Furniture Law Blog
"Following patent and intellectual property law in the furniture industry."
Author: Jake Wharton of Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice in Winston-Salem, N.C., authors this blog. Lawyers from the firm also author Womble Carlyle Construction Industry Blog, North Carolina Appellate Blog, Trade Secrets Blog, Fair Labor Standards Act Law, Womble Carlyle Supply Chain Management Blog, Multifamily and Mixed Use Development, Womble Non-Compete and Restrictive Covenants Blog, Political GPS: Womble Carlyle Political Law and Wag the Dog.
Blawg Related Categories: Intellectual Property Law • Patent Law
Recent Posts from Furniture Law Blog
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Fate of Barcelona Chair Still In Air
As previously reported on here, the legal protections afforded the Barcelona Chair were moving towards a jury decision in August 2009. It appears that the case, Alphaville Design, Inc. v. Knoll, Inc., Civil No. 07-cv-5569…
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With Furniture Market Comes A New Round Of Suits (And One Settlement!)
For this Fall 2009 Furniture Market, we have nice variety of cases involving intellectual property and furniture (I'll save the settlement news for last):1. Hillsdale Furniture, LLC v. Trade Masters, LLC, Civil No. 09-cv-798 (M.D.N.C.)…
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Pew Patent Reminder Of Usefulness Of Utility Patents For Furniture
On October 7, 2009 Sauder Manufacturing Company of Archbold, Ohio sued Souter, Inc. d/b/a Covenant Church Manufacturing ("Covenant") of Ozark, Missouri for infringement of U.S. Patent No. 5,890,761 entitled "Pew Having Discrete Seating Portions" ("the…
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The New Pleading Standards And Furniture Trade Dress Cases
It was only a matter of time before the new pleading standards set forth in Twombly v. Bell Atl. Corp., 550 U.S. 544 (2007) and Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 129 S.Ct. 1937 (2009) were interpreted through…
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Luxo Tells Disney "Lights Out"
On Thursday, September 3, 2009, Norwegian lighting design company Luxo ASA filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York alleging that Walt Disney Co.'s plans to market…
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Fate Of "Barcelona Chair" Moving To Jury
The iconic Barcelona chair designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe lies at the heart of a dispute between Fremont, CA based Alphaville Design and Knoll, Inc. Both manufacturers sell Bauhuas style furniture. The legal…
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Lifetime Products Sues Five Chinese Companies For Patent Infringement
Lifetime Products, Inc., a Utah corporation that manufactures folding tables and chairs among other items, filed suit on May 5, 2009 against five difference Chinese companies alleging infringement of 18 utility patents. The complaint may…
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Innovation USA Files Design Patent Action Against Ido Furniture
Innovations U.S.A., Inc. filed an action in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York (Case No. 09-cv-1727) against Ido Furniture (U.S.A.) Corp. and Zhuhai Furniture Co., Ltd. alleging that defendants…
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Raymour & Flanigan Sues Retailer For Use Of Name
On April 22, 2009, northeast U.S. retailer Raymour & Flanigan filed an action against Huffman Koos furniture and related entities and individuals alleging that defendants used the famous Raymour & Flanigan. Raymour alleges that defendants…
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High Point University Publishes Newsletter Timed For Market
The Department of Furnishings and Design at High Point University has begun publishing a newsletter entitled "The Home Front" that is focused on home furnishings research. The newsletter is slated for release at the beginning…