Innoscience faces ban in US; Cardi B faces $50 million lawsuit

Starting from July 1, 2024, Kazakhstan will increase the registration fees for trademarks, service marks, geographical indications, and names of places of origin of goods. The application and examination fees for trademarks are 113,750 KZT (approximately 1,723 RMB) for legal entities, 85,312.5 KZT (approximately 1,293 RMB) for small and medium-sized enterprises, and 79,625 KZT (approximately 1,206 RMB) for individuals. The renewal and publication fees are 182,146 KZT (approximately 2,760 RMB) for legal entities, 136,609.5 KZT (approximately 2,070 RMB) for small and medium-sized enterprises, and 127,502.2 KZT (approximately 1,932 RMB) for individuals. The pre-search fees range from 1,750 KZT (approximately 26.5 RMB) to 162,400 KZT (approximately 2,461 RMB). Most fees for trademarks have increased by approximately 25%. However, patent fees remain unchanged.

自2024年7月1日起，哈萨克斯坦上调商品商标、服务商标、地理标志和原产地名称的注册费。商标申请和审查费为法人113750坚戈（约人民币1723元），中小型企业85312.5坚戈（约人民币1293元），自然人79625坚戈（约人民币1206元）；续展费和公告费为法人182146坚戈（约人民币2760元），中小型企业136609.5坚戈（约人民币2070元），自然人127502.2坚戈（约人民币1932元）；预先检索费为1750坚戈（约人民币26.5元）至162400坚戈（约人民币2461元）不等。大部分官费上涨约25%。专利官费没有变化。

The US International Trade Commission(ITC) has recently made an initial determination on disputes between Semiconductor companies EPC and Innoscience over GaN technology. The ITC found two EPC patents, numbered 8,350,294 and 8,404,508, to be valid and that the ‘294 patent has been infringed by Innoscience. Innoscience said that though it was ruled that Innoscience has infringed the ‘294 patent the point is moot because it believes the patent is invalid. The ‘294 patent is being challenged before the USPTO with a decision expected in March 2025, Innoscience noted. EPC argued that China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) has validated EPC’s counterpart patents in China. If its US patent and the infringement of it stands, it could lead to a ban on importation of Innoscience’s infringing products into the US. The Commission’s final determination is reportedly expected to be issued on November 5, 2024.

近日，美国国际贸易委员会（ITC）对半导体公司宜普和英诺赛科的GaN（氮化镓）专利纠纷做出裁定。ITC认定宜普的两项关键专利（专利号分别为 8,350,294及8,404,508）有效，并裁定英诺赛科侵犯了294号专利。英诺赛科表示，虽然ITC裁定其侵犯了294号专利，但这一点并不重要，因为英诺赛科认为该专利无效。英诺赛科称，294号专利正在美国专利商标局接受无效挑战，预计将于2025年3月作出决定。宜普表示，国家知识产权局已裁定其专利在中国的同族专利有效。如果其专利最终被认定有效且英诺赛科的侵权行为成立，英诺赛科将面临其侵权产品在美国被禁售的风险。据悉，ITC预计将于2024年11月5日做出最终裁定。

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The European Commission might fine German online food takeaway firm Delivery Hero more than 400 million euros ($433 million) due to antitrust violations, the company announced in a statement on Monday. The potential fine would be for "alleged anti-competitive agreement to share national markets, exchanges of commercially sensitive information and no-poach agreements". The company did not say when the potential fine might be imposed but said it would cooperate with the Commission's investigation.

