We at the firm are excited to announce that Zarley Law Firm, P.L.C. has merged with venerated intellectual property law firm Sturm & Fix, LLC. The firm’s namesake, Michael O. Sturm, will be joining Zarley Law as Of Counsel, ushering in an exciting period of transition and growth for Zarley Law.

Mike got his start as a Patent Examiner at the United States Patent and Trademark Office, working on valve and fluid-handling patents. After that, he served as Patent Advisor to the Office of Naval Research, as well as the Navy’s Strategic Systems Project Office. He entered private practice in the early ’70s with the firm that would eventually become Sturm & Fix. Needless to say, when it comes to intellectual property law, Mike knows what he’s talking about.

The new firm, which will continue operating under the Zarley Law Firm banner, combines the skills and expertise of two firms specializing in intellectual property law and draws on a combined 90 years of experience to serve its clients’ diverse intellectual property needs.

The firm is thrilled to embark on this new chapter as it builds on a strong, vibrant, and diversified practice that values honesty, hard work, creative vision, and most importantly, common sense.

During a recent conversation with a patent examiner an interesting consequence of the COVID-19 outbreak came to light. Many applicants have taken advantage of the extensions afforded by the USPTO in relation to many patent and trademark deadlines and the waiver of associated fees.

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Food and beverage giant Nestlé© has filed a trademark infringement suit in Texas, seeking a permanent injunction against Mexican distributor Ultra Distribuciones Mundiales SA de CV for selling unauthorized–but authentic–Nestlé© products in the United States.

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Video game makers can’t be sued for copyright infringement when they recreate tattoos on famous athletes’ virtual avatars.

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Stung by its involvement in what has been referred to as the “Lollapalooza of patent trolling,” Fortress Investment Group, LLC has announced it is offering royalty-free licenses for its patents involved in COVID-19 diagnostics research.

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It’s official: states cannot be held liable for copyright infringement, as long as they don’t abuse the privilege.

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