Intellectual Property Insurance Services Corporation

09/04/2026

Happy Labor Day from IPISC!

Today, we recognize the people whose hard work keeps businesses and communities moving forward, and we hope everyone has a safe and relaxing holiday weekend.

08/28/2026

$245.2 Million Judgment Shows the Long-Term Financial Impact of Patent Litigation.

A U.S. district court has ordered Guardant Health to pay more than $245.2 million to TwinStrand Biosciences and the University of Washington following a finding of willful infringement involving two DNA sequencing patents.

The judgment includes damages, accrued royalties and interest. It also requires a 6% royalty on sales of certain products and services through March 2033. Guardant Health has announced that it will appeal.

The case shows how an IP dispute can affect current costs, future revenue and broader business strategy.

IPISC offers IP Defense and Enforcement Insurance designed to help companies manage the financial risks associated with covered IP litigation.

Read more on the story here: https://www.medtechdive.com/news/guardant-health-ordered-to-pay-245m-in-patent-dispute/828838/

A U.S. court ruled Guardant willfully infringed two core patents for DNA sequencing methods in a case brought by TwinStrand Biosciences and the University of Washington.

08/24/2026

After 12 years, including two Ninth Circuit appeals and one trip to the Supreme Court, Jack Daneil’s still has no final judgment against VIP Products’ dog toys.

That's where things stand in Jack Daniel's v. VIP Products, the case over the "Bad Spaniels" parody dog toy. The Ninth Circuit just vacated Jack Daniel's permanent injunction again, ruling the wh***ey maker didn't prove the toy was likely to tarnish its famous marks.

We covered this case back in 2023 after the Supreme Court's ruling. Now there's a new chapter. This is a good reminder of something we say a lot: even a famous, century-old brand with serious legal resources can spend over a decade in litigation without a final answer.

In our latest post, we break down:

✅What the Ninth Circuit recently decided.

✅Why the court said parody matters to a dilution claim.

✅What twelve years of litigation says about the real cost of protecting or challenging a trademark.

Read it here: https://ipisc.com/that-dog-still-doesnt-hunt/

The Ninth Circuit Sends Bad Spaniels Home Again Three years ago, we wrote about the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision in Jack Daniel’s Properties, Inc. v. VIP Products, LLC, the case pitting the world’s best-selling wh***ey against a squeaky dog toy called “Bad Spaniels.” At the time, the Cour...

08/17/2026

What makes IPISC different?

For more than 35 years, we’ve focused exclusively on intellectual property insurance, combining specialized experience with coverage designed around the risk and realities of IP disputes.

See the six reasons companies choose IPISC below.

Learn more at ipisc.com.

08/04/2026

John Oliver just launched a full merch line for "Buc-Off,” a parody brand starring a seven-foot squirrel named Mr. Nutterbutter, to poke fun at Buc-ee's aggressive trademark enforcement against small businesses with cartoon animal logos.

It's funny, but it’s also a pretty accurate picture of how trademark disputes actually play out.

Most companies on the receiving end of a cease-and-desist don't have HBO's legal budget. So even when they have a real defense, parody, non-infringement, whatever it may be, they often settle, rebrand, or fold anyway. Not because they're wrong. Because litigation is expensive and they can't afford to find out who's right.

The same problem hits in reverse, if a competitor is ripping off your brand, enforcing your rights takes capital too.

That's the gap trademark insurance is built to close on both the defense and enforcement side. Financial leverage shouldn't be the reason a legal outcome goes one way or the other.

Read more: https://ipisc.com/trademark-lessons-from-john-olivers-buc-off-bit/

If you tuned into Last Week Tonight on Sunday, you saw John Oliver launch a full-scale merchandise line for “Buc-Off,” a parody brand sporting a seven-foot squirrel named Mr. Nutterbutter. The launch included a circular logo, yellow background, and red hat designed to poke at Texas travel-center...

07/29/2026

A unique piece of Kentucky patent history went up for auction.

Colonel Harland Sanders’ personal copy of U.S. Patent No. 3,245,800, Process of Producing Fried Chicken Under Pressure, sold at auction for $10,000.

Issued in 1966, the patent covers the pressure-frying process Sanders developed to prepare fried chicken quicker while maintaining its flavor and texture.

Although the patent rights have expired, Sanders’ personal copy remains a valuable piece of intellectual property and is a part of the KFC brand’s great history.

07/17/2026

Not every intellectual property dispute is covered simply because it involves IP.

Understanding what IP insurance may cover and what it typically does not cover can help businesses make more informed decisions before a dispute arises.

While coverage varies by policy, IP insurance can help protect against the financial impact of covered intellectual property disputes, including legal defense costs, covered damages, and other litigation related expenses. It is equally important to understand policy limitations, exclusions, and eligibility requirements.

See the graphic below for a quick overview, and remember that every policy is unique.

Learn more about IP insurance at https://ipisc.com.

07/13/2026

The Cost of Innovation Is More Than R&D.

Bringing new energy technology to market takes years of research and investment. A single intellectual property dispute can quickly become an expensive distraction.

As companies develop new technologies in solar, wind, battery storage, hydrogen, and more, protecting those investments becomes increasingly important.

Read our latest blog to learn why managing intellectual property risk should be part of your overall business strategy: https://ipisc.com/the-role-of-intellectual-property-in-renewable-energy-growth/

Renewable energy technologies continue to play an increasingly important role in the global economy. Businesses, governments, and investors are dedicating significant resources toward developing solutions that can improve energy generation, storage, and efficiency. Advanced solar technologies, batte...

07/08/2026

Intellectual Property Disputes Reaches the Orchard! 🍊

A California farmer recently made headlines after giving away more than 100,000 pounds of Monalise white nectarines because an ongoing legal dispute prevented him from selling the crop. Rather than let the fruit go to waste, thousands of people visited the orchard to receive it for free.

While the giveaway captured national attention, the legal issues behind the story are what make it particularly interesting.

The dispute involves licensing agreements, exclusive marketing rights, and questions surrounding intellectual property. A California court ruled that the breach of contract claims could proceed regardless of whether the fruit variety is protected by a current U.S. plant patent, highlighting that contractual obligations may remain enforceable even when patent related questions are raised.

The case serves as a reminder that intellectual property risk is not limited to technology companies. It can affect agriculture, manufacturing, consumer products, life sciences, and many other industries.

The case also shows that the agreements surrounding valuable intellectual property can be just as important as the rights themselves.

Read more here: https://apnews.com/article/california-farmer-nectarines-lawsuit-patent-4f7bc8ab185e8b9cbdd6d6ad4f2aabd1

A California farmer has been giving away free nectarines this week amid a legal dispute with a food market and distributing company claiming exclusive rights over the variety of white nectarine he grows.

07/02/2026

his Fourth of July, we celebrate the spirit of American innovation and our nation's independence.

For generations, inventors, entrepreneurs, and creators have developed ideas that have shaped industries, improved lives, and strengthened our economy. Intellectual property has helped support and protect many of those innovations along the way.

The USPTO's short video, Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Innovation, is a great reminder of how American ingenuity has fueled progress throughout the past 250 years.

Watch the video here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5uNc_ZUeQrs

Happy Fourth of July from all of us at IPISC!

Throughout the past 250 years, American innovators have saved lives...