement of the awards was made at the opening of a one day training summit, Real Crime - Real American Jobs, Why You Should Care about Intellectual Property Rights, for law enforcement, policy makers, and industry representatives, in Pasadena, CA.

The Office of Justice Programs (OJP), headed by Assistant Attorney General Laurie O. Robinson, provides federal leadership in developing the nation's capacity to prevent and control crime, administer justice, and assist victims.  OJP has seven components: the Bureau of Justice Assistance; the Bureau of Justice Statistics; the National Institute of Justice; the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention; the Office for Victims of Crime; the Community Capacity Development Office, and the Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking.  More information about OJP can be found at http://www.ojp.gov.

The intellectual property Law Firm of Greenberg & Lieberman, LLC today announced that the Alexandria Circuit Court has ruled in favor of their client Alex McMillan IV, DDS, P.C., a Washington, DC area dentist, regarding a legal action initiated against a former employee charged with trademark infringement, trade secret violations, and domain theft.

On March 5, 2010, The Firm of Greenberg and Lieberman, LLC., led by Attorneys Stevan Lieberman and Debora McCormick, joined by local counsel Jonathan Westreich, completed a three day trial to adjudicate the intellectual property infringement matters brought before the court by Dr. McMillan. On March 17, 2010, the Court entered an Order which found that Thomas Winkler, the Defendant and former employee of Dr. McMillan, never had any ownership interest in Plaintiffs trademarks, "No matter how many Years and How Many Fears, It's Time for You to Smile Easy," "Burkedentists.com," and "SmileEasy.com." Further the court clarified that the trademarks are and always have been assets of Alex McMillan IV, DDS, P.C., and that Thomas Winkler deliberately and intentionally misappropriated the practice's trade secrets.

The Court Ordered Thomas Winkler to execute an assignment assigning all contested trademarks to Dr. McMillan and further ordered him to destroy all copies of a disputed patient list that the court determined was stolen from Dr. McMillan. A full copy of the Order may be seen at http://www.aplegal.com/ourwork.php. (http://bit.ly/94ToLV)

About Greenberg & Lieberman

Greenberg & Lieberman is an Intellectual Property Law Firm which has been in business since 1996 and provides patent, trademark, copyright prosecution, litigation and representation services. Greenberg & Lieberman serves clients nationally and internationally with a particular focus on computer / Internet law and patent prosecution for the small business. The firm has served over 20,000 clients.

Dr. Alex McMillan IV is a general dentist with locations in Burke and Alexandria, VA. With over 30 years of experience, Dr. McMillan's primary emphasis is on the provision of comprehensive restorative, cosmetic, implant and sedation dentistry.

United Business Media (UBM), organizers of the Game Developers Conference(R) (GDC), has filed a lawsuit against China GDC (CGDC) organizers China Game Publishers Association and Howell International Trade Fair Limited for unfair competition and false advertising. UBM has requested that CGDC organizers immediately cease its illegal acts, offer a public apology, lift their influence on the local industry, and compensate for all corresponding economic losses.

With more than 20 years of history, GDC is the most renowned professional conference under UBM and the world's largest conference for game industry professionals. Yearly events that target game developers in the online, console, and mobile sectors are held in cities across Europe, Asia, and the US. As of 2009, there are five events under the GDC brand, including: GDC, GDC Canada, GDC Europe, GDC Austin, and GDC China.

UBM is pursuing legal actions against CGDC for unlawful infringement of rights. CGDC has not only caused public misconception with false propaganda and commercial defamation of UBM and GDC China 2009, but the China Game Publishers Association has also issued letters to relevant industry enterprises and individuals preventing them from participating in GDC China 2009. These series of actions have negatively influenced the industry and led to serious repercussions.

UBM's decision to turn to legal actions is not only based on its determination to safeguard its rights, but also to raise public awareness, set a positive example for the industry, and promote fair business and equal competition.

For more information on the 2009 Game Developers Conference(R) China please visit www.gdcchina.com.

SOURCE Think Services