New California Labor Law Requires Annual Workplace Rights Notice

New California Labor Law Requires Annual Workplace Rights Notice

ByStaff

California employers are adjusting to a new labor law aimed at increasing employee awareness of workplace rights. Under Senate Bill 294, which is also known as the Workplace Know Your Rights Act, employers must now provide workers with an annual notice explaining key labor protections. It must include information regarding several workplace rights, including protections relating to immigration enforcement, labor organizing, workers’ compensation, constitutional rights when interacting with law enforcement in the workplace, and protections against unfair employment practices. Officials are saying that the measure is designed to improve transparency and ensure employees understand the legal protections available to them.

Protecting Confidential Business Information

Protecting Confidential Business Information

ByShakti Vadgama

Confidential business information is often one of a company’s most valuable assets. Customer lists, pricing strategies, financial data, proprietary processes, and other sensitive information provide businesses with a competitive advantage. Without appropriate safeguards, however, confidential information can be misused, disclosed, or taken by current or former employees, resulting in significant legal and financial consequences.

California Local Minimum Wage Increases Take Effect July 1, 2026

California Local Minimum Wage Increases Take Effect July 1, 2026

ByStaff

California employers should prepare for another round of local minimum wage increases taking effect on July 1, 2026. While the statewide minimum wage increased to $16.90 per hour on January 1, many cities and counties continue to require higher local minimum wages based on inflation and local ordinances. Employers must pay the highest applicable minimum wage, whether required by state law, a local ordinance, or an industry-specific wage requirement.

Claim Language Controls: A Federal Circuit Reminder That Your Specification Won’t Save Poorly Drafted Claims

Claim Language Controls: A Federal Circuit Reminder That Your Specification Won’t Save Poorly Drafted Claims

ByStaff

Patent owners who enforce their rights in litigation routinely confront a hard truth: a patent’s scope is defined by the precise wording of its claims, not by the broader range of technology described in the specification. A recent nonprecedential decision from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, Dynapass IP Holdings LLC v. Bank of America Corporation (June 11, 2026), reinforces this principle and offers a cautionary lesson for technology companies and inventors about the lasting consequences of claim drafting decisions.

Common Law Trademark

Common Law Trademark

ByStaff

Trademark rights can arise without federal registration. A commonly cited example is THE ORIGINAL BURGER KING in Mattoon, Illinois, which has operated independently of the national BURGER KING® chain based on common law trademark rights established through prior local use. These rights, known as common law trademark rights, are generally established through actual use of a name, logo, slogan, or other identifier in commerce. Common law rights may provide limited legal protection within the geographic area where the mark is used and recognized by consumers. As a result, a business may possess some enforceable trademark rights even if it has never filed an application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”).