In this week's post, we see that the American Law Institute (ALI) recently voted on a new restatement of copyright law, which has music creators up in arms. 

Plus, as the Patent Pilot Programs comes to an end, patent litigators will face uncertainty as new judges unfamiliar with patents will now hear patent cases.

New ALI Copyright Restatement Vote Stirred Musician Opposition

The American Law Institute (“ALI”) recently voted on a restatement of copyright law, which has music creators up in arms. The ALI, which is an organization that compiles and publishes books that cover a variety of legal issues, generally known as the “Restatements of Law,” is best known for creating guides that both summarize important court decisions and laws in the United States.

ALI Restatements are often cited in legal works, court decisions, and briefs, and many subject-specific guides are required reading in law schools. With ALI Restatements being so influential, it is no surprise that music creators wrote an open letter to ALI, urging members to vote against the newest copyright restatement. Music creators have banded together, arguing that the new restatement will erode the rights of music creators. 

Find the full article here.

End of Patent Pilot Program Means Judges With No Patent Experience Will Now Hear Patent Cases

On June 9, 2021, Chief Judge Lynn of the Northern District of Texas issued an order vacating Special Order 3-287, issued July 26, 2011, that established procedures for assigning patent cases filed under the Patent Pilot Program. This order comes as the Pilot Program is set to end on July 4, 2021.

The Patent Pilot Program was passed by Congress in 2011 to try and help educate judges about patents and allow them to become more familiar with patent cases. The program allowed federal judges to opt into the program. Judges who opted in would have the patent cases in their district split between just judges who opted in rather than the full complement of judges.

Read more here.

Click to read the previous Weekly IP Buzz on Thriving Attorney.

For more posts, see our Ideate blog for the latest news and insights into law, business, and culture.

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In addition to publishing Thriving Attorney, Darin M. Klemchuk is founder of Klemchuk LLP, a litigation, intellectual property, and transactional law firm located in Dallas, Texas. Click to read more about Darin Klemchuk's practice as an intellectual property lawyer. For more on the latest developments in IP law, see the blogs Ideate and IP Questions Answered.