Profiles in Leadership Journal Recognizes Four Knobbe Martens Partners in 2026 Mid-Year Leadership Awards
IRVINE, Calif., July 14, 2026 – Leading intellectual property law firm Knobbe Martens is pleased to share that four of the firm’s partners—Jessica Achtsam, Charlene Azema, Irfan Lateef, and Christy...
Sound Marks – They Are More Than Just “Alright, Alright, Alright”
Key Takeaway: Non-traditional trademarks like sound marks can provide valuable protection for distinctive sounds that function as source identifiers, particularly where other forms of intellectual property protection may be unavailable....
Amendments to Mexico’s Federal Law for Protection of Industrial Property Inform More Flexible International IP Strategy for Biotech Companies
Key Takeaway: Amendments to Mexico’s Federal Law for Protection of Industrial Property align more with U.S. Patent and Trademark Office standards for restoring priority and application revival, increasing international patent...
Structuring Solar IP Claims for Leverage: How System Claims and Induced or Contributory Infringement Can Expand Enforcement Options
Key Takeaways: Nextpower’s mix of apparatus and system claims illustrates how claim strategy can expand enforcement flexibility. Additionally, carefully drafting patent claims can expand the scope of protection of the...
Knobbe Martens, Dozens of Partners Receive Top Rankings in IP Law in Legal 500 USA Guide
IRVINE, Calif., June 11, 2026 – Knobbe Martens, a leading intellectual property law firm, is proud to share that the firm and three dozen lawyers received national and regional recognition...
From Waste to Resource: Lunar Wastewater Systems Highlight Emerging Space Infrastructure and a Growing Multi-Use IP Landscape
Key Takeaway: As space exploration moves toward longer-duration missions and sustained human presence, the need for closed-loop systems for water, waste, and air is driving innovation in space infrastructure. These...
Does the USPTO Issue “Secret Patents” on Aerospace Innovations?
Key Takeaways: Despite periodic mentions by aerospace innovators of “secret patents,” this author is not aware of any evidence of such patents. There may be confusion with “Secrecy Orders,” which...
AI Training and Fair Use
Key Takeaways: While the legal landscape is continuing to take shape, a number of recent court decisions indicate that unlicensed use of copyrighted data to train AI models generally constitutes...
Energy for the AI Boom: Why the Nextera–Dominion Merger Could Reshape the Race to Power Data Centers
Key Takeaways: NextEra Energy and Dominion Energy recently announced a merger that would combine the biggest renewable energy developer in the country with the utility company powering the largest data...
Applied Aerospace & Defense’s IPO Signals Continued Momentum in Defense Manufacturing
Key Takeaways: Ongoing geopolitical tensions are leading to an increase in defense-tech contractors filing for IPOs. Aerospace & defense companies looking to capitalize on this trend should consider strengthening their...
Knobbe Martens Lawyers Named Washington, D.C. Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
WASHINGTON, D.C., June 1, 2026 – Knobbe Martens is pleased to share that four of the firm’s lawyers have been recognized by Washington, D.C. Super Lawyers. William Zimmerman was named...
Dozens of Knobbe Martens Partners Recognized in 2026 IAM Patent 1000 Guide
IRVINE, Calif., May 28, 2026 – Knobbe Martens, a leading intellectual property law firm, and its partners were once again recognized for excellence across patent law in the 2026 edition...
Kregg Koch Discusses How Medtech Innovators Can Build a Stronger IP Strategy Through Patent Filing, Portfolio Development, and AI
In an article published by nonprofit educational medtech incubator Fogarty Innovation, Knobbe Martens partner Kregg Koch shared practical strategies for medtech companies and entrepreneurs looking to protect and maximize the...
Federal Circuit Confirms Patent Eligibility of Gene Therapy Patent in Regenexbio Inc. v. Sarepta Therapeutics
Key Takeaway: Genetically engineered cultured host cells containing recombinant nucleic acids useful for gene therapy are patent-eligible for being markedly different from anything occurring in nature. In REGENXBIO Inc. v....
AI Is Going Nuclear: How Major Tech Companies Are Pursuing Nuclear Energy—And How Energy Startups Can Avoid Common Collaboration Pitfalls
Key Takeaways: As major technology companies turn to nuclear energy, early-stage nuclear companies may face heightened intellectual property (IP) risks due to asymmetric negotiations. Building and documenting strong background IP—and...
Three Knobbe Martens Partners Named Los Angeles Times “Life Sciences Visionaries”
IRVINE, Calif., April 20, 2026 – Knobbe Martens is pleased to share that partners Salima Merani, Ph.D., Jason Jardine, and Kimberly Miller, Ph.D. have been recognized as “Life Sciences Visionaries”...
FDA Issues Recommendations for the Development of Individualized Therapies for Patients With Ultra-Rare Diseases
Key Takeaway: The FDA is developing a “plausible mechanism framework” to facilitate approval of individualized therapies for the treatment of rare genetic diseases that currently face approval challenges. As discussed previously...
Veteran Ventures Capital Announces Investment in Hybron Technologies as Hybron Technologies Closes $25M Seed Round
Key Takeaways: Hybron Technologies, a U.S. based Manufacturing company focused on lightweight composites for aerospace and defense applications, closes an oversubscribed $25M seed round. The increased need for domestic production...
Is Your IP Ready? Navigating IP Challenges for Commercial-Stage Technologies in Due Diligence and M&A
Presenting as part of an LSI ’26 panel, Knobbe Martens partners Kregg Koch and Sabing Lee joined fellow panelists to explore the complexities of intellectual property management for commercial-stage technologies in the medtech industry, and the...
Space Force Awards Kratos $447 Million Contract for Missile Warning Tracking
Key Takeaways: Kratos wins $447 million contract with U.S. Space Force to develop a ground management system supporting missile-detecting satellites. This initiative highlights Space Force’s partnerships with industry and underscores...
Emergence of Satellite Energy Stealth Startup and the Importance of IP Strategy
Key Takeaway: A startup in satellite energy transmission emerged from stealth with an oversubscribed seed round of $10 million. Investors and developers of energy technologies can benefit from proactive IP...
