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ABI Journal

Emerging Industries and Technology

IP Issues in Litigation

The ABI Bankruptcy Litigation Committee recently published a newsletter with articles focusing on IP matters in bankruptcy litigation. Following publication of the newsletter, authors invited members to dial in for further discussion of the topic and articles.

Gaining a Clear View of IT Security in a Health Care Organization

There is much in the booming health care industry to entice an acquisition or integration. The boom has been accompanied by vast amounts of data digitized as electronic health records and myriad other formats. This data adds great value to health care organizations. Because of its value, data merits exacting protection from loss of any kind. The person keeping a finger on this particular pulse is the organization’s CIO.

Vulnerability Has Increased Along with Data   

Nortel: The Courts’ Creative Cross-Border Solution

An unprecedented filing leads to an unprecedented joint solution from the both the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware and the Ontario Superior Court of Justice -Commercial List supervising the Nortel liquidation in Canada and the U.S.

Section 365(a) Trumped by Inability to Assign Trademark Under Nonbankruptcy Law

Trump Entertainment Resorts Trump AC Casino Marks, LLC (the “licensee/debtor”) filed voluntary petitions for chapter 11 relief on Sept. 9, 2014. On Aug. 5, 2014, Trump Marks, LLC sought to terminate the royalty-free trademark license previously granted to the licensee/debtor.

Who Gets Paid? Section 365(n) Royalty Payments Under “Zombie Licenses” After a Sale of IP

In today’s corporate bankruptcy world, a debtor’s most important and valuable assets often come in the form of intellectual property (IP). Understanding the effect of bankruptcy on IP licenses is crucial not only for debtors, but also for existing licensees and for potential purchasers of IP assets.

Social Media Update: Facebook and Twitter Accounts Are Property of the Estate

On April 3, 2015, U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas ruled that business social media accounts are property of the estate. Accordingly, the court ordered the former owner to relinquish control of the accounts, which the former owner claimed were personal and not business related.[1]

Recommendations of the ABI Commission to Study the Reform of Chapter 11: Intellectual Property Licenses

Beginning in 2012, a distinguished group of bankruptcy attorneys, academics and judges known as the American Bankruptcy Institute (ABI) Commission to Study the Reform of Chapter 11 (the Commission) held periodic meetings throughout the U.S. to analyze and discuss comprehensive reforms to chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code. The results of their analyses and recommendations were published on Dec.

Undefined: Court Holds Trademark Licensee Protected Notwithstanding § 363 Sale

On Oct. 31, 2014, Hon. Michael B. Kaplan of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey issued an opinion addressing the rights of trademark licensees following a sale of substantially all assets under § 363 of the Bankruptcy Code.[1] The decision arose out of the Crumbs Bake Shop bankruptcy case and the sale of substantially all of the debtors’ assets to Lemonis Fischer Acquisition Co. LLC (LFAC), which was approved by the bankruptcy court in August 2014.

Trademark Licensees Win Major Victory in Executory Contract Opinion

In June 2014, the Eighth Circuit reversed its own August 2012 panel decision that had allowed a chapter 11 debtor/licensor  to “reject” a perpetual, royalty-free trademark license agreement as an “executory contract.” The entire Eighth Circuit determined that a perpetual, royalty-free trademark license was not an executory contract and not subject to an assumption or rejection by a licensor debtor. [1]