MAGIC CHEF VS. MASTER CHEF Our firm recently filed an opposition in the United States Trademark Office on behalf of Maytag Corporation against Hopper Radio of Florida, Inc. Maytag is the owner of the famous ‘MAGIC CHEF’ trademark that has been used for many years on kitchen appliances including ovens, freezers, refrigerators, dishwashers, microwaves, blenders, and mixers. Maytag has opposed […] Continue Reading →
MVS ATTORNEY SPEAKS TO AIAA Scott Johnson, a patent attorney with MVS’s litigation and mechanical prosecution group, was invited to speak at the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics’ (AIAA) 40th Annual Aerospace Sciences Meeting in Reno, Nevada, the topic: Managing Intellectual Property in the Electronic Economy. Johnson focused on the importance of IP to help businesses recoup research and […] Continue Reading →
MVS ATTORNEY’S BOOK CONTINUES TO TEACH LAWYERS TO COMMUNICATE PERSUASIVELY As reported in the last issue of MVS Spotlight, John D. Goodhue has authored a book called Persuasive Presentations: The Essential Guide for Lawyers, in conjunction with Ann E. Brenden of the Iowa Attorney General’s office. The book is published by the American Bar Association’s Law Practice Management Division and currently is the Law Practice […] Continue Reading →
MVS employees offer a helping hand In February McKee, Voorhees and Sease began a community service project of serving meals to the residents at the Door of Faith Mission in downtown Des Moines. When the project was first proposed, it was anticipated that 12 people would be willing to pitch in and help out. Instead, twice as many staff and attorneys […] Continue Reading →
PATENTS GRANTED FOR COMPUTERIZED INSTRUCTION OF SPEECH SYSTEM A McKee, Voorhees and Sease client recently received two patents related to computerized instruction of speech, reading and other language skills (6,186,794 and 6,206,700; apparatus for interactive adaptive learning by an individual through at least one of a stimuli presentation device and a user perceivable display). First, the computer presents tasks to the student. Then […] Continue Reading →
Response to Supreme Court case In our last issue we reported the firm’s success at the United States Supreme Court in the Pioneer seed patent case. State legislatures, including Iowa, are introducing legislation that restricts the ability of seed companies to use a ‘bag tag license’ limiting what seed purchasers can do with purchased seed (i.e., grow a cash crop, […] Continue Reading →
BIOTECH DEPARTMENT CONTINUES TO GROW Lila Akrad and Tonya Y. Bradyhave recently joined the firmin our Biotech Department.Both have extensive expertiseand we welcome them.Akrad received her B.S. fromthe University of Kansas inOrganismal Biology, did postgraduatestudy at Iowa State,and then completed her lawdegree at the Vermont LawSchool. Her expertise includesAquamed, Microbiology,Neuroanatomy, OrganicChemistry and Parasitology.Brady received her B.S. inMolecular Genetics fromOhio State […] Continue Reading →
FOCUS: THE MECHANICAL PROSECUTION GROUP Each issue, we’re going to takea quick look at one of the areasof expertise at MVS. This month,we’d like to introduce you to ourMechanical Prosecution group.Four of the firm’s partners,Bruce McKee, a former examinerat the Patent and TrademarkOffice, Mike Voorhees, thefirm’s managing partner, MarkHansing, and Kirk Hartungserve this team. Also in thegroup are Scott Johnson […] Continue Reading →
LAW FIRM TO CHANGE NAME BUT NOT FOCUS The Intellectual propery law firm, Zarley, McKee, Thomte, Voorhees & Sease, P.L.C. announced that Don Zarley and Dennis Thomte are separating from the firm as of December 31 and the firm will change its name to McKee, Voorhees & Sease, P.L.C. as of that date.’Don bought a small law practice in the 1960’s and together […] Continue Reading →
Litigation Attorney Added Ronald Sotakrecently joined the firm to serve on the litigation team. He was admitted to bar in 1992, and also has been admitted to practice before U.S. District Courts, Northern and Southern Districts of Iowa; and 8th Circuit Court of Appeals.He got his B.A. from Salisbury State University and his law degree from Drake University […] Continue Reading →