On April 20, 2012, the American Institute of Physics and Blackwell Publishing, Ltd. filed suit (Complaint available here) against Winstead PC, accusing the law firm of copyright infringement. Specifically, plaintiffs assert that Winstead committed copyright infringement during its “preparation and prosecution of patent applications for profit” by, among other things, making or distributing unauthorized copies of two of plaintiffs’ copyrighted articles to the PTO.
Additionally, according to plaintiffs, “[Winstead is] prosecuting patents for the profit of [itself] and [its] clients and [is] using Plaintiffs’ Copyrights as part of that profit-making activity without due compensation to plaintiffs. Upon information and belief, Winstead has charged its clients for the copies it has made of the Plaintiffs’ copyrighted works and thereby made a direct profit as a result of its infringement.”
Plaintiffs are represented by James Davis of Klemchuk Kubasta, LLP.
Judge Lynn is presiding over the case.