With the January 28, 2025 termination of the Climate Change Mitigation Pilot Program (CCMPP), applicants for US patent protection have lost an important option for cost-effective prioritized examination of certain “green” patent applications. However, other options for prioritized examination of
Harness Dickey Blog
Harness Dickey’s team of trademark and patent attorneys serve clients in all areas of intellectual property law, including patents, trademarks, IP litigation, PTAB Proceedings, trade secrets, due diligence investigations, and global IP management.
In response to Detroit’s growing automotive industry, J. King Harness established Harness Dickey in 1921. Serving as the head of the patent department for the Ford Motor Company, Harness understood the value of expertise in intellectual property and set out to open a firm that would focus exclusively on intellectual property law.
Today, we are one of the top IP law firms in the U.S. measured by both the number of attorneys and by objective rankings of results. Our trademark and patent attorneys represent world leaders in business and technology, and our collective experience spans practically every practice area and niche specialty within intellectual property law.
Latest from Harness Dickey Blog - Page 3
What’s Really Going On With the “Enchanted Parks” Trademark Filings?
Last week, a company called Enchanted Parks Holdings filed several applications with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO seeking to federally register trademarks related to amusement parks and apparel. The filings quickly attracted attention—particularly among Six Flags fans—because Six Flags has…
Amazon’s APEX Program Can Address Indirect Patent Infringement
We have written before about Amazon’s APEX procedure and how it could help patent owners take down infringing products found for sale on Amazon. Amazon Patent Evaluation Express (APEX) – A Cost-Effective Alternative to Litigation | Harness IP. In…
Green Patent Programs Worldwide – Prologue
In 2022, the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) launched the Climate Change Mitigation Pilot Program (CCMPP) to enable accelerated examination of eligible utility patent applications that, as of June 2023, involved technologies directed to mitigating climate change by reducing,…
Understanding Equitable Defenses in Trademark Infringement: Laches, Equitable Estoppel, and Acquiescence
A trademark is afforded legal protection when it designates a source or origin of its product or service by distinguishing its businesses’ good or service from others. The overarching goal in enforcing trademark rights is to limit consumer deception and…
USPTO Updates and Changes Under Director Squires
USPTO Director John Squires was confirmed by the Senate on September 17, 2025, and a September 22, 2025 press release published by the USPTO welcomed Director Squires into his new role. An October 9, 2025 statement by Director Squires discusses…
The Soup Can Case Is Closed: What Brands Can Learn From Campbell’s Win
The recently resolved federal lawsuit between The Campbell’s Company (and CSC Brands LP) and political candidate Shelby Nicole Campbell offers a noteworthy reminder of how powerful—and protected—famous trade dress can be. The dispute centered on the campaign’s use of branding…
Before Filing a Complaint for Patent Infringement, Consider Your Patent Litigation Options at the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) and Europe’s Unified Patent Court (UPC)
You are a successful U.S. company with U.S. patents and European patents with unitary effect. You just learned that a European competitor is making infringing products in Europe and importing them into the U.S. without your authorization. You have been…
Using AI Responsibly: Balancing Innovation with Privacy
As artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly adopted to innovate, it is essential to consider privacy implications of using AI tools to collect, analyze and/or use sensitive personal data to innovate and/or for other competitive purposes. AI tools can be a…
What In-House Counsel Should Consider Regarding the Growing Use of AI
In 1981, IBM introduced its first personal computer (PC), revolutionizing industries worldwide, including the legal industry. Before the IBM PC, law firms relied on typewriters, dictation machines, and physical libraries for research. Like the adoption of innovative technologies, the adoption…