Author: civilleadmin

California has introduced two significant laws this year to combat the misuse of deepfakes—manipulated media that looks real. Since businesses are not likely to forgo consumers in California—the world’s fifth-biggest economy on its own—they should pay attention even if they are not in California. It has been our experience that California attorneys have no problem…

Phillips & Bathke, P.C. is pleased to announce a significant victory in another “Schedule A” case it has handled. The defense, led by Jonathan Phillips, secured not only the dismissal of the case against its client but also financial restitution that compensates the client for both legal fees and business interruptions. By levelling aggressive, focused…

The 6th Cir. recently considered whether a members of a supposed breakaway faction of Michigan’s Libertarian Party could use the Libertarian National Committee’s trademark and hold themselves out as the official Michigan affiliate. Libertarian Nat’l Comm., Inc. v. Saliba, No. 23-1856, 2024 U.S. App. LEXIS 21832 (6th Cir. Aug. 28, 2024). The preliminary injunction entered…

Phillips & Bathke, P.C. has moved its Chicago office—by three whole floors. With our addition of Jonathan Francis to the team, we have larger space in Suite 1126 of the Monadnock Building. Visit John, Jonathan, and Jonathan (sometimes) at the Monadnock Building, 53 West Jackson Boulevard, Suite 1126, Chicago, Illinois 60604

In a recent ruling on August 12, 2024, the Northern District of California, by Judge Orrick, issued a significant decision in Anderson v. Stability AI. This case involves allegations regarding the use of the plaintiff’s images as training data for an AI text-to-image generator.  Key Points from the Ruling: 1. Dismissal of Image Use Claims:…

A recent, precedential, decision from the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) addressed the issue of acquired distinctiveness for descriptive marks listed on the Supplemental Register. This ruling has notable implications for trademark practitioners and businesses alike. State Permits, Inc. v. Fieldvine, Inc., Cancellation No. 92075095 (August 16, 2024). Key Takeaways from the Decision The…

We are thrilled to announce that Jonathan Francis has joined Phillips & Bathke, P.C. as an Of Counsel attorney. Jonathan brings a wealth of experience in intellectual property and civil litigation, gained from his time in both small and “big law” environments. As the third “Jo(h)n” at our Firm, he adds a distinctive edge to…

Grain Belt Express Clean Line, LLC was once again thwarted in its attempts to build a direct current transmission line. The crucial step for such a project is securing a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) from the Illinois Commerce Commission. In the end, the new company simply could not show it had the…

The Illinois General Assembly introduced a significant new laws (and now regulations) aimed at improving worker benefits through the Paid Leave for All Workers Act. This law, codified under 820 Ill. Comp. Stat. 192, mandates that private employers provide paid leave to their employees, marking a substantial shift in how businesses manage employee time off….