Fulltext Search
U.S. bankruptcy laws may prevent a patent licensor from using foreign bankruptcy proceedings to cancel patent cross-licenses and impose new royalty-bearing licenses

First published in LES Insights

USA, Insolvency & Restructuring, Litigation, Patents, Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, LLP, Bankruptcy, United States bankruptcy court
Seventh Circuit holds that a trademark licensee is permitted to continue using licensed marks despite bankruptcy rejection of the license agreement

An issue of potential concern for any licensee of intellectual property is the possibility of losing that license if its licensor files for bankruptcy protection. For a bankrupt licensor, its intellectual property may be a significant asset that could be sold or otherwise licensed as part of a dissolution or restructuring. But any license on such intellectual property essentially acts as an encumberance on that property that may reduce the value of the asset to a potential purchaser.

USA, Insolvency & Restructuring, Litigation, Trademarks, Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, LLP, Bankruptcy, Seventh Circuit
High Court warns: receivers should not give 'usual undertaking as to damages' lightly

Introduction

The High Court recently considered, in European Bank Limited v Robb Evans of Robb Evans & Associates, the nature and extent of a "usual undertaking as to damages" given by a receiver in accordance with Part 28, rule 7(2) of the Supreme Court Rules 1970 (NSW). In doing so, it overturned the decision of the NSW Court of Appeal to reinstate the trial judge's finding that the receiver was liable for substantial losses suffered by a third party deprived of the funds which were at the heart of the dispute.

Background

Australia, Insolvency & Restructuring, Litigation, Norton Rose Fulbright, Injunction, Breach of contract, Citibank, Court of Appeal of England & Wales, High Court of Justice (England & Wales), High Court of Australia, New South Wales Court of Appeal