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What Happened in the Field of Intellectual Property Worldwide?

Writer: Juniper IPJuniper IP
Mar 43 min read

This newsletter compiles global intellectual property news from various media sources.


Key Intellectual Property Events in March

In March, as we close the first quarter of the year, we will witness significant events in the field of intellectual property. These events will provide valuable opportunities for industry professionals and leaders.

You can access other events scheduled throughout 2025 via this link.

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Meta Lawyer Mark Lemley Withdraws from High-Profile AI Copyright Case Over Zuckerberg's Recent Actions


Meta lawyer Mark Lemley announced his withdrawal from a high-profile AI copyright case due to CEO Mark Zuckerberg's recent behaviors. While Lemley still believes Meta is on the right side of the issue, he stated that he could no longer represent them due to Zuckerberg's shift toward "toxic masculinity" and "Neo-Nazi extremism." Lemley also mentioned deactivating his Threads account and distancing himself from Facebook.


The case Meta is facing revolves around whether the company used AI to learn from copyrighted works and whether this constitutes infringement. Writers argue that AI training, often involving works sourced from pirate sites, violates the rights of creators. On the other side, AI proponents argue that the influence of any single work on the model is minimal, and requiring payment for every use would hinder the development of a paradigm-shifting technology. The case, brought by plaintiffs including comedian Sarah Silverman, author Ta-Nehisi Coates, and others, has become a significant intellectual property dispute.


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Ralph Lauren Wins Trademark Infringement Case in China


Ralph Lauren successfully won a series of trademark infringement cases in the Shanghai Intellectual Property Court against Shanghai Ruifa Apparel Co. Ltd. and Qingyuan Huahao Zhibai Leather Goods and Apparel Co. Ltd. These companies were found guilty of unauthorized use of Ralph Lauren trademarks, including "POLO," "POLO BY RALPH LAUREN," and "POLO RALPH LAUREN," which misled consumers and falsely implied an association with the brand.


The court ordered the defendants to:


  • Cease all infringing activities, including the use and sale of counterfeit goods.

  • Remove the trademarks from store signs, decorations, and packaging.


Additionally, the defendants were fined 20 million yuan (~$2.8 million), one of the highest compensations awarded in Chinese trademark cases.


Ralph Lauren praised the ruling and China’s efforts to strengthen intellectual property (IP) protections, as reflected in recent increases in foreign patent and trademark registrations.



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Google Seeks Dismissal of Artists’ AI Copyright Lawsuit


Google has filed a motion to dismiss a consolidated lawsuit brought by a group of artists accusing the company of copyright infringement for using their works to train AI models. The lawsuit, filed in the US District Court for the Northern District of California, includes claims from photographer Jingna Zhang, cartoonist Hope Larson, journalist Jill Leovy, and others.


Google argued that the complaint is overly vague, improperly asserts copyright claims for an undefined number of works, and contains irrelevant allegations such as conspiracy and fraud. It also claims that some works referenced in the lawsuit lack valid copyright registration, particularly Sarah Andersen’s works, which are registered as compilations that exclude certain images from copyright coverage.


The lawsuit stems from accusations that Google used billions of images without permission to train its AI model, Imagen. Google criticized the complaint for being unclear and failing to specify which works were allegedly infringed, leaving ambiguity about the scope of the claims.


Google has requested a hearing on April 23, asserting that the artists must clarify their allegations to provide fair notice of what Google needs to defend against.



 
 
 

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