德国在线外卖公司Delivery Hero周一在一份声明中表示，由于涉嫌违反反垄断规定，欧盟委员会可能会对其做出超过4亿欧元（约合4.33亿美元）罚款的处罚决定。据悉，欧盟委员会可能做出该罚款决定的原因包括Delivery Hero“涉嫌达成违反竞争的市场分割协议及互不挖角协议以及交换商业敏感信息等”。该公司并未透漏欧盟委员会将在何时做出该罚款决定，但表示将积极配合欧盟委员会的调查。

A group of Hyundai Motor dealers has sued the South Korean automobile giant in Chicago federal court for allegedly inflating sales numbers for electric vehicles while punishing franchises that would not participate in the ruse. The lawsuit, filed last Friday by Napleton Aurora Imports in Illinois and affiliated franchises, said Hyundai Motor America Corp pressured dealers to misuse inventory codes meant for "loaner" vehicles to exaggerate their sales figures. Dealers that agreed to improperly code the vehicles were rewarded by Hyundai with wholesale and retail price discounts and other incentives, according to the lawsuit. The complaint accused Hyundai of fraud and violating the federal antitrust law Robinson-Patman Act. The plaintiffs asked the court to award an unspecified amount of damages to cover lost sales, revenue and profit. Hyundai said in a statement on Monday that it does not condone falsifying sales data and had opened an investigation after it was alerted to the allegations.

部分现代汽车经销商在芝加哥联邦法院起诉现代汽车，指控这家韩国汽车巨头夸大其电动车的销售数据，并对不参与这一骗局的经销商进行惩罚。该诉讼于上周五由伊利诺伊州的Napleton Aurora Imports及其关联的经销商提起，称现代汽车美国公司向经销商施压，迫使经销商滥用用于“代步车”的库存代码以夸大销售数据。诉讼称，同意上述操作的经销商可以得到现代汽车提供的批发和零售价格折扣及其他奖励。诉讼指控现代汽车欺诈并违反了美国联邦反垄断法《罗宾逊-帕特曼法》。原告要求法院判决赔偿其未指定金额的损失，以弥补其销售、收入及利润损失。现代汽车周一在一份声明中表示，公司不同意对其伪造销售数据的指控，并在得知这些指控后已经展开相关调查。

Apple has filed an urgent lawsuit against several retail stores in Egypt, accusing them of using Apple’s trademark and selling counterfeit products, which “threatens to erode consumer trust in the brand,” as per news released last Friday. The company said in its statement that it was alarmed to discover several retail stores infringing on its trademark, and, as a consequence, has decided to take legal action against numerous stores across Egypt. The company also mentioned that its trademarks enjoy legal protection in Egypt and warned that any imitation of its trademark by another party constitutes an intentional crime.

7月5日消息，苹果公司已对埃及几家零售商店提起紧急诉讼，指控这些零售商店使用苹果的商标并销售假冒产品。苹果称，这些商店的行为“威胁到消费者对苹果品牌的信任”。苹果公司在声明中表示，目前已发现多家埃及零售商店侵犯其商标权，因此决定对这些商店采取法律行动。该公司同时警告称，其商标在埃及享有法律保护，任何方对其商标的模仿行为均属于故意侵权。

Popular American rapper Cardi B has been sued for alleged copyright infringement. Cardi B was sued by two singers from Texas and Oklahoma for allegedly using their song in her track “Enough (Miami)” without permission. According to the lawsuit, Miguel Aguilar and Joshua Fraustro alleged that Cardi B and her producers used elements of their 2021 song “Greasy Frybread” in her track. The plaintiffs claimed that their song was also featured as a promotional piece for the FX series “Reservation Dogs.” The lawsuit also names Atlantic Records, Warner Music Group, and others as co-defendants. The plaintiffs are seeking substantial damages of $50 million for the economic impact.

美国著名说唱歌手卡迪·B因涉嫌版权侵权被起诉。来自德克萨斯州和俄克拉荷马州的两位歌手提起诉讼，指控卡迪·B在未经许可的情况下在其歌曲《Enough (Miami)》中使用了他们的歌曲。根据起诉书，Miguel Aguilar以及Joshua Fraustro艺指控称，卡迪·B及制作人在《Enough (Miami)》中使用了其在2021年发行的歌曲《Greasy Frybread》中的元素。两名原告声称，他们的歌曲还作为FX频道《Reservation Dogs》影集的宣传片段出现。该诉讼还将大西洋唱片公司、华纳音乐集团等列为共同被告。两名原告要求获得 5000万美元的巨额损害赔偿，以弥补其经济损失